Vienna

The Danube River - History

 

The Danube River is the second longest river in Europe spanning 2860 kilometers from the Black Forest Mountains of Western Germany to the Black Sea.  The Danube passes through nine countries including Germany, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Romania, and Ukraine. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Within Austria, the river has played a critical role in the development of Vienna as a city.  During the time of the Roman Empire, the establishment of the Vindobona military camp by the shores of the Danube set the foundations for the future city of Vienna and secured the Danube’s position of importance within Viennese society.  The river allowed early Vienna to flourish as a city of trade between nations and provided protection during Turkish invasions. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The river also provided citizens with a constant water supply, which allowed the city to expand to create a suburban area around the downtown core.  However, the river also had negative effects on the city that prevented an increased amount of infrastructure and construction to occur in the areas closest to the river.