Hoher Markt

Hoher Markt is a historic public square in Vienna’s Innere Stadt and one of the city’s oldest urban spaces, with origins reaching back to the Roman period. It is notable for its mix of archaeological remains and later architecture and for the prominent Art Nouveau clock on the square’s edge.

The square is edged by historic buildings and small pedestrian streets and contains the mechanical Ankeruhr, an early 20th century Art Nouveau (Jugendstil) clock by Franz von Matsch that presents a procession of historical figures; the clock’s full procession is a well-known attraction at midday. The site also overlies parts of the Roman settlement Vindobona and shows building fabric and foundations from different historical periods.

Hoher Markt developed from a Roman crossroads into a medieval and then modern market and civic square. The Ankeruhr was added by the Anker insurance company in the early 20th century as an architectural and civic ornament.

The square sits in Vienna’s 1st district, within the historic center of the city and a short walk from Stephansplatz and other central landmarks.

• Ankeruhr procession: Watch around noon when the clock performs its full procession of figures.
• Best times to visit: Early morning or late evening visits usually avoid peak tourist crowds and give clearer views of facades and the clock.

What to See #

• Ankeruhr: Installed on the Ankerhaus at the edge of the square; created in the early 20th century by artist Franz von Matsch and featuring a procession of historical figures that moves at the hour, with the full parade around noon.
• Roman remains: Visible archaeological remains and display sections mark parts of the Roman settlement Vindobona beneath and around the square, showing foundations and fragments from the Roman period onward.