Bankgasse

Bankgasse in Vienna's first district is a historic street that runs west from Herrengasse to Löwelstraße. Originally laid out in the 13th century as the northern boundary of the Minorite Monastery, it went by various names over the centuries before being named in 1862 after the building of the Austrian National Bank located there. Today the lane is best known for its exceptionally dense concentration of Baroque city palaces. Because there are no shops or restaurants here, only government and diplomatic offices for the most part, the atmosphere is quiet and stately. All of the buildings are protected landmarks and reflect the architectural diversity of the Habsburg Monarchy.

At the facade of the former Palais Batthyány, you can admire an impressive High Baroque complex that stands out for its elaborately designed round-arched portal with putti and coat-of-arms cartouches. Nearby stands the Historicist building of the former Austro-Hungarian Bank, considered one of the first buildings in Vienna built in the Old German style and notable for its Corinthian columns and a double-eagle coat of arms. Another highlight is the Liechtenstein City Palace, regarded as Vienna's first important High Baroque palace, with a monumental portal created by Domenico Martinelli. Inside, the palace once housed the princes' famous art collection, parts of which can be found there again today, although it is not open to the public as a regular museum.

Other sights include the former Hungarian Court Chancellery, now home to the Hungarian Embassy. In its inner courtyard you will find a rare Venetian fountain basin from the 13th century, as well as one of the best-preserved suites of Rococo rooms in Vienna. Also remarkable are the ceiling frescoes by Franz Anton Maulbertsch and paintings depicting the coronation of Maria Theresa as Queen of Hungary. At the western end of the lane stands the early Baroque Palais Starhemberg, now used by federal ministries and considered one of the few surviving important early Baroque palaces in Vienna. This combination of architectural masterpieces and historical significance makes Bankgasse a special place in Vienna's urban history.