Strudlhofstiege: A Hidden Gem of Viennese Art Nouveau

In Vienna's 9th district, Alsergrund, the Strudlhofstiege connects the elevated Strudlhofgasse with the lower Liechtensteinstraße. Built in 1910 to designs by Theodor Johann Jaeger, it is considered one of the finest examples of Viennese Art Nouveau and takes its name from the nearby Strudelhof, a former baroque palace belonging to the painter Peter von Strudel.

Three Ramps in Mannersdorf Limestone

The staircase consists of three ramps with 58 steps in total, cut from Mannersdorf limestone. A central fountain with a carved head as a water spout and a mosaic clad niche count among its most distinctive details, alongside the curved green railings and elegant lanterns lining the stairs.

A Literary Landmark

The staircase gained worldwide fame through Heimito von Doderer's 1951 novel "Die Strudlhofstiege oder Melzer und die Tiefe der Jahre". A plaque bearing a Doderer poem has commemorated this literary link since the staircase's 1962 renovation. The Strudlhofstiege is a short walk from the Schottentor and Währinger Straße-Volksoper subway stations.