Contemplate how a small group of wine and garden houses gave rise to the name Rudolfsheim-Fünfhaus. This is Vienna’s 15th district. It lies west of the city center. Today we explore its story.
Rudolfsheim-Fünfhaus might feel like an outer district. Yet it shares traits with Vienna’s inner areas. It has a small area. It has a high population density. It is close to the old city. Unlike other outer districts, it lacks a share of Vienna’s green belt.
The Westbahn railway line strongly shapes Rudolfsheim-Fünfhaus. It divides the district into north and south. The southern part has old town centers around Fünfhaus and Rudolfsheim. These go back to the Middle Ages. The northern part called Schmelz became urbanized after 1850. Today more than half of the district’s residents live there.
The district’s fragmented nature explains something. No strong local identity exists in Rudolfsheim-Fünfhaus. It is unlike other outer districts such as Floridsdorf or Ottakring. But in recent years, a growing sense of neighborhood has emerged. This is especially true in the Nibelungen quarter and around Reindorfgasse.
Rudolfsheim-Fünfhaus once had worn-out 19th-century areas. It had labor migration and street prostitution. The prostitution is now largely gone. Since 2000, the district has gained appeal and residents. Its famous landmarks include the Westbahnhof. There is also the Wiener Stadthalle and the Maria vom Siege church.
In 1863, the villages of Reindorf, Braunhirschen, and Rustendorf joined together. They formed the municipality of Rudolfsheim. This was named after Crown Prince Rudolf of Austria. The district grew in the 19th century. In 1890, it joined Vienna along with Fünfhaus and Sechshaus.
The northern and eastern parts of Fünfhaus became the fifteenth district. Rudolfsheim and Sechshaus became the fourteenth district. This was under the name of Rudolfsheim alone. In 1938, Rudolfsheim and Fünfhaus unified into the 15th district. Since 1957, it has been named Rudolfsheim-Fünfhaus.
The coat of arms of Rudolfsheim-Fünfhaus combines emblems. These emblems are from four former independent municipalities. The top half shows Rudolfsheim’s emblem until 1853. It merged Rustendorf, Reindorf, and Braunhirschen. The blue part represents Rustendorf. It has a silver crescent. The green section represents Reinsdorf. A golden grapevine with two leaves symbolizes winemaking. The middle shows Braunhirschen. A brown deer with antlers decorates an inn. The red section represents Fünfhaus and Sechshaus. It shows Archangel Michael killing a dragon. This image symbolizes the Barnabitenkollegium St. Michael. It was home to the founding fathers of Fünfhaus and Sechshaus.
Rudolfsheim-Fünfhaus has a rich tapestry of history. It has a vibrant present. Its unique character continues to evolve. It embraces diversity and change.