The Neue Burg façade
A vast curving arc that was meant to face a twin never built — an imperial project halted midway.
C.Stadler/Bwag — CC BY-SA 3.0 at · Flocci Nivis — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Ralf Roletschek — CC BY 3.0 · Sjaak Kempe from Groningen, The Netherlands — CC BY 2.0
The vast open square before the Hofburg, and historically the heaviest public space in Austria. Its name, Heroes' Square, comes from its two equestrian statues: Prince Eugene of Savoy and Archduke Charles, each carved mid-command. It was meant to form part of a huge Imperial Forum that was never finished — which is why one side is built up and the other opens onto the park. What made it globally known, though, is March 1938, when Hitler stood on the palace balcony above it to announce Austria's annexation before an enormous crowd. No sign in the square explains this, but every Austrian knows it. Today it is a place of crossing and gathering: people pass through between the Hofburg, the palace gardens and the museums, and it hosts demonstrations and national ceremonies. You cross it in ten minutes, but it is the best place to see the Hofburg's curving façade whole.
A vast curving arc that was meant to face a twin never built — an imperial project halted midway.
Prince Eugene and Archduke Charles, both mounted mid-battle — the heroes the square is named for.
A massive stone arch separating the square from the Ring, serving as a memorial to the wars' dead.
Heldenplatz, Vienna
Hofburg PalaceThe Habsburgs' winter residence in the heart of Vienna — not one building but a 1 minute walk4.6
Imperial TreasuryEurope's most important treasury, hidden in the oldest part of the Hofburg: dim 2 minutes walk4.5
Collection of Historic Musical InstrumentsOne of the world's most important collections of historic musical instruments, i2 minutes walk4.5
House of Austrian HistoryA museum opened in 2018 inside the Neue Burg wing of the Hofburg palace, coverin2 minutes walk4.4
Ephesos MuseumA small museum inside the Hofburg's Neue Burg showing what Austrian expeditions 2 minutes walk4.5No. Fold it into the Hofburg: you cross it between the palace and the museums, and ten minutes covers the statues and photos.