The Basiliskenhaus — the basilisk in the well, 1212

OVERVIEW

The Schönlaterngasse is a small, winding lane in the inner city of Vienna, built up since the high Middle Ages, its facades mostly baroque. Its most famous house is the Basiliskenhaus at no. 7.

HISTORY

The lane takes its name from the house sign 'Zur schönen Laterne' on no. 6; the original lantern is in the Wien Museum and a 1971 copy hangs in the lane. The fresco on the Basiliskenhaus shows the boy's deed; its inscription was made in 1932 from the original text of 1577 and renewed in 1965.

REPORTED ACTIVITY

A well-known Viennese legend tells that in 1212 a basilisk lived in the house's well. A baker's boy noticed the monster and set out to destroy it in front of a gathering crowd. Warned that a basilisk's gaze turns a living thing to stone, he climbed down into the well with a mirror and held it up to the creature's face — and the basilisk turned to stone.

VISITING

Schönlaterngasse 7, in the inner city near the Jesuit church; the fresco is on the facade. No. 9, the Alte Schmiede, keeps an old smithy with its original tools.