Mölkerbastei – A Hidden Piece of Vienna’s Old City Walls
We’ve previously written about the Albertina and Palais Coburg, two of the three elevated spots that remain from Vienna’s old city walls. The third is Mölkerbastei, located right in front of the University of Vienna.
Built in the 16th century, Mölkerbastei takes its name from the nearby Melker Hof, a historic housing complex. In 1857, Emperor Franz Joseph ordered the removal of Vienna’s city walls. By the 1870s, most of them, including their bastions, had disappeared. But this one survived.
From Fortress to Promenade
While the city walls were originally built for defense, by the time of Emperor Joseph II, they had become popular promenades where Viennese could go for a walk and enjoy the view. Houses and palaces were built on top of the walls, just like at the Albertina and Palais Coburg, and the buildings on Mölkerbastei are still standing today.
Beethoven and the Mölkerbastei
One of Mölkerbastei’s most famous residents was Ludwig van Beethoven, who lived here on and off between 1804 and 1814. His former home, known as Pasqualatihaus, is now a museum, where visitors can get a glimpse into Beethoven’s life in Vienna. If you’d like to visit, it’s free on the first Sunday of every month!
You can learn more about Beethoven on our musical tour on which we follow the footsteps of Vienna’s musicians. We also explore this area on our “Vienna behind the scenes” tour.
