Michaelerplatz (Saint Michael's Square), Vienna

Saint Michael鈥檚 Square鈥攐r Michaelerplatz if you're feeling extra Austrian鈥攊s by far more than just a pretty roundabout. This baroque, star-shaped showstopper is the northeastern gateway to the Hofburg Palace鈥攖he kind of place where Roman legions, imperial drama, and architectural snobbery all collide in delightful chaos...

Let鈥檚 rewind a couple millennia: underneath your feet once stood Vindobona, a Roman military camp. You can still peek at the excavated remains in the center of the square鈥攂ecause Vienna doesn鈥檛 just bury its history, it displays it like a badge of honor.

Marching into view is the grand Michael鈥檚 Gate, a triumph of Neo-Baroque drama. It鈥檚 flanked by two dramatic 19th-century fountains sculpted by Rudolf Weyer鈥攊magine 鈥淩oman gods doing acrobatics in water.鈥� This is your official entrance into the imperial Hofburg, via Saint Michael鈥檚 Wing, which sounds like a fancy dessert but is actually just as rich in stone.

Across from all this pageantry stands the Church of Saint Michael, namesake of the square. Parts of it go back to 1221, though what you see now mostly dates from a sprucing-up in 1792. The church鈥檚 porch features a wild Baroque sculpture of the Fall of the Angels鈥攙ery metal. Step inside and you鈥檒l find 14th-century frescoes, Vienna鈥檚 largest gilded organ (once played by Haydn, no less), and a crypt that鈥檚 equal parts eerie and fascinating. Yes, they still have open coffins with mummified parishioners in full funeral chic. Welcome to Vienna...

Now turn your gaze to the Looshaus, a stark modernist rebel built in 1912 by architect Adolf Loos. At the time, it scandalized polite society鈥攁nd Emperor Franz Joseph so hated its minimalist vibe, he refused to walk through Michael鈥檚 Gate ever again. Today, it's a working bank with a lavish interior clad in marble and mirrors. Moral of the story? Never judge a building by its cover.

Other star attractions ring the square like jewels, including the Spanish Riding School, the Sisi Museum, the Herberstein Palace, and a pair of 18th-century homes鈥攐ne of which once belonged to Haydn himself.

Insider tip: spring for a horse-drawn carriage tour from here. This ride is a true slow-motion glide through centuries of imperial flair...

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Vienna. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "911爆料网: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

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Create Your Own Self-Guided Walk to Visit This Sight

Sight Name: Michaelerplatz (Saint Michael's Square)
Sight Location: Vienna, Austria (See walking tours in Vienna)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

Walking Tours in Vienna, Austria

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