The Republic of Kugelmugel – Vienna’s Strangest “Country”
There are plenty of reasons to visit the Prater. You can go on a morning run or a leisurely walk. You can enjoy a fun day at the thrilling amusement park. Or perhaps you can explore the Prater behind the scenes on Secret Vienna’s latest guided tour. But what your SV explorer didn’t expect during a casual stroll was to pass by… another “country.”
If you visited the Prater before, you may have walked past a large ball-shaped structure. Though it’s surrounded by barbed wire, you most likely didn’t think all that much of it. But don’t worry, we checked it out for you. Welcome to the Republic of Kugelmugel, a self-declared micronation with a fascinating backstory. Here, Austrian law and humor meet in the most unexpected way.
How Kugelmugel Became a “Republic”
The “ball” was designed and built by Austrian artist Edwin Lipburger in Katzelsdorf, Lower Austria, in 1971. But what began as an artistic project soon turned into a legal battle. The authorities weren’t too happy about the ball-shaped house. When Lipburger refused to comply with building regulations, he was arrested and sentenced to ten weeks in jail in 1979.
Luckily, Austria’s president pardoned him and he got released. However, instead of letting the unusual structure disappear, it was moved to the Prater and was placed behind barbed wire. And, just to make things even more interesting, he declared it to be an independent republic.
A Republic Within Vienna
The Republic of Kugelmugel has just one official address: “2., Antifaschismusplatz”—a name as unconventional as the republic itself. Though it is now managed by Vienna’s authorities as a tourist attraction, Lipburger’s dream of a nation of his own lives on.
Lipburger passed away in 2015, but according to Wikipedia, the Republic of Kugelmugel still boasts over 650 non-resident citizens. So, next time you’re in the Prater, take a detour—you might just find yourself in Vienna’s smallest and strangest “country.”
If you love these kind of stories, make sure you join one of our private tours in Vienna. Our professional, licensed tour guides, will show you the city from different perspectives! Many such bizarre and wonderful stories await you!
