The Wien in Wien

The river Wien played a part in everyday life in Vienna long before its course was regulated. After the once rushing Wien was redirected into its new channels, the river's influence on life in - and beneath - the city increased significantly. It changed from a wild river not just to a city river, but a natural river habitat.

Before the river Wien was tamed through human activity, its kinetic energy was put to work powering mills and other industrial premises. One theory has it that the river gave the city its name. Documentary evidence dating back to 881 mentions the place name for the first time in a report on a battle at Weniam, which translates as wild stream.

Now the more moderately-flowing river is embedded in a concrete channel that passes venerable old Viennese apartment buildings on its way to the Danube Canal. The source of the Wien is the Kaiserbründl spring in the leafy Vienna Woods. Empress Sisi even had the delicious spring water delivered to Schönbrunn for her coffee. Or was it part of her quest for inner beauty? This elixir is said to have lost nothing of its magical properties to this day.

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Art Nouveau complex on the Wien — The so-called Wien river portal can be found in the Stadtpark. – © MA 29 / Wurscher

Portal of the Art Nouveau complex on the Wien — The Art Nouveau complex was designed by Friedrich Ohmann and accompanies the Wien river on its journey through the Stadtpark. – © WienTourismus/Peter Rigaud

River obstruction — The promenade path is open all year round. – © Kurt Wurscher

The Wien river nestled between walls — The moderately flowing current runs in a concrete drain between Viennese apartment buildings before emptying into the Danube Canal. – © MA 29 / Wurscher

Swan on the Wien and fish under water — Animals feel just fine in the city. In particular, water fowl and fish use Vienna's water courses as habitat. – © Wiener Wildniss

The Wien river, embankment under motorway bridge — The Wien river has been lavishly renatured at Hütteldorf and now makes a valuable contribution to preserving the habitat of many animals in the city. – © Stadt Wien / Wiener Gewässer

Wien river in Vienna's sewer system — The Wien river even runs through the city underground. The Third Man Tour also takes participants beneath the city. – © Rainer Fehringer

The river can be seen in its original state on the city’s western border in the thirteenth district where engineers and biologists have joined forces to restore it to its former glory. The banks have been returned as close as possible to their natural form and now provide a habitat for different types of flora and fauna. Stretching for seven kilometers through this oasis of greenery, the Wienfluss promenade runs alongside the river bed. Looking at the trickle of water, it is hard to believe that this is actually a wild river like the ones found in the Alps. 27 flood markers in the river bed remind visitors to leave the promenade immediately once the water reaches a certain level. Regulation of the Wien is an important part of the city’s flood protection measures. After a downpour, the rivulet can turn into a raging torrent in a matter of minutes.

If you follow the river towards the first district, it suddenly disappears – from this point on it stays below ground. And beneath Naschmarkt, Vienna’s sewers shot to worldwide fame in the Hollywood classic ‘The Third Man’.

The archway in Stadtpark, which marks the end of the covered section, is crowned with the Wienflussportal, an architectural masterpiece designed by Friedrich Ohmann in 1906. Although the dull, flat concrete river bed looks fairly benign, it soon becomes clear that the Wien is still a wild river at heart. Swans, ducks and various species of fish can be found here, adding wildlife to the capital.

Text: Karoline Gasienica-Bryjak