175 years of Mariahilf: From prehistory to shopping soae!

175 years of Mariahilf: From prehistory to shopping soae!

Gumpendorf, Österreich - On June 18, 2025, the 6th Vienna district of Mariahilf celebrates its 175th anniversary. A reason to be happy for the residents who live in this diverse part of the city, where history and modernity are interwoven in a fascinating way. Mariahilf, formed from several suburbs at the time, was officially founded in 1850 after Gumpendorf, Magdalengrund, Windmühle and the southern parts of Laimgrube were merged. First of all, the district wore the regulatory number 5, until it was renamed the 6th district, which was now confidored in 1861, after parts were ceded to the 5th district of Margareten.

The early history of the region is just as exciting. Archaeological finds show that people lived in this area several thousand years ago. The excavations at the Gumpendorfer Straße subway station are particularly remarkable, in which Stone Age tools and bones were discovered.

growing settlement and economic upswing

The density of the settlement increased strongly after the second Ottoman deposit in Vienna in 1683. The establishment of water pipes in 1716 was a decisive factor for the growth of the area. By 1869, over 67,000 people already lived in Mariahilf, with the current population being around 31,000. This distinctive decline illustrates the significant change in the city structure and the living space over 150 years.

The development of Mariahilf was not only shaped by living space, but also by economic success. In 1768 the largest Vienna Silk-Zzeug-Fabrik was founded, which significantly influenced the economic development of the district. Furthermore, significant companies such as Palmers were created in 1900. Today, around 4,749 companies with around 5,250 workplaces are located in the district.

architecture and cultural asset

Mariahilf impresses with its characteristic architecture, which has been shaped by dense buildings since the mid -19th century. The Biedermeier construction, through-house and renowned buildings such as the Theater an der Vienna, the Raimundtheater and the Apollotheater are particularly striking. The sacred buildings such as the Mariahilfer Church, the Gumpendorfer Church and the LaimGrubenkirche also fit harmoniously into the cityscape. The former synagogue was destroyed in 1938 and is reminiscent of the dark chapters of the story.

If you look back, there were also historical events that shaped the district, like the fights at the "Mariahilfer Tor" during the revolution in 1848. Another milestone was the integration of the Naschmarks to the district in 2009, which made him the heart of culinary life. [Historywiki.Wien.gv.at]

In order to further explore the exciting history of Mariahilf, it is worth taking a look at the publication series "Research and contributions to Viennese city history", which offers extensive studies on topics in city history, published by the Association for History of the City of Vienna. This series was launched by Felix Czeike in 1978 and deals with numerous important aspects of Viennese history. [History-wien.at]

With all these facets, Mariahilf is shown as a pulsating district that skillfully combines tradition and innovation. For the next 175 years full of further stories and developments!