JEWISH Vienna

Sigmund Freud Tour

and 4 other Tours

Karyna Tymoshenko

and 4 other Guides

Hotel Sans Souci Wien

and 5 other Hotels

Virtual Tours in the Diaspora

Miznon

and 5 other Restaurants

קבלו השראה! Get Inspired!

Holocaust Memorial

Virtual Tours

Jewish Story Videos

Instagram: Restaurants

Shabbat Around The World

Urban Trails

Tours In Israel

Jewish Heritage Tours

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אתרים מומלצים Sites to see

Sites

Stadttempel Synagogue

The Stadttempel (English: City Prayer House), also called the Seitenstettengasse Temple, is the main synagogue of Vienna, Austria. The synagogue was constructed from 1824 to 1826. The luxurious Stadttempel was fitted into a block of houses and hidden from plain view of the street, because of an edict issued by Emperor Joseph II that only Roman Catholic places of worship were allowed to be built with facades fronting directly on to public streets. This edict saved the synagogue from total destruction during the Kristallnacht in November 1938, since the synagogue could not be destroyed without setting on fire the buildings to which it was attached. The Stadttempel was the only synagogue in the city to survive World War II, as Nazi paramilitary troops with the help of local authorities destroyed all of the other 93 synagogues and Jewish prayer-houses in Vienna, starting with the Kristallnacht. In August 1950, the coffins of Theodor Herzl and his parents were displayed at the synagogue, prior to their transfer for reburial in Israel. In the 1981 Vienna synagogue attack, two people from a bar mitzvah ceremony at the synagogue were murdered and thirty injured when Palestinian Arab terrorists attacked the synagogue with machine guns and hand grenades. Today the synagogue is the main house of prayer for the Viennese Jewish Community of about 7,000 members. The synagogue has been declared a historic monument. The synagogue was designed in elegant Biedermeier style by the Viennese architect Joseph Kornhäusel, architect to Johann I Joseph, Prince of Liechtenstein, for whom he had built palaces, theaters and other buildings. Construction was supervised by the official municipal architect, Jacob Heinz. The synagogue itself is in the form of an oval. A ring of twelve Ionic columns support a two-tiered women's gallery. Originally, the galleries ended one column away from the Torah Ark, they were later extended to the columns beside the ark to provide more seating. the building is domed and lit by a lantern in the center of the dome, in classic Biedermeyer style. A commemorative glass made at the time of the synagogue's dedication and etched with a detailed image of the synagogue's interior is now in the collection of the Jewish Museum (New York). The synagogue underwent renovation in 1895 and again in 1904 by the Jewish architect Wilhelm Stiassny, adding considerable ornamentation, and, in the opinion of architectural historian Rachel Wischnitzer, "the serene harmony of the design was spoiled by renovations." Damage inflicted on Kristallnacht was repaired in 1949. The synagogue was renovated once again in 1963 by Prof. Otto Niedermoser. Image Attribution: Bic (Wikimedia Commons), CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

