I have been living in Vienna’s 8th district for several years. As I have always been interested in the history of Vienna, it was an obvious choice for me to get involved with the history of the district where I live.
Compared to other districts within the Gürtel, the 8th district has a young history. It was not until the end of the 17th century that a first settlement core developed around the Rottenhof. The site was the first in the area of today’s district to be parcelled out for development. Furthermore, the Palais Auersperg was built as a successor to the Rottenhof estate from 1710, and the Piarist monastery was founded in 1697. In 1700, the city of Vienna bought the area, which was named Josefstadt after Prince and later Emperor Josef I.
This map shows the current map of Vienna overlaid with the historical map from 1858. It may take a long time for the page to load all the content. Here is the link to the original map part.
(Click on image opens plan in new window)
Here I have collected some old Vienna photos, some of which still exist (like the Military Geographical Institute). Other buildings no longer exist, but gave the location its name, e.g. Institute for the Blind – Blindengasse.
Also to be seen: A fountain in Albertgasse, which was the outlet of the Albertinische Wasserleitung. This water pipeline was the precursor of the high spring water pipelines and was already built at the beginning of the 19th century.
The Military Geographical Institute still looks the same today. After the end of the monarchy, the building housed the Federal Office of Metrology and Surveying until 1975; today it is home to a part of the Viennese Magistrate’s Office.
Blindeninstitut, 1939 
Alter Plan 
Die Albertgasse ist nach der Wasserleitung benannt worden. 
