Mariahilf is the sixth district of Vienna, with a population of 27,867 (2001) within an area of 1.48 km².

Location

Mariahilf is located southwest of Vienna's centre (1st district). In the north, Mariahilfer Straße, Vienna's most important shopping street, is its border with Neubau, in the south the valley of the Vienna River, in the west the Gürtel.

It consists of the five neighbourhoods (historical Vorstädte, i.e. towns): Mariahilf, Gumpendorf, Windmühle, Magdalenengrund and Laimgrube.

History

First settlements around the Roman roads of the area developed around the year 1000. In 1428, the name Im Schöff is mentioned for the first time, but this name was lost when the copy of a sacral painting from Passau was installed in a chapel of the graveyard, which came to be known as Mariahilf ("Mary's help").

More intensive settlement started only after the Second Turkish Siege of Vienna in 1683. The area was of some importance because the road to Schönbrunn Palace led through it.

Gumpendorf was mentioned in 1130 for the first time and developed from a Roman watchtower. It was subject to various feudal lords and was sold to the municipality of Vienna in 1798.

Magdalenengrund was originally known as Im Saugraben an der Wien auf der Gstätten ("In the sow pit on the Wien on the meadow") and consisted only of vineyards. In 1698, some plots were released for construction.

The Laimgrube (clay pit) is probably the oldest part of Mariahilf. It was mentioned in 1291 for the first time, but has existed already since the 11th century. Its name is derived from the clay soil, which was used to produce bricks.

Windmühle (windmill) developed from a feudal holding used by various monastic orders. In 1529 it was destroyed during the First Turkish Siege. Emperor Ferdinand I had the ownerhsip transferred to Johann Francolin, subject to the condition that he should build windmills there. However, he had only one mill built.

On March 6, 1850, the five Vorstädte of Gumpendorf, Mariahilf, Windmühle, Magdalenengrund and Laimgrube became part of Vienna as the Fifth District, Mariahilf. When Wieden was split into two districts in 1861, it became the 6th District. In 1862, some areas north of Mariahilfer Straße were ceded to the 7th District (Neubau).

Mariahilf is home to many of Vienna's gay and lesbian residents and contains a sizable concentration of bars, clubs, restaurants and shops catering to the community, along with the Rosa Lila Villa community center.

Education

Beside some buildings of the Vienna University of Technology, Mariahilf hosts the Franz Schubert Conservatory and the central vocational schools for electrical engineering, information technology, metallurgy, glass-ceramic, sanitary engineering, heating engineering and air conditioning technology.

Celebrities associated with Mariahilf

• Joseph Haydn
• Ferdinand Raimund
• Michael Thonet
• Siegfried Marcus
• Oskar Werner

Sights

• Arik Brauer House
• Mariahilf Fire Station
• Gustav Adolf Church
• Flak towers and the Haus des Meeres Aquarium in one of them
• Raimundtheater
• Theater an der Wien
• Maria Hilf Church
• Gumpendorf Church
• Naschmarkt
• Fillgraderstiege
• Rosa Lila Villa - Vienna's LGBT community center, also contains Cafe Willendorf

External links

• Mariahilferstrasse: Vienna's largest shopping street.
• Rosa Lila Villa