Richard-Kralik-Platz

Have you ever heard of Richard Kralik? He was a writer and philosopher who actually lived right here on this square. Today, Richard-Kralik-Platz is a beautiful octagonal plaza situated on the border of Vienna’s 18th and 19th districts: Währing and Döbling. You’re standing at the crossroads of Weimarer Strasse and Hasenauer Strasse. Take a closer look and you will see the houses of Karl Ritter von Borkowski, the chief architect of the Cottage Association. The houses were built in 1889. This square was named after Richard Kralik in 1934, the year he died. He built his last house, number 3, on this very plaza, following the plans of his father-in-law, Wilhelm von Flattich. Before that, the square had many other names. From 1900, a committee under Gustav Tschermak worked hard to finance and build a fountain, a monument to Archduke Karl Ludwig, brother of Emperor Franz Joseph I. It was finished in 1906 and on October 8th, was unveiled by Archduke Rainer. Can you imagine the fanfare that took place that day? Sadly, it was destroyed during World War II. What remains today is a sculpture made of natural stone by Robert Ullmann, called Two Children with a Turtle. It’s not quite as awe-inspiring as the fountain, but it still brings a unique character to this charming square. Now, imagine the hustle and bustle of this area in the early 20th century. You can picture streetcars rumbling over the plaza, carrying people from one destination to another. This stopped in 1960 when buses took over. If you have any more questions about Richard Kralik or this square, feel free to ask.