About This Location
Now turn your attention to the center of Neuer Markt. The fountain in front of you is known as the Donnerbrunnen, although its formal name is the Providentiabrunnen. It was created by Georg Raphael Donner and set up in 1739 on the square then known as the Mehlmarkt, an important public place in old Vienna. Look closely and the scene starts to unfold. At the center stands Providentia - the figure of providence or foresight. Around her, Donner placed personifications of tributaries of the Danube in Lower Austria. This was not only decoration. It was a statement about water, order, and the city presenting itself with confidence in a busy urban square. The fountain also carries a very Viennese story. The naked figures were removed not long after Maria Theresa established the Chastity Commission. The original figures by Donner survived, however, and today they belong to the Wien Museum collection, where they are shown indoors. That gives this place an interesting double life. Here on Neuer Markt, the fountain still brings movement, sparkle, and a touch of Baroque drama to the square. After the redesign of Neuer Markt, it was restored and officially put back into operation in 2022. Standing here, you are in a part of Vienna where daily city life and deep history meet very naturally.