Tourist attractions in Vienna : Hoher Markt Square

The Hoher Markt (High market, because of its importance) is actually the oldest and most historic square in Vienna. It is located north of St. Stephen's Square, in the inner city. 

Photo by Amin.Mana

The Hoher Markt was established on the ruins of the former Roman military camp Vindobona. In the Middle Ages, it was a center for the bourgeois and a place for the textile and food trade. It was also surrounded by many guild houses. From 1325 to 1839 the criminal court was here and the Schranne was located in the northwest corner of the square which for centuries was the seat of the City and Regional Court of Vienna. In front of the Schranne a pillory was erected.

In the course of reconstruction after the Second World War Roman ruins were discovered in this area. The remains of what is thought to be houses of officers can be visited today in the Roman museum in Hoher Markt No.3. Except for the Roman museum, the Hoher Markt is famous for two other works of art:  Ankeruhr and Vermählungsbrunnen.

Photo by Leonieke Aalders

Photo by Andras, Fulop

The Ankeruhr (AnchorClock) is one of the most outstanding works of Art Nouveau and is a popular tourist attraction. This large gilded clock forms a bridge that connects the two buildings of the former Anker Insurance Company (currently Helvetia) together. Commissioned by the mentioned insurance company, the Ankeruhr was built between 1911 and 1917 after the plans of the painter and sculptor Franz von Matsch. The clockwork mechanism was made by the clockmaker Franz Morawetz, who was a purveyor to the Imperial and Royal Court of Austria-Hungary (Ge: k.u.k. Hoflieferant)
 

Photo by mtgf93

Photo by Europeana EU

Photo by dugspr — Home for Good

Photo by Amin.Mana

The clock itself has a diameter of four meters and is adorned with mosaic ornaments. To show the time, there are figures of famous people of Viennese history, which have a roman numeral on their heads indicating the current hour, while the minute indicator goes through a horizontal scale. In the course of 12 hours, these twelve figures or pairs of figures move across the bridge with their respective matching piece of music. Among them are Charlemagne, also known as Charles the Great, (Ge: Karl der Große ) the first Roman Emperor in Western Europe , Empress Maria Theresa and Prince Eugen of Savoy and last but not least, Joseph Haydn,the Father of the Symphony and one of the most prominent composers of the Classical period.A small plaque near the clock identifies each of the twelve personalities. At 12 clock noon, all the figures pass the bridge one by one accompanied by background music from the different eras. This is the moment for the tourists to be on the Hoher Markt.

Photo by franzj

In the middle of the square the Vermählungsbrunnen (Wedding Fountain) attracts attention. The reason behind the construction of such fountain goes back to a vow that Emperor Leopold I made to set up a pillar after the victorious and successful return of his son Joseph of the Spanish Succession wars. His vow however redeemed only after his death in 1705 by his sons. The initial wooden votive pillar was designed by Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach and installed in 1706. The pillar was dedicated to the marriage of Saint Joseph and Mary. On the initiative of Emperor Charles VI, the monument was totally redesigned by Joseph Emanuel Fischer von Erlach and reconstructed between 1729 and 1732 from marble and bronze.
 

Photo by Amin.Mana

Photo by Amin.Mana

Photo by Amin.Mana

Photo by Amin.Mana

Photo by Amin.Mana

The 18.5 meters high Baroque monument depicts in the center the marriage between Joseph and Mary by the High Priest. The marble figures were created by the Venetian sculptor Antonio Corradini. Four Corinthian columns hold up the so-called canopy which is made by Johannes Baptista Divall mainly ​​of copper alloys with partial gilding. Next to each column stands an angel. At the top of the canopy representation of the Holy Spirit as a dove can be seen.

Photo by Amin.Mana

Photo by Amin.Mana

Photo by Amin.Mana

Photo by Amin.Mana

Photo by Amin.Mana

The wedding fountain was damaged during the World War II by bombing. The damaged statues were restored by young sculptor Wander Bertoni in the years 1950 to 1955. Between 2006 and 2008 another renovation work took place at the total cost of around 500,000 Euros.

Text Sources: 
wikipedia.org/.../Hoher_Markt 
wikipedia.org/.../Ankeruhr

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