Graben (meaning Trench) is one of the most famous promenades and shopping streets in Vienna’s city core. This street runs on the site where one of the trenches of the Roman fort Vindobona once stood. One of the highlights of the street is the Plague Column or Pestsäule, built after the Great Plague of Vienna in 1679.

At the end of the 12th century, the city was enlarged by the Babenberg Dukes, using the ransom money for Richard the Lionheart. At this time the trench was filled in and levelled. The Graben thereby became one of the first residential streets in the new section of the city. In this area of the city large unbuilt areas were still available, which probably contributed to the maintenance of the name “Graben” up until the present day.

Fun facts

• On December 4, 1950, the first neon lights in Vienna were installed here.
• On November 22, 1974, the Graben became, on a provisional basis, Vienna’s first pedestrian zone.