Spread across 65,000 square meters, the Stadtpark (City Park) has become one of the top attractions for residents and visitors of Vienna, Austria. While the park has numerous natural features that attract audiences, much of that popularity is due to the statues of famous Viennese artists, writers, and composers that are spread across the park. These pieces, especially the Johann Strauss Memorial, have helped to ensure the Stadtpark is more than just a park, and have become icons for the city as a whole to have major impacts on the economy and culture of Vienna.
The First Public Park in Vienna
When the medieval walls that protected Vienna for centuries were demolished in the 19th century, large open spaces near the city center became available for development. Some areas were set aside for the creation of city parks, the largest of which was the Stadtpark. Laid out in English landscape style between 1858 and 1862, the park was officially opened in August 1862, becoming the first public park in Vienna.
The river Wienfluss splits the Stadtpark into two parts and bridges such as the iron Karolinenbrücke connect these parts. Winding paths with numerous benches pass by several pools and fountains, all of which have been installed at various points throughout the decades. No matter the time of year, visitors can walk these paths to find plants blooming due to the diversity of the plants that are in the Stadtpark.
These features are just a few of the reasons that the Stadtpark appeals to audiences, but the statues and busts of composers that are located throughout the park are by far the biggest attractions. Pieces dedicated to notable artists such as Hans Canon, Emil Jakob Schindler, and Franz Schubert are spread across the park, but the gilded statue of Johann Strauss II, is one of the most known and most frequently photographed monuments in Vienna.
The fact that the Stadtpark has the largest number of monuments and sculptures in Vienna is just part of the reason it has become such an attraction.
The Most Popular Monuments in Vienna
The composer statues and monuments are spread across the Stadtpark, and they vary in terms of scope and scale. Busts of Friedrich von Amerling and Anton Bruckner are on display alongside full sculptures of Emil Jakob Schindler and Hans Makart. However, the piece that honors Johann Strauss II stands out for several reasons.
The Johann Strauss Memorial, created in 1921 by the Austrian sculptor Edmund Hellme, was first shown to the public on June 26th, 1921. The “gold” statue is actually gilded bronze, and early damage saw the removal of the gold decoration in 1935. It was only restored in 1991. The Waltz King is displayed in front of a stone arch decorated with naiads, which has become the most photographed monument in Vienna. Glistening in the sun at various points throughout the day, there are sometimes lines of people waiting to get their picture in front of the monument.
As prominent as these pieces are, they aren’t the only attractions in the Stadtpark. The oldest is the Danube Woman fountain, created in 1865 by Hans Gasser. The fountain group entitled ‘The Liberation of the Spring’ was created in 1903 by Josef Heu, while benches, ponds and other pieces of art have ensured that the biggest park area in the center of Vienna is equally well liked by the tourists and the Viennese citizens. All of this has enabled a powerful economic and cultural impact for Vienna as a whole.
More Than a Park
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Johann Strauss Memorial has become the unofficial symbol of Vienna, appearing on everything from postcards to hotels to temporary artwork that adorns the city. The monument, as well as the Stadtpark itself, are prominent features in maps and guides to the city, but their influence on the culture goes much deeper.
The Stadtpark has always been viewed as a means of direct and indirect connection for the city, which is why an intricate entrance to the Stadtbahn, Vienna’s early light rail system, was created for it. The pavilion is now used for the U-bahn, Vienna’s underground, ensuring this connection with the city remains prominent.
That connection to the city extends to the economic opportunities the park has enabled, some of which are tied to the events that are held in the Stadtpark. Most of these events take place at the Kursalon, where Johann Strauss II gave his first concert in 1868. Strauss and Mozart concerts are held regularly at the Kursalon, as well as balls, nightclub events and congresses. The building also allows rooms to be rented and features a wide terrace reaching into the park.
Visitors can get a coffee on the terrace but can visit the Cafe-Restaurant Johann for much more. The restaurant boasts that visitors can enjoy outstanding Viennese cuisine with its seasonal delicacies while relishing the historical ambiance of the Kursalon.
This activity has been strengthened and in some cases created thanks to the composer monuments that have helped the Stadtpark become more than just a park.
The Creation of an Icon
The Stadtpark could have been just another park in Vienna, but the endeavor to celebrate and honor the legacy of the city enabled the creation of a true icon. Just like other parks that feature a variety of monuments, the Stadtpark serves as an example of how these sorts of pieces can truly transform a place and enable a variety of experiences to attract audiences from all over the city and even the world.