Sites

Seegasse Jewish Cemetery

The Jewish cemetery in Roßau, which is also known at the Seegasse Jewish cemetery because of its location in the Seegasse, is the oldest preserved cemetery in Vienna. Members of the city's Jewish community were buried here between 1540 and 1783. The Jewish cemetery lies in the suburb of Roßau in the 9th district of Vienna, Alsergrund, and covers an area of approximately 2000 m2. Today, the site is part of the yard of the old people's home in the Seegasse and can be accessed via the home. Where the home now stands, there used to be a Jewish establishment for quarantining the sick. In 1629, the Seegasse was known as the Gassel allwo der Juden Grabstätte and, from 1778 it was known as the Judengasse ("Jews' lane"). In 1862, it was renamed Seegasse (Lake lane) after a fish pond that used to be in the area which was described in a document from 1415 as a "lake". The Jewish cemetery in the Seegasse was created in the 16th century. Between 1540 and 1783, it was the main burial site for members of Vienna's Jewish community. Following a pogrom against Viennese Jews in 1670, the Jewish merchant Koppel Fränkel paid a sum of 4000 gulden, in return for which the city committed to maintain the cemetery. Use of the cemetery as a burial site continued thereafter until 1783, when emperor Joseph II forbade the use of all cemeteries within the city walls. A new cemetery for the Jewish community was created outside the city walls in the suburb of Währing (see Jewish Cemetery (Währing)). In line with the edicts of the Jewish religion, the cemetery in the Seegasse was left untouched, while Christian cemeteries within the city walls were closed and built over. In 1943, the Nazi authorities resolved to raze the cemetery and to build over the site. A group of engaged Viennese Jews responded by removing some of the gravestones, which they buried at the city's main cemetery, the Zentralfriedhof. In the 1980s, 280 of the 931 gravestones that were buried there were rediscovered and returned to their original homes as recorded in Bernhard Wachstein’s surveys of the cemetery from the 1910s. The cemetery was sanctified once again on 2 September 1984. The inscriptions on the gravestones in the cemetery are entirely in Hebrew.

Sites

Jewish Museum Vienna

The Jewish Museum of the City of Vienna is a place of encounter and understanding. It enables insights into Judaism, its holidays and customs, but also into youth culture. At its two locations, the Jewish Museum Vienna presents a unique overview of the history and the present-day life of Viennese Jews. We are looking forward to your visit! The Jewish Museum of the City of Vienna is a place of encounter, interaction and understanding, which seeks to raise awareness of Jewish history, religion, and culture. The first Jewish museum in the world was founded in Vienna in 1895, sponsored by a group of Viennese Jewish citizens. The collection focused on the culture and history of the Jews in the Austro-Hungarian Empire, particularly Vienna and Galicia. In the interwar years Zionist objects were added, reflecting the new political discussion at that time. The museum was closed by the Nazis in 1938 directly after the Anschluss. In the last year of its existence the inventory listed 6,474 objects. In 1939 the museum collection was transferred to the Museum of Ethnology and other institutions in Vienna. The Anthropology Department of the Natural History Museum in Vienna used some of the items for its anti-Semitic propaganda exhibition “The physical and psychological appearance of the Jews". Most of the objects were returned to the IKG Vienna in the early 1950s, although some were not restituted until the 1990s. Over half of the objects have disappeared; it is practically impossible to discover whether they were stolen or deliberately destroyed. Objects once listed in the Jewish Museum collection turn up occasionally on the art and antiques market. The surviving objects – on permanent loan from the IKG to the present-day Jewish Museum Vienna – form a unique component of the current collection.

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Tours of Vienna

Sigmund Freud Tour

The Sigmund Freud Tour will take you through Sigmund Freud's life and work in Vienna. You will see 20 important places and buildings that related to his life and will experience what it was like for him to work in the city. Sigmund Freud eventually left Vienna for London in 1938 when the fascist ideology took over. He spent a large part of his life in Vienna, therefore Freud's spirit still lives on through memories, statues, buildings, and stories.

Schnitzel Tour

The Schnitzel Tour is mostly the same as the Hotrod Tour Wien company's Daylight Tour with an additional schnitzel and potato salad snack stop at the Cafehaus Hofburg. On this tour you will see the top sites in the city and get to drive and travel in a hot rod vehicle. All participants must have a valid class B driving license and wear helmets, which are provided upon arrival. This tour gives you a unique way to travel through the streets of Vienna, explore the city's top sites, and enjoy a delicious schnitzel.

Vienna Jewish Sites and History

The city of Vienna is filled with Jewish heritage and history. The Jewish community in Vienna was thriving until 1938 when the German Wehrmacht occupation of Austria began. Jews were robbed of their properties, which then became either possessions of the state or were sold at extremely low prices. It didn't matter if the man was a simple shoemaker or famous like Sigmund Freud, all Jews were persecuted, and for this reason 140,000 Austrian Jews fled the country. The 65,000 who could not escape were killed. On this tour, you will hear stories of the once flourishing Jewish community, learn about events that led up to the Holocaust, and hear about the current status of Vienna's Jewish population. The tour will cover the Museum at Judenplatz, the Holocaust Memorial at Judenplatz, the Memorial against War and Fascism at Albertinaplatz, and the spot where Hitler announced the Anschluss in 1938. You will also have the opportunity to see the only synagogue in the city that was not destroyed during the "Reichskristallnacht." This tour will take you back in time and help you understand the full history of Jews in Vienna.

