About this place
Heldenplatz, or 'Heroes' Square', was originally designed as the grand centerpiece of Emperor Franz Joseph's 'Kaiserforum'—a massive imperial project that was never completed due to the fall of the Habsburg monarchy. Today, the vast open space is dominated by the sweeping curve of the Neue Burg palace and two colossal equestrian statues. While it was built to celebrate imperial military glory, the square is globally infamous for a much darker event: it was here, from the balcony of the Neue Burg, that Adolf Hitler announced the annexation of Austria in 1938 to a cheering crowd of hundreds of thousands.
Key facts
- 20 tons — The weight of the bronze Archduke Charles statue, balancing on two legs
- 1938 year — Hitler announced the 'Anschluss' from the balcony overlooking the square
- 200000 people — The estimated size of the crowd that filled this square in March 1938
📍 Heldenplatz, 1010, Wien