The ViCAS Centre

Located in the heart of Vienna's historic centre within the Michaelertrakt (St. Michael's Wing) of the Hofburg palace, ViCAS provides fellows with an environment designed to support both focused scholarship and intellectual exchange.

Our premises combine quiet spaces for reflection and research with shared environments that encourage community. At ViCAS, fellows can devote sustained attention to their own work while remaining closely connected to an international community of scholars.

Right hand side of the Hofburg's ornate Michaelertrakt as viewed from Michaelerplatz, featuring the large copper central cupola and right-hand, smaller cupola. — The Hofburg palace's Michaelertrakt

Research in a Historic Setting

Completed in 1893, the Michaelertrakt and its distinctive copper dome form one of the most recognisable façades of the Hofburg. Based on designs by the Baroque architect Joseph Emanuel Fischer von Erlach, the building was among the final additions to the imperial palace complex, giving the Hofburg its monumental entrance facing Vienna’s Michaelerplatz (St. Michael’s Square).

Today, these historic rooms are home to ViCAS. Among the most distinctive are the Schreyvogelsaal, a circular lecture hall named after Joseph Schreyvogel, an Austrian writer and once-director of the Court Theatre, and the Jura Soyfer-Saal, named after the persecuted Jewish writer Jura Soyfer. The latter room hosts the weekly ViCAS Internal Colloquium, the Centre's principal forum for interdisciplinary discussion and exchange.

Two office workspaces in the centre of an ornate, late 19th century room of the Hofburg palace, with red silk damask wallings, ornate, guilded doors, and a large chandelier. — Fellow workspaces at ViCAS

Spaces to Think

Each fellow is provided with a dedicated, fully equipped workspace within the Centre. Most offices are shared with fellow researchers and have been carefully designed to balance privacy and interaction. Thoughtfully updated to meet contemporary needs, the historic rooms combine modern infrastructure and comfort with the character and atmosphere of their original setting.

With ceilings rising more than five metres high and large windows overlooking either Michaelerplatz or the Hofburg's inner courtyards, the offices offer an environment conducive to concentration, writing, and reflection.

Modern, comfortable chairs and small tables in a classical-looking room with large windows, ornate doors, and a large chandelier. — ViCAS's lounge

Spaces to Meet

Alongside individual work areas, ViCAS provides a range of shared spaces designed to encourage intellectual exchange and community building.

The Centre's lounge, dining area, and seminar rooms provide opportunities for fellows, staff, and visitors to meet throughout the day. Whether during organised events or spontaneous conversations over tea or coffee, these spaces play an important role in the life of the Centre and in fostering the encounters from which new ideas often emerge.

Room with dining table and chairs. — ViCAS's main dining area

The ViCAS Experience

A fellowship at ViCAS is shaped not only by the research conducted here, but also by the setting in which it takes place. The offices, lecture halls, shared spaces, and daily rhythms of the Centre create opportunities for deep, undisturbed research, while also fostering spontaneous encounters and dialogues that complement and enrich the ViCAS experience.

Lecture room with a lectern, chairs, and a large chandelier. — Schreyvogelsaal

To top