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מסעדות בסגנון יהודי JEWISH STYLE RESTAURANTS

Miznon

Miznon is known for its entertaining staff, energetic atmosphere, good food, and lively music. It's a place where you will feel right at home, and the staff members even feel like friends you've known for years. It's often a loud restaurant and fast-paced, but fills you with positive vibes, and of course, outstanding food. They have an open kitchen where you can see the fresh ingredients being used right in front of you. Some of their unique menu items include a cauliflower pita, a chickpea bowl with egg, the Pitaburger, and a banana Nutella pita. They have plenty of traditional foods as well, such as lamb kabobs, ratatouille, and a variety of deliciously cooked vegetables. If you are looking for a fun and upbeat dining experience, Miznon is where you want to be. You're sure to leave with a boost of energy and a belly full of fresh Middle Eastern food.

Neni am Naschmarkt

Neni's goal is to bring ethnic Middle Eastern foods to the heart of Vienna and other cities around the world. Dining in the Naschmarkt is a unique experience in itself because you can feel the energy of the market through your entire meal. All of the spices you smell in the market are brought to life in Neni's dishes. If you appreciate flavor and an energetic atmosphere, you won't leave this restaurant disappointed. If you come for breakfast you can enjoy an avocado toast, shakshuka with organic eggs, vegan blueberry porridge with coconut milk, or the Oriental breakfast with fava beans, hummus, and eggs. In the afternoon you can begin your meal with a variety of vegetable-based starters, such as roasted cauliflower, oven eggplant, falafel, or oriental spring rolls. Then, for the main course, you can enjoy a fillet of salmon, lamb shank, or Sabich among several other options. The menu at Neni has something for everyone. All menu items are marked with common allergens to try to accommodate for all dietary needs. Dining at Neni at the Naschmarkt will give you a unique experience. You will taste some of the best Middle Eastern food the city has to offer.

Cafe Eskeles

Café Eskeles is named after Bernhard Freiherr von Eskeles who was born in Vienna in 1753. He grew up as the son of a rabbi and in 1773 he co-founded the band house: Arnstein and Eskeles. Later, Eskeles became one of the founders of the Austrian National Bank as well. This restaurant has received high remarks from travelers around the world and has been published in several newspapers and magazines. Though the cafe is located in the Jewish Museum, it is open to anyone who wants a unique Israeli dining experience in the center of Vienna. There are a wide range of vegetarian and kosher options, including the best Israeli and Austrian kosher wines to choose from. Some of the dishes rotate but, while the house favorites tend to stay around, there are always amazing Mediterranean and Israeli specialties to try.

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מדריכים בעיר CITY GUIDES

Karyna Tymoshenko

Karyna left her marketing job to follow her dream of becoming a full-time tour guide. Ever since moving to Vienna from the Ukraine thirteen years ago, she has been in love with the history and culture of Vienna. Even in the most hidden spots around the city, there is meaning and Karyna set out to discover the meaning and history of all the sites, streets, and alleyways that were around her. She loves learning about the conflict and history that shaped Vienna into the city it is today, but even more than that, she loves being able to share that knowledge with the people around her. Her tours range from classic tours for those wanting a broad introduction of the city to specialty tours that dig into urban life, or the history of cinema in Vienna. Then there are surprise tours that can be arranged for those who might not know exactly what they want, but do know what they are not interested in. Karyna helps people discover Vienna and fall in love with the city in the same way she did.

