Vienna

In 100 AD, the Roman encampment ‘Vindobona’ was built on the site of an old Celtic settlement. In 1155, the Babenbergs made Vienna the capital of their Duchy of Austria. In the 13th century, it became an important cultural and trade centre and residence of the Habsburg dynasty.

By the 18th century, the city flourished into a baroque metropolis. During the 19th century, the capital’s growth reflected the development of the Danube Monarchy; Vienna’s population quadrupled to over 2 million. The Danube was trained, the large fortifications razed, and the magnificent Ringstraße boulevard constructed.

In 1944-1945, nearly 30% of Vienna’s buildings were destroyed in air raids and ground battles, many civilians were killed and the city was occupied and divided, losing almost a quarter of its population. Vienna’s reconstruction began with aid programmes from the US. It became the third UN location and the historic centre was inscribed on the World Heritage List. The fall of the Iron Curtain in 1989 and Austria’s EU accession in 1996 boosted Vienna’s economy. Today, Vienna is the economic powerhouse of the Central European Region ‘Centrope’.

Mayor

Mr. Michael Häupl City Hall A-1082 Vienna 1 Austria buergermeister@magwien.gv.at +43 1 4000 81111 +43 1 4000 99 81111 http://www.magwien.gv.at/