Have you heard of what is arguably the most musical spectacle on Vienna’s oldest square? Right in the heart of downtown , a ten-meter-wide Art Nouveau bridge connects two sections of the Helvetia-Hof on the Hoher Markt. The famous Ankeruhr was created between 1911 and 1914 by the painter Franz Matsch and attracts hundreds of onlookers every day. If you stop by right at noon, you’ll experience a unique open-air concert where history comes to life.
A masterful interplay of time, music, and mechanics
Every hour on the hour, a different historical figure—depicted as a copper figure—marches across the gilded display. In keeping with the eras, organ pipes play music from the time of the figure in question. Finally, at exactly 12:00 p.m., the grand finale begins: All 12 figures march past you one after another in a parade lasting about 15 minutes, accompanied by an impressive medley of music.
Who is actually crossing the Ankeruhr Bridge?
The historical figures are arranged in pairs on the figure panels and guide you chronologically through Vienna’s city history. The sequence begins with the Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius (1), followed by Emperor Charlemagne (2). Next come Duke Leopold VI with his wife Theodora (3) and the minstrel Walther von der Vogelweide (4). The tour continues with King Rudolf of Habsburg and his wife Anna of Hohenberg (5), followed by Master Hans Puchsbaum (6), the builder of St. Stephen’s Cathedral.
From Renaissance emperors to musical titans
In the second half, you’ll encounter Emperor Maximilian I (7) and the Mayor of Vienna, Johann Andreas von Liebenberg (8). Next come Count Rüdiger von Starhemberg (9), the defender of Vienna during the Turkish siege, and Prince Eugene of Savoy (10). The grand finale features Empress Maria Theresa with her husband Franz I Stephan (11) as well as the composer Joseph Haydn (12), whose music brings the midday show to a close.
The best way to reach the Ankeruhr by public transportation is via subway lines U1 or U3 (Stephansplatz station) or bus line 2A (Hoher Markt stop). If you’re driving, take Franz-Josefs-Kai into the city center and use the nearby parking garage at Georg-Coch-Platz or near Stephansplatz.
- Location: Hoher Markt 10–11, 1010 Vienna
- Date and time: Open daily around the clock; the grand figure show featuring all 12 figures takes place daily at 12:00 p.m. sharp
- Duration: Approx. 15 minutes for the full noon parade
- Cost: Free
