The City Hall was built between 1872 and 1883 by Friedrich von Schmidt, the former master builder of Cologne Cathedral, and is the most important neo-Gothic secular building in Vienna.The City Hall was built between 1872 and 1883 and is a building of gigantic proportions, with about 30 million roof tiles and more than 40,000 cubic metres of natural stone. The inner courtyard of the Town Hall, surrounded by colonnades, is one of the largest in Europe at 2,804 m². The Festival Hall is 71 metres long, 20 metres wide and 18.5 metres high. If the fire protection authorities allowed it, 1,500 couples could dance here simultaneously.
Numerous events take place inside and in front of the Town Hall: dances, film festivals and sporting events. From November onwards, the Christmas market in front of the town hall creates a festive atmosphere. And from January to March the Town Hall Square and the Town Hall Park are transformed into the most beautiful ice skating rink in the world.
City Hall is also home to the Vienna City and Regional Library (containing the Viennensia collection) and the Vienna City and Regional Archives.
