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Hoher Markt Square Vienna & Ankeruhr ClockThe Hoher Markt Square is one of the oldest squares in Vienna – in a sense, it even predates Vienna, as it was part of the Roman army camp Vindobona. Today, there is little (well, actually nothing) left of Roman traces, but there are several reasons whey tourists come in crowds.
Obviously, they do not come for the vast numbers of cars that park here or the ugly supermarkets that embrace the square – but rather for such pleasant things to watch as the “Vermählungsbrunnen” (“Fountain of Marriage”). This Baroque piece of art was created to celebrate the marriage of Empress Maria Theresia and Franz Stephan of Lorraine, which later proved to be a highly reproductive connection. The figures displayed, however, are not Maria Theresia and Franz Stephan, but Mary and Joseph at their wedding in front of a High Priest. An event with no record in the bible and thus not much of a tradition in the history of art. The whole thing is protected by a baldachin made of bronze. Finest Clock of Viennese JugenstilEven more exciting is the Jugenstil “Ankeruhr” or Anker Clock. It was designed by Franz Matsch between 1911 and 1917 for the prospering Anker insurance company and bridges two administrative buildings of this corporation. It is 10 metres wide and 7.5 metres high, just in case that you were wondering.
The clock itself has a diameter of 4 metres. The cool thing about it is that 12 celebrity figures from Vienna’s history were made of copper – each hour, one of the figures (or couples) is visible and on the hour, a tune matching with the figure can be heard. Now, the big show starts at noon: Then all the figures with their respective tunes run a round and surely enjoy the cheers of the gathered tourists. Joseph Haydn is the last figure – originally, his tune was the Imperial Anthem (that he had composed and which was later stolen by Germany, where it still serves as the National Anthem). After the revolution of 1918, the Republic of Austria decided to use a different one of his compositions. The Figures of the Ankeruhr & their Tunes1-2: The Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius, who died near Vienna Finally, there is another attraction on the Hoher Markt: The Neidhart Frescos, the oldest secular frescos of Vienna, discovered only in 1979. This artwork is preserved by the Wien Museum and displays mostly scenes from the life of the faring singer Neidhart von Reuenthal. They are located in Tuchlauben 19. Other nearby attractions include the Stadttempel (main synagogue), Stephansdom, the Peterskiche and the old City Hall of Vienna as well as the Judenplatz Square. back to "vienna travel guide"
Sightseeing in other ProvincesBregenz and Vorarlberg - Innsbruck and Tyrol - Salzburg - Linz & Upper Austria - Salzkammergut - Graz and Styria - Klagenfurt and Carinthia - Wachau and Lower Austria - Vienna - Burgenland Further ReadingGerman Wikipedia entry on the Ankeruhr AEIOU on the Hoher Markt in German |
