Augustinbrunnen (Gedenkstätte), Vienna

The small square at Neustiftgasse and Kellermanngasse, now officially called Augustinplatz, is named after the legendary Viennese musician Markus Augustin (1643–1685), famed for his wit, bagpipes and songs during the Great Plague of 1679. According to tradition, he was found drunk and asleep in the street during the epidemic, mistaken for dead, and thrown into a mass grave with plague victims — yet he survived and played his bagpipes in the pit until rescuers heard him and pulled him out. This mix of grim peril and humour made him a symbol of Wiener resilience and gallows humour.

A statue and fountain dedicated to Augustin were unveiled in 1908, replacing earlier figures lost in World War II; the current sandstone statue by Josef Humplik dates from 1952. The song “O du lieber Augustin” — first attested around 1800 but likely older — celebrates both the man and the spirit of the city, capturing the idea that even when “all is lost”, Viennese humour and song endure.

Opening times

Monday	00:00–24:00
Tuesday	00:00–24:00
Wednesday	00:00–24:00
Thursday	00:00–24:00
Friday	00:00–24:00
Saturday	00:00–24:00
Sunday	00:00–24:00

Price:

Free