Dorotheergasse

Dorotheergasse in Vienna's first district is a historic street named after the former Augustinian canons' monastery of St. Dorothea, which stood here from 1414 to 1786. In the Middle Ages it marked the boundary between two fields and was incorporated into the city in the 13th century. Originally known as Verberstraße, a name that dates back to Flemish cloth dyers, it received its present name in the 15th century. The lane became one of the most distinguished addresses in Vienna: a Poor Clares convent was built here in the 16th century, and numerous court dignitaries later lived on the street. It also earned a place in history as the first location in Vienna to be lit with tallow lanterns, in 1687, a measure that was extended to the entire city shortly afterward.

Today Dorotheergasse is a cultural hub of the city. It is home to the center of Viennese Protestantism, with the Lutheran and Reformed city churches, whose facades were designed in the 19th century; before that, as so-called tolerance churches, they were not permitted to look like churches at all. The Jewish Museum Vienna has also been located here since 1993. In the lane you will find a dense concentration of art dealers and galleries, including the renowned Dorotheum auction house, which occupies the premises of the former convent. The music publisher Doblinger is also based here. The architecture is stylistically varied, ranging from Baroque palaces such as Palais Starhemberg and Palais Gatterburg to Secessionist buildings such as Otto Wagner's Ankerhaus.

The street offers a lively atmosphere with plenty of foot traffic. Well-known spots for a bite or a drink include Café Hawelka, a historic artists' café with works by the Vienna School of Fantastic Realism, and the Trześniewski sandwich shop. The Graben Hotel, a meeting place for writers such as Franz Kafka, also shapes the character of the street. Most of the buildings are protected landmarks and bear witness to the rich history of a place that is now considered a center for art, culture, and history.