From the Danube Canal to the Prater in Vienna through the Leopoldstadt

Vienna Leopoldstadt sightseeing

Which sights does Leopoldstadt offer in Vienna? We decide to explore the surroundings of the Chic Hotel Capricorno to explore the area where we are staying. The hotel is located directly on the Danube Canal, at the edge of the 1st district, Vienna's old town. On the other bank of the Danube begins Leopoldstadt, or the 2nd district. Leopoldstadt is located on an island between the Danube Canal and the Danube.

 

 

 

The district is considered Vienna's Jewish quarter. On our walk from the Danube Canal to the Prater in Vienna, we encounter people wearing kippahs, the men's head coverings. We hardly hear any German or Austrian on our walk. However, many of those we meet speak French or English.

 

Walk through Leopoldstadt

We begin our walk from the Danube Canal to the Prater in Vienna, through Leopoldstadt, on Praterstraße. We follow it to Nestroyplatz, where a statue of the actor and playwright stands. Along the way, we notice residential buildings with portals and balconies. Further down Praterstraße is the Johann Nepomuk Church. Its interior, however, seems rather gloomy to us. Not far away is the Doge's Courtyard with its Venetian facade.

 

 

 

In the Prater in Vienna - one of the Leopoldstadt sights

At Praterstern, we turn off toward the Prater grounds. We pass the Prater's main avenue, where joggers, cyclists, and walkers enjoy the spring greenery beneath the maple trees. Tulips in all shades of color are blooming beneath the trees, putting us in the spring mood. A few steps further, the Ferris wheel spins its circles. It stops at each gondola that arrives at the bottom to let passengers disembark.

We stroll through the Prater, but the noise of the stall owners doesn't tempt us to take a ride on one of the carousels. A spooky tour on the ghost train doesn't appeal to us either. Instead, we head back to Leopoldstadt in search of traces of the Jews.

 

Leopold I. and the Jews

This district owes its name to Leopold I, who finally banned the Jews from here in 1669. They were expelled from downtown Vienna as early as 1624. Around 1700 ten Jewish families were again allowed to live in this part of the city. Reason: you needed their money to finance government spending. In 1764 Maria Theresa allowed the immigration of Jews, whereby the Sephardi from Spain received more rights than the Jews from the Orient. They settled between Praterstrasse and Taborstrasse.

The Jews in Vienna after 1918

During and after the First World War, more and more Jews came to Vienna. Before 1938, approximately 180.000 Jews lived in Austria's capital. A third of them lived in Leopoldstadt. When the National Socialists seized power in Austria in 1938, the Jews fell victim to the persecution of Jews. Many fled. Or they were transported to concentration camps. However, Jews now live in Leopoldstadt again. We notice metal plates in the street on which the fates of the residents are described. They remind me of the Stolpersteine ​​(stumbling blocks) that we brought back from our trips to Salzburg know.

 

 

 

 

The Leopoldstadt in Vienna

On this Sunday afternoon, Leopoldstadt is quiet. We hardly meet anyone else on our walk from the Danube Canal to the Prater in Vienna. A father carries his offspring through the city. Only a few walkers pass us. A photographer apparently has the same idea as us. Every few meters, she photographs a subject that catches her eye.

We follow Heinestraße to Große Stadtgutgasse and walk through Glockengasse back to Taborstraße. Along our route, we discover one city palace after another, with entrance portals and facades punctuated by reliefs. But it's not until we reach Taborstraße that things get more lively again. Here, shop windows beckon visitors to stroll, and the traffic on this thoroughfare brings more activity.

 

Conclusion: Vienna Leopoldstadt sights show a different Vienna

Our tour through Leopoldstadt, from the Danube Canal to the Prater in Vienna, shows us a side of the city we haven't seen before. This district offers us a glimpse into the city's past. Here, we also get a glimpse into Vienna's imperial era. In its squares, in the houses with their wrought iron balconies and bay windows, we sense the history of the Jews. They are slowly returning to the district to which they were once banished.

 

---

Travel Arrangements:

Parking at the airport

Here you can reserve your parking space at the airport.

Arrival by plane, train and bus

Compare and book flights here*. Lufthansa, Austrian Airlines and Swiss will follow Vienna. It is also possible to travel to Vienna by train. Long-distance buses also go to Vienna.

---

 

 

Do you know this?

• Vienna travel tips
• Easter holidays
• Baden near Vienna in summer
• Top Attraction Germany: Main
• Picnicking in Munich - where is the nicest place

 

Source: Vienna Leopoldstadt Sights: Research on-site. We would like to thank the Hotel Capricorno for their support. Our opinions remain our own.

Text Vienna Leopoldstadt Sights: © Copyright Monika Fuchs and TravelWorldOnline
Photos Vienna Leopoldstadt Sights © Copyright Monika Fuchs and TravelWorldOnline