Historic center of Vienna, threatened by high-rise projects, inscribed on World Heritage in Danger list
Rich in architectural ensembles, grand buildings, gardens, monuments and parks, the historic center of Vienna is now on the UNESCO’s World Heritage in Danger list. The most serious threat that these beloved tourist attractions face are linked to new project developments.
Vienna has become a must-see destination for all tourism lovers and the historic center of Austria’s capital is a constant reminder of the amazing history of the Habsburg and Austrian-Hungarian Empire.
A typical trip around the town is like a journey back in time, taking you form the medieval St. Stephen’s Cathedral through the golden age of the Habsburg Empire, represented by the grand Imperial Palace, all the way to the 19th-century Ringstrasse, lined with iconic buildings, with the Vienna City Hall, the Parliament buildings and the Kaiserforum, all within walking distance. Add the Museum quarter and you can easily spend a week here, without even leaving the historic city center.
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But all these architectural ensembles are now under threat by new project developments and during the 41st session of the World Heritage Committee, Vienna has been added to the World Heritage in Danger list.
According to the Committee, high-rise projects in the middle of the Austrian capital has been the ones causing concern to those looking to preserve the cultural heritage of the city.
“The Committee regrets that the Vienna Ice-Skating Club—Intercontinental Hotel project fails to comply fully with previous Committee decisions, notably concerning the height of new constructions, which will impact adversely the outstanding universal value of the site,” the statement that includes Vienna on the Wold Heritage in Danger list reads.
The committee hopes that this decision will help correct the situation, as it did in other instances when World Heritage Sites were threatened either by human intervention or by natural disasters.
Vienna’s old city center has been listed as a World Heritage Site back in 2001 and it is not the only European site to be put on the list. Medieval monuments in Kosovo and Liverpool’s Maritime Mercantile City are also considered to be in danger. Also on the list are National Parks and Reserves in Africa, together with ancient sites and pilgrimage places in the Middle East.
Warnings have been issued to other popular tourist attractions in Europe. In Italy for example, places like Pompeii and Venice are under threat due the large crowds of tourists they attract.
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