Der Fiaker Statue

Gazing at this bronze figure, can you hear the clip-clop of hooves on cobblestones? This, my friends, is the Fiaker Statue, a tribute to Vienna’s iconic horse-drawn carriages. The Fiaker Statue stands proudly in Fiakerplatz, a square named in 1958 after these very carriages, once the heart of the “Fiaker village.” Before 1958, this square was known as Kugelgasse, named after a house sign “Zur blauen Kugel”, and even earlier as Dörfelgasse. The Fiaker Statue itself has quite a history. Created in 1937 by Josef Engelhart, it was initially homeless. World War II and its aftermath delayed its installation. It wasn’t until 1963 that the statue found a temporary home in the Fiakermuseum. Finally, in 1991, during the redesign of Fiakerplatz, the statue found its rightful place, a gift on permanent loan from the Vienna Museum. Notice the Fiaker’s gesture. He’s tipping his hat, a charming nod to the tradition and courtesy of these Viennese coachmen. The Fiaker, a symbol of Vienna’s romantic past, still graces the city streets today, offering rides through the historic center. The Fiaker Statue serves as a lasting reminder of their enduring presence.