Der Ulreichspach: Uncovering Vienna's Hidden Underground Stream History and District Development

This exhibition delves into the history of the Ottakringer Bach, an underground stream that significantly influenced the development of the St. Ulrich district and the entire Neubau district of Vienna. It explores the various stories and historical facts associated with the hidden waterways beneath the city.

The exhibition "Der Ulreichspach – Geschichten über einen alten Wiener" at the Bezirksmuseum Neubau uncovers the fascinating narrative of the Ottakringer Bach, a once vital underground waterway that has long since disappeared from the city's landscape. Previously described in a 1934 newspaper article titled "Das Geheimnis des unterirdischen Wien," the stream's underground passages once housed a variety of elements, including catacombs, wine cellars, a postal magazine, a banknote printing works, and a readiness barracks. These historical connections underscore the stream's crucial role in the origin and construction history of the St. Ulrich district, and consequently, the entire Neubau district. Curated by Angela Heide, the exhibition presents a collection of entertaining and historically significant texts that trace these stories. Through numerous newspaper articles and intriguing facts, visitors are invited on a journey deep into the past and far beneath the surface of the district, revealing its almost forgotten secrets and its profound influence on urban development. The concept, curation, and design are attributed to Angela Heide, with the idea and design also credited to Monika Grußmann.

The exhibition opens as part of the Tag der Wiener Bezirksmuseen 2026. Further ticketing information is not explicitly provided on the page, but it is framed as an exhibition within a museum setting which typically involves museum admission or specific event ticketing for openings. Opening on Sunday, March 8, 2026, at 2 PM, with a reading and public discussion event: "Das Geheimnis des unterirdischen Wien."