Medieval Legends and Monsters

The Stock-im-Eisen is a spruce tree trunk, seven feet two inches tall, that is almost entirely obscured by hundreds of hand-driven iron nails. Protected behind a glass casing at the corner of the Palais Equitable, this relic dates back to…

St. Stephen’s Cathedral is defined by its steeply pitched roof, which is covered in two hundred thirty thousand colorful glazed tiles arranged in a striking zigzag pattern. This Gothic cathedral, known locally as the Steffl, has served as…

The Blutgasse is a narrow, winding alley in Vienna’s first district characterized by its deep, interconnected courtyards and historical foundations that trace back to the Middle Ages. While the street now hosts quiet apartments and…

The exterior wall of the building at Bäckerstraße twelve features a small, faded mural of a wolf and a cow sitting across from each other in spectacles while playing backgammon. Dating to approximately fifteen hundred and nine, this…

The Basiliskenhaus, located at Schönlaterngasse number seven, is distinguished by a fresco on its facade depicting a mythical, hybrid creature. This building stands as one of the oldest structures in the city, with cellar walls dating to…

The Pfarrkirche Maria Rotunda, commonly known as the Dominican Church, is identifiable by its monumental facade featuring classical columns and two distinctive onion domes. This building serves as a primary example of early Italian Baroque…

The Griechenbeisl, located at Fleischmarkt eleven, is identifiable by its corner position adjoining a portion of Vienna's former medieval city wall. First documented in fourteen forty-seven, it stands as one of the oldest restaurants in…

St. Rupert’s Church, known locally as the Ruprechtskirche, is marked by a plain, compact stone tower featuring paired, round-arched openings near the top. It stands on elevated ground that was once part of the Roman fort of Vindobona, and…