A famous square in Vienna, Austria, historically significant as the location of the Austrian Foreign Ministry and important state buildings.
From German 'Ballhaus' (literally 'ball house,' a building used for entertainment and dancing in the 17th-18th centuries) + 'platz' (German for 'square' or 'place'). The specific square gets its name from a historic ballhouse that once stood there.
Ballhausplatz became synonymous with Austrian diplomacy and state power—when people refer to Austrian foreign policy, they often call it 'Ballhausplatz,' just like how 'The White House' means American policy. Geography becomes identity!
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