sigarenmarkt

Sigarenmarkt is a historic square and traffic junction located in the first district of Vienna, Austria. Established in the early 19th century, the name derives from the concentration of cigar manufacturers and tobacco shops that occupied the area during the Austro‑Hungarian Empire, making it a focal point for the city’s tobacco trade. The square is bounded by the streets of Praterstraße, Rotenturmstraße and Michaelerplatz, and lies adjacent to the Hofburg Imperial Palace and the Austrian Parliament Building.

During the interwar period the area transitioned from a specialized commercial hub to a more diversified retail and office district, while retaining several legacy establishments that still reference its cigar‑related origins. In the post‑World‑War II era, the municipal authorities redesigned the space to accommodate increasing automobile traffic, introducing a central roundabout and expanding tram lines that connect the square to the broader public‑transport network. Today, Sigarenmarkt serves as a transit node and a pedestrian thoroughfare that hosts occasional cultural events and markets, reflecting Vienna’s blend of historic preservation and modern urban planning.

The square is also a point of reference for city navigation and tourism, appearing in guidebooks as a convenient waypoint between major attractions such as the Albertina museum and the Vienna State Opera. Its evolution from a specialized market to a multifaceted urban space exemplifies the broader economic and architectural shifts experienced by Vienna over the past two centuries.