
Majolika-Haus (Majolica House), Vienna
Majolica House is one of those rare spots in Vienna (and probably further afield, too) where you can see flowers bloom not in the garden, but across the façade. This eye-catching beauty is the work of Otto Wagner, Vienna’s poster boy for the Secessionist movement. During his “I’m done with Baroque” phase, Wagner decided to ditch the frills and go full-on floral with clean lines and tiled elegance. The building’s name comes from its ceramic tiles, dripping with pinks, greens, and blues in swirling botanical glory. Think wallpaper for the outside walls, only waterproof and wildly photogenic.
Wagner’s architectural rebellion was all about simplicity with flair. No ornate carvings, no dramatic cornices—just smooth surfaces and windows that mind their own business. The outside hinted at the inside: clean, modern, functional. Still rectangular, sure, but very much a rebel in a world of curvy cupolas and frilly stonework. Today, it’s still considered a top-tier Art Nouveau masterpiece, minus the ego...
Not far off is House No. 38, where Wagner teamed up with fellow art renegades. You’ll spot Koloman Moser’s bold reliefs and Othmar Schimkowitz’s gilded stucco medallions catching sunlight like they know they're fabulous. Then there’s a more modest building at No. 3 Köstlergasse—rumored to be Wagner’s own residence. Understated, of course, because nothing says “architect’s ego” like hiding in plain sight.
And when you’re ready to change levels—literally—head down into Kettenbrückengasse subway station, also a Wagner design. It’s where style meets utility with such grace, you might forget you’re just waiting for a train.
Now, onward—Vienna doesn’t admire itself...
Pro tip:
Go on a bright day, and bring binoculars. Seriously. The details tucked under balconies and along the eaves are worth the squint. Wagner wasn’t just designing buildings—he was composing symphonies in ceramic and stucco.
Wagner’s architectural rebellion was all about simplicity with flair. No ornate carvings, no dramatic cornices—just smooth surfaces and windows that mind their own business. The outside hinted at the inside: clean, modern, functional. Still rectangular, sure, but very much a rebel in a world of curvy cupolas and frilly stonework. Today, it’s still considered a top-tier Art Nouveau masterpiece, minus the ego...
Not far off is House No. 38, where Wagner teamed up with fellow art renegades. You’ll spot Koloman Moser’s bold reliefs and Othmar Schimkowitz’s gilded stucco medallions catching sunlight like they know they're fabulous. Then there’s a more modest building at No. 3 Köstlergasse—rumored to be Wagner’s own residence. Understated, of course, because nothing says “architect’s ego” like hiding in plain sight.
And when you’re ready to change levels—literally—head down into Kettenbrückengasse subway station, also a Wagner design. It’s where style meets utility with such grace, you might forget you’re just waiting for a train.
Now, onward—Vienna doesn’t admire itself...
Pro tip:
Go on a bright day, and bring binoculars. Seriously. The details tucked under balconies and along the eaves are worth the squint. Wagner wasn’t just designing buildings—he was composing symphonies in ceramic and stucco.
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Vienna. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "ϳԹ: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
Majolika-Haus (Majolica House) on Map
Sight Name: Majolika-Haus (Majolica House)
Sight Location: Vienna, Austria (See walking tours in Vienna)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Vienna, Austria (See walking tours in Vienna)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Vienna, Austria
Create Your Own Walk in Vienna
Creating your own self-guided walk in Vienna is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Old Town Chocolate Stores
Vienna is famous for its love for sweet indulgence. And when it comes to chocolate, it stands tall among other locally-made mouth-watering confections.
Vienna's chocolate scene is deeply rooted in a rich culinary tradition. It has been sustained by several historic chocolate houses, located in the Old Town, that have been serving decadent treats for generations.
Landmark... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.2 Km or 0.7 Miles
Vienna's chocolate scene is deeply rooted in a rich culinary tradition. It has been sustained by several historic chocolate houses, located in the Old Town, that have been serving decadent treats for generations.
Landmark... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.2 Km or 0.7 Miles
Vienna Old Town Walking Tour
Vienna’s Old Town—the historic core of Austria’s capital and a UNESCO World Heritage Site—is where cobblestones gossip, rooftops sparkle, and emperors still seem to whisper from the walls. Indeed, this is the kind of place where every alley seems to have a PhD in European history.
Once wrapped in medieval walls—before they rolled out the grand Ringstrasse boulevard in the 19th... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.9 Km or 1.8 Miles
Once wrapped in medieval walls—before they rolled out the grand Ringstrasse boulevard in the 19th... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.9 Km or 1.8 Miles
Vienna's Historical Music Venues
Austria is synonymous with classical music almost to the point of obsession, and to call Vienna the "Musical Capital of the World" would be hardly an exaggeration. Indeed, over the past centuries, the city served as the home and workplace for many great musicians like Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Ludwig van Beethoven, Johann Strauss, Joseph Haydn, Franz Schubert, and others.
Among the... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.0 Km or 1.9 Miles
Among the... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.0 Km or 1.9 Miles
Vienna's Art Nouveau Architecture Tour I
Vienna’s flirtation with Art Nouveau—known locally as Jugendstil—unfolded in the late 19th, early 20th centuries. The so-called Vienna Secession movement, which emerged in 1897, was led by a group of rebellious artists and architects like Otto Wagner, Gustav Klimt, and Koloman Moser, who turned their backs on historicism in favor of bold, modern aesthetics. As the new language for buildings,... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.4 Km or 2.1 Miles
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.4 Km or 2.1 Miles
Old Town Churches Walking Tour
"Vienna is the city of miracles and music" – Whoever said that must have emphasized Vienna's close association with the Christian faith. The intertwining of Christian heritage and artistry in the Austrian capital finds expression primarily in its magnificent churches.
Sitting at "the crossroads of Christian traditions", Vienna is home to various Christian... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.9 Km or 2.4 Miles
Sitting at "the crossroads of Christian traditions", Vienna is home to various Christian... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.9 Km or 2.4 Miles
Johann Strauss Walking Tour
Throughout the entire 19th century, Vienna was a hub of cultural and musical activity, particularly in the realm of classical music, to which Johann Strauss and his father, Johann Strauss Sr., contributed greatly.
Strauss, the son had a personal connection with Vienna deeply rooted in its cultural fabric. Not only was he born here and spent most of his life, but also he achieved tremendous... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.1 Km or 2.5 Miles
Strauss, the son had a personal connection with Vienna deeply rooted in its cultural fabric. Not only was he born here and spent most of his life, but also he achieved tremendous... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.1 Km or 2.5 Miles
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