Named after the Michael, archduke of Austria-Este, whose reigned extended from 1848 to his death in 1867, Michaelerplatz at first glance appears to be a picturesque circular area directly adjacent to the northeast entrance of the Hofburg palace buildings. Its location marks the meeting of pedestrian retail street Kohlmarkt and automobile lanes of Herrengasse, Schauflergasse and Reitschulgasse.
Upon deeper investigation, for centuries this circle has played a role in trade and transportation in Vienna. In the center of this roundabout, ruins from Roman times were uncovered in 1990, originating from the era when the square was part of a legionary camp, a crossroads of trading routes and setting for local businesses. Today it's the hub for notable sites such Michaelerkirche (St. Michael's Church), the Hofburg Palace complex, Looshaus (an early 20th century modernist building designed by Alfred Loos), and Palais Herberstein, one of many local palace buildings in the area. You can see lots of horse drawn carriages nearby, as it's a central tourist thoroughfare nowadays.
Worth walking thru and admiring if you're in the neighborhood! read more