About this place
The Vienna State Opera is one of the world's leading opera houses, but it was nearly erased from the map during World War II. In the final months of the war, aerial bombings destroyed the auditorium and stage, leaving a shell of the original 1869 structure. The building you see today was lovingly rebuilt and reopened in 1955 as a symbol of Austria’s rebirth. During the Nazi years, the opera suffered a different kind of destruction as Jewish artists were expelled and banned. Its history is a mirror of Vienna itself, reflecting both glorious creativity and catastrophic loss.
Key facts
- 150000 costumes — Burned to ash during the 1945 bombing
- 10 years — Taken to rebuild the opera house after the war
- 1955 year — Reopened with Beethoven's 'Fidelio' celebrating freedom
📍 Opernring 2, 1010, Wien