Short info:
- Where is the anchor clock? In the middle of the first district; Address: Hoher Markt 10-11
- What is there to see? Worth seeing is the anchor clock and the marriage fountain.
- When is open? always
- How much does entry cost? for free
Anchor clock
One of the most famous buildings on Hoher Markt is the Ankeruhr.
The Anchor Clock in Vienna is an extraordinary work of art that impresses visitors with its unique design and precision. The clock is located on the facade of the former Anker insurance building in the heart of the city and was designed by architect Franz von Matsch in 1914. The Ankeruhr connects the two parts of the building of the Ankerhof as a bridge and spans the alleyway Bauernmarkt (farmer’s market). Also known as the “Clock Bridge”, this extraordinary structure stretches 10 meters in length and rises to a height of 7.5 metres.
With a diameter of four meters, the clock is one of the largest of its kind and is supported by four figural consoles. Adam and Eve can be seen in the front, while angels and devils are depicted in the back. Above the clock is a sun disk flanked by a child with a butterfly as an allegory for life and an hourglass as a symbol for death. In the dark, the watch is illuminated by spotlights, giving it a magical look.
The figures on the clock are between 2.6 and 2.8 meters high and made of embossed copper. Each character moves across a scale for one hour using a chain drive and is then relieved by the next character. The hour is given in Roman numerals above the figure, while the minutes can be read on the scale. A sonorous chime sounds every full hour.
Tip: At 12 o’clock all twelve figures (groups) pass by, accompanied by a piece of music that goes with the figure, which originally comes from a mechanical organ with 800 pipes, but is now played as a digital sound reproduction. The order of appearance of the characters corresponds to the historical sequence.
The background of the clock consists of a 12 m² mosaic of glass, metal and marble. In the middle are the double-headed eagle and the old coat of arms of the city of Vienna. These are surrounded by twelve further coats of arms, which represent symbols for science, art, love, music, theatre, industry, trade and Viennese cuisine. Below the clock is a basilisk from the Viennese legends. On the back of the bridge there is a conventional pointer clock and the lettering “Der Anker”.
The High Market in general
The Hoher Markt has been an important meeting place for Viennese and tourists alike for centuries. Once an important market place in the city, the Hohe Markt is now a place full of cafes, bars, restaurants and shops. Of particular note are the beautiful 18th-century buildings that surround the square.
History of the place
Originally, the Hoher Markt was a central place for trade and business in Vienna. The first market was held here in the 12th century and it quickly became an important trading center for goods of all kinds.
During the Middle Ages, the Hoher Markt was also an important meeting place for political meetings and court hearings. From 1325 to 1839 the Vienna Criminal Court was located here. Vienna’s first public town hall was built here in 1331, and it remained the seat of the city government into the 19th century.
During the 19th and 20th centuries, Hoher Markt was modernized and redesigned to meet the needs of the growing city of Vienna. New shops and residential buildings were built, and the square became a major tourist destination.
Vermählungsbrunnen (Marriage Fountain)
The Marriage Fountain in Vienna was commissioned in 1702 by Emperor Leopold I in gratitude for the safe return of his son from the wars over the Spanish succession. The wooden votive monument was later restored in stone and bronze.
The baroque memorial fountain, 18.5 meters high, is adorned with four pedestal projections, each occupied by angels. The imposing bronze canopy with a radiant crown by Johannes Baptista Divall sits on four Corinthian columns. The central Marriage group depicts Mary, Joseph and the High Priest in Carrara marble, created by the Venetian sculptor Antonio Corradini. The substructure of the fountain consists of round and volute bases with three stone reliefs, including the biblical scenes “Adoration of the Shepherds”, “Offering in the Temple” and “Adoration of the Magi”, an inscribed plaque and lanterns on the top. Lorenzo Mattielli designed the two circular pools with fountains.
Tip- the sausage stand:
If you get hungry during your visit, treat yourself to a sausage at the sausage stand on Hoher Markt, which is also a Vienna institution