The Jewish quarter and the medieval lanes

Stops along the way

Things to notice.

1. 01

   1

   Blutgasse

   Start from the cathedral and slip into the *Blutgasse* (the lane's grim old name needs no translating) — a stair-and-courtyard quarter of medieval houses just behind the *Stephansdom*. Look through the open gateways at the linked courtyards; this is the oldest grain of the city, and it's a minute from the busiest square.

   01

   Blutgasse

   Start from the cathedral and slip into the *Blutgasse* (the lane's grim old name needs no translating) — a stair-and-courtyard quarter of medieval houses just behind the *Stephansdom*. Look through the open gateways at the linked courtyards; this is the oldest grain of the city, and it's a minute from the busiest square.

   ◉Street View
2. 02

   2

   Schönlaterngasse

   Wind round to the *Schönlaterngasse* (the lane of the beautiful lantern), curved and quiet, with the wrought-iron lantern that names it and the Basilisk House along its run. Read the wall plaque about the basilisk legend — it's the city telling a tall tale on itself.

   02

   Schönlaterngasse

   Wind round to the *Schönlaterngasse* (the lane of the beautiful lantern), curved and quiet, with the wrought-iron lantern that names it and the Basilisk House along its run. Read the wall plaque about the basilisk legend — it's the city telling a tall tale on itself.

   ◉Street View
3. 03

   3

   Judenplatz

   On to *Judenplatz*, the square at the centre of medieval Jewish Vienna. Rachel Whiteread's Holocaust memorial — a sealed concrete library, the books turned spine-inward — sits in the middle. Stand with it a while. The *Misrachi-Haus* on the square runs the museum and the excavated medieval synagogue beneath.

   03

   Judenplatz

   On to *Judenplatz*, the square at the centre of medieval Jewish Vienna. Rachel Whiteread's Holocaust memorial — a sealed concrete library, the books turned spine-inward — sits in the middle. Stand with it a while. The *Misrachi-Haus* on the square runs the museum and the excavated medieval synagogue beneath.

   ◉Street View
4. 04

   4

   Ruprechtskirche

   Down toward the canal to the *Ruprechtskirche* (St Rupert's), the oldest church in Vienna, small and ivy-grown on its mound above the old port. It's often locked, but the worn stone and the plain Romanesque tower are the point; circle it once.

   04

   Ruprechtskirche

   Down toward the canal to the *Ruprechtskirche* (St Rupert's), the oldest church in Vienna, small and ivy-grown on its mound above the old port. It's often locked, but the worn stone and the plain Romanesque tower are the point; circle it once.

   ◉Street View
5. 05

   5

   Hoher Markt & the Ankeruhr

   Cut to the *Hoher Markt*, the city's oldest square, for the *Ankeruhr* (the Anker Clock) — an Art Nouveau bridge-clock where, at noon, a procession of historical figures crosses the dial to music. Time it for twelve if you can; the rest of the hour, a single figure marks the time.

   05

   Hoher Markt & the Ankeruhr

   Cut to the *Hoher Markt*, the city's oldest square, for the *Ankeruhr* (the Anker Clock) — an Art Nouveau bridge-clock where, at noon, a procession of historical figures crosses the dial to music. Time it for twelve if you can; the rest of the hour, a single figure marks the time.

   ◉Street View
6. 06

   6

   Bermuda Triangle to Schwedenplatz

   Finish through the so-called *Bermuda Triangle*, the knot of narrow bar-lined lanes around *Ruprechtsplatz* and *Rabensteig*. Quiet by morning, loud by night. *Schwedenplatz* and the U1/U4 are on the canal at the bottom.

   06

   Bermuda Triangle to Schwedenplatz

   Finish through the so-called *Bermuda Triangle*, the knot of narrow bar-lined lanes around *Ruprechtsplatz* and *Rabensteig*. Quiet by morning, loud by night. *Schwedenplatz* and the U1/U4 are on the canal at the bottom.

   ◉Street View