Ballhausplatz

Ballhausplatz in Vienna's first district is the political heart of Austria and is often used as a metonym for the federal government. Surrounded by the Volksgarten, the Hofburg, and Heldenplatz, it is home today to the Federal Chancellery and the Office of the President. The Chancellery's striking building was constructed in the early 18th century by Johann Lukas von Hildebrandt as the Secret Court Chancellery and served for a long time as the Foreign Ministry. The square's name derives from the historic ball houses that stood here until the 20th century. During the Corporate State era, unfinished monuments to the ruling party were planned here and were torn down after the Anschluss. Because of its central importance, the square is a popular site for political demonstrations and historical commemorations. Here you can experience not only the stately architecture but also the country's vivid political history, which ranges from triumphant returns to massive protests.