Gertrude

Gertrude will take you by bus, minicar, or tram to not only the city's top sites, but also to the hidden streets, which hold just as much history as St. Stephen's Cathedral. She will tell you stories as far back as the Roman era and explain how the rest of Europe had an influence on Vienna's culture and population. For over 20 years, she has led tourists throughout the city, helping them to feel at home during their stay in Vienna. You can choose to focus on Vienna's Jewish history, Sigmund Freud, famous women figures, music, or do a full city tour to hit the top sites and historical locations. There is so much history to learn and sites to see in Vienna. Gertrude will help you to see it all and make the most of your time in this beautiful city.

Dace

Dace is a private tour guide who will help you to feel right at home during your stay in Vienna. There are many beautiful sites to see in Vienna, but also several hidden spots that many tourists don't know about that Dace will make sure you see. Some of her themed city walking tours include a Downtown Vienna Walking Tour, Belvedere Palace and Gardens Tour, Gustav Klimt Tour, Schoenbrunn Palace and Gardens Tour, Christmas in Vienna Tour, Vienna Woods Tour, Taste of Vienna Tour (with traditional Austrian food and wine), Imperial Vienna Tour, Music in Vienna Tour, Vienna for Kids and Families Tour , Jewish Heritage in Vienna Tour, Before Sunrise Film Tour, and many more. Dace wants to help you make the most of your time in Vienna and her tours are a perfect way to get to know the city and learn about its fascinating history and culture.

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קראו עוד בלוגים וספרים אלקטרוניים READ MORE BLOGS AND EBOOKS

World Jewish Travel Official August 30, 2022

Jewish Vienna, Austria: A Community of Influence and Suffering

The History Jewish Vienna: Amazing and Devastating Vienna is a city with a rich artistic and intellectual legacy. With its palace-like architecture, decadent chocolate and iconic waltz, it is one of Europe’s shining jewels. Vienna’s Jewish community had a large hand to play in forming this respected reputation. For years the Jewish community was the intellectual life blood of Viennese culture. Several times throughout their history the community has known devastation and rejection. Even till today antisemitism occurs within the nation, despite the lessons of history that followed the destruction of the Holocaust.

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Hotels in Vienna

Hotel Sans Souci Wien

Hotel Sans Souci Wien is located in a prime location between the traditional 1st district and more modern 7th district. The neighborhood is filled with shopping centers, boutique shops, and historical sites that tell stories of the city's past and current status. Hotel Sans Souci Wien has a history of its own, as it was established in a historical building that was erected in 1872. Before the building became a hotel, it served as an inn called Hotel Holler. The Sans Souci Group got the building in 2010 and began careful renovations to preserve the unique character of the building while adding style and modernity. Inside the hotel, you will find original artwork, individually designed rooms, a small event room, and a phenomenal bar and restaurant. Guests can also relax in the wellness oasis, which has two treatment rooms and three saunas, as well as work out in the fitness center and sports pool. The rooms give you a personal space for restful nights sleep and are designed to open all senses. Every part of the hotel has been carefully constructed to create a perfect getaway during your visit.

Palais Hansen Kempinski

Palais Hansen Kempinski was originally built for the 1873 World Exhibition. The hotel provides 152 rooms and suites, two restaurants, two bars, a ballroom, a flower shop, a spa, a cigar lounge, and seven conference rooms. Though the hotel is large in size, you don't feel overwhelmed because each space is unique and has a cozy and inviting design. The hotel is located at Schottenring and is known as a place where luxury, contemporary design, and modern architecture come together. Just a couple kilometers from the hotel you will find St. Stephen's Cathedral, the Schoenbrunn Palace, the State Opera House, the Vienna Zoo, the Golden Quarter shopping street, the City hall, the Vienna Museum Quarter, and the Giant Ferris Wheel. Palais Hansen Kempinski Vienna is in the middle of the Boerse district, where the surrounding neighborhood is filled with greenery for an enjoyable stroll along the Danube Canal and an inviting visit Boerse Park. The hotel is rated as one of the top hotels in Vienna for its convenient location, design, restaurants, lounge spaces, and friendly staff.