Stock-im-Eisen — Attraction in Vienna

“Thousands of people walk past it every day, but only a few will notice the glass case mounted at the corner of Kärtnerstraße and the Graben. Inside the case is a tree trunk from the Middle Ages, held in place by an iron clasp and padlock. The tree is studded with hundreds of nails that were pounded into it for good luck over centuries. One legend says that a young locksmith sold his soul to the devil to become a great craftsman, and in return he would construct a lock that no key could open, to secure the last tree standing at the Stephansplatz. In reality, no key can open the lock…because it’s only decorative and contains...

There are plenty of legends associated with this curious sight in the centre of Vienna. The ‘Stock im Eisen’ is essentially a tree trunk into which people have been driven hundreds of nails. It was first mentioned in historical documents in 1533, but scientific examination has revealed that the tree was felled around 1440. Nails were driven into it long before that, for reasons unknown. Perhaps it was meant as a votive offering as nails were not a cheap commodity in the Middle Ages. Legend has it that the devil himself drove the nails...

Stock I'm Eisen (Nail Tree) is interesting little attraction with a fun bit of history located at the corner of the Palais Equitable building at Stephensplatz is the

What you see here is an encased tree which dates back to the Middle Ages. This tree is embedded with hundreds of iron nails pounded into the tree many centuries ago as a way to wish for good luck.

Note: Stock Im Eisen is easy to miss so keep your eye out for it on the building corner at Stephensplatz and...