Does the name Chrottendorf ring a bell? It should because that was the original name for KG Unterdöbling. We are standing in what was once a distinct village. It eventually evolved into what we know today as KG Unterdöbling.
The name Unterdöbling appeared in the 15th century. Before that, it was all Chrottendorf. This name came from its location near the Krottenbach stream. The stream played a crucial role in shaping the area’s identity.
In 1114, Döbling appeared in a document as de Teopilic. The word toplica means marshy water in Slavic. It referred to the settlement by the Krottenbach. Over time, names like Toblich, Töbling and Tepling were also used.
Medieval KG Unterdöbling was home to self-sufficient farmers. They grew crops. They made wine. They produced milk. The nobles derer von Topolic owned Döbling in the 12th century. Later, the Dominican monastery in Tulln acquired it. A document from 1310 mentions it as belonging to the ladies of Tulln.
The Krottenbach divided the settlements. This division was officially recorded in 1591. St James is featured on a village seal from 1688. The inscription reads Sigil der gemain Under Thöbling 1688. This translates to Seal of the municipality Under Thöbling 1688.
KG Unterdöbling faced challenges due to limited land. It lagged behind Oberdöbling in development. In the early 18th century, KG Unterdöbling was larger than Oberdöbling. The plague of 1713 hit KG Unterdöbling hard. More than half the houses were infected. Fifty-two people died.
In 1783, KG Unterdöbling had 300 residents. Around 1800, it had only one street. By 1828, the population grew to 500 with 53 houses. The population decreased in later years. By 1835, only 400 inhabitants remained.
Growth later mirrored Oberdöbling. In 1853, 941 people lived in KG Unterdöbling. By 1890, there were 2,074 people in 170 houses. In 1892, KG Unterdöbling merged with other suburbs. These included Grinzing, Nußdorf and Heiligenstadt. They became the 19th district of Vienna, Döbling.
The Krim area of KG Unterdöbling grew rapidly in the 1950s. This once poor area became an upscale residential district. It even got its own parish church.
Viticulture was key to KG Unterdöbling’s economy. Almost half the land had vineyards in 1826. Agriculture covered another quarter. Pasture made up about one-fifth.
The Zacherl insecticide factory became important in KG Unterdöbling. Johann Zacherl imported insecticide from Tiflis in 1842. In 1870, he started local production. His Zacherlin product sold worldwide. Karl Mayreder designed the factory like a mosque. It became Vienna’s most unusual factory building. The factory closed in the 1950s.
The oriental-style Zacherlfabrik is a unique sight. The Döbling Carmelite Nunnery in Silbergasse is also notable. So is its Kirche Hl. Familie. Some former vintner’s houses remain. The local cemetery held the graves of Johann Strauss the Elder and Joseph Lanner. It closed in 1927. Their remains moved to Vienna’s Zentralfriedhof. Their graves became part of the Strauss-Lanner-Park. The park sits on the former cemetery site. KG Unterdöbling shows how a small village evolved into a vibrant part of Vienna. Its history is rich with agriculture, industry, and culture.