Oberdöbling
Oberdöbling, known as Obadöbling in Central Bavarian, used to be an independent village until 1892 and is now part of Döbling, the 19th district of Vienna. It covers about 241 hectares and sits in the southern part of Döbling, next to the Krottenbach stream. It borders Sievering, Unterdöbling, Heiligenstadt, Alsergrund, and Währing.
A settlement called Hart once stood where Oberdöbling is today, but it disappeared in the 14th century. The village grew along Hofzeile.
Döbling’s name appears first in 1114 as de Teopilic, a Slavic name meaning something like “marshy water” or “warm creek.” Early residents were mainly farmers who produced wine, grain, fruit, vegetables, and milk. In the 12th century the nobles derer von Topolic owned Döbling, and later the lands belonged to a monastery in Tulln. By 1310 it’s described as the village of the ladies of Tulln.
Unterdöbling formed separately and the two villages were first officially separated in 1591. A village seal from 1694 shows Saint James and the old name of Oberdöbling.
The second siege of Vienna brought hardship. After the attacks, many vineyards lay unused. In the 18th century Oberdöbling grew again, and five new streets were built between 1765 and 1786: Döblinger Hauptstraße, Heiligenstädter Straße, Pyrkergasse, Pokornygasse, and Billrothstraße. A new suburb, Neu-Döbling, formed around Gymnasiumstraße, Hardtgasse and Pyrkergasse. By the late 1700s Oberdöbling had more houses and inhabitants, though part of the old village remained poorer.
In the early 19th century Oberdöbling became attractive to nobles and the affluent bourgeoisie who built country houses. The population boom continued: 136 houses and 932 people in 1780; 323 houses and 4,229 people in 1853; and 567 houses with 14,460 people in 1890. Gas street lighting was introduced in 1858.
In 1892 Oberdöbling, along with nearby areas, joined Vienna as the 19th district, Döbling. By then viticulture had declined, and farming and fruit growing were more important.
Industry and culture also grew. The first factory (1754) made velvet and fabrics, employing hundreds. A hammer mill started in 1783. A brewery (1833) became well known, and the Kuli-Werk (1867–1968) and Kattus sparkling wine company were important local industries.
The village had a popular theatre from 1835 and concerts by famous musicians. Today, the Bezirksmuseum Döbling is in Villa Wertheimstein.
Religion and cemeteries are part of the town’s history. The Döbling parish church dates back to the medieval era, and Oberdöbling hosts the Schwestern vom armen Kinde Jesu nunnery with a church and school. The old Döbling cemetery in Unterdöbling was closed in 1927, and many famous graves were moved to the central cemetery; a new Döbling cemetery now lies near Oberdöbling, along with the graves of notable families and figures. Nearby, the Währing border holds the last remnant of the old Jewish cemetery.
Several grammar and secondary schools serving Döbling are located in Oberdöbling, including GRG 19, GRW 19 on Billrothstraße, and schools run by the Schwestern vom Armen Kinde Jesu on Hofzeile; Wien 19’s Federal Technical College is on Krottenbachstraße; and others are on Gymnasistrasse.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 23:54 (CET).