How to Know When It's Lunchtime in Vienna
When planning an excursion to Stephansplatz (Vienna’s bustling cobblestone cathedral plaza), be sure to jaunt over to the famous Ankeruhr clock for its impressive noon display. The clock is a large early 1900s Jugendstil construction of stone and gilded metal that connects two buildings on the Hoher Markt, just a few minutes’ walking distance from Stephansplatz.
Everyday at noon, 12 near-life-size figures from Austrian history parade across the face of the Ankeruhr for about 10 minutes. Meanwhile, the clock plays a medley of well-known classical music. The most well-known historical figures end the show, with Empress Maria Theresia and her husband Franz Stephan representing 11 o’clock and composer Joseph Haydn (complete with violin in hand) as the finale at 12.
If you miss the noon show, you can get an idea of the clock’s splendor by visiting at a different time of day. A single figure crosses the clock face on any of the other 23 hours. During the season of Advent, the Ankeruhr also plays Christmas songs at 5 and 6 pm.
To get to the Ankeruhr from Stephansplatz, walk down Rotenturmstrasse toward Schwedenplatz and take a left onto Lichtenstrasse. From other city locations, take the U4 metro line to Schwedenplatz. From Schwedenplatz, walk toward Stephansplatz on Rotenturmstrasse and take a right onto Lichtenstrasse. Lichtenstrasse turns into Hoher Markt. The Ankeruhr is located at 10-11 Hoher Markt.
