Vorstadt is a German term that describes an area of a city, outside the Altstadt or the city centre, but tightly connected to it and densely populated, thus distinguished from Vororte.
Historically, the term Vorstadt often applied to settlements outside the city walls, sometimes dedicated to specific trades. Later, large Vorstädte appeared in Gründerzeit era.
Its French equivalent is faubourg.
In Vienna, the historical Vorstädte need to be distinguished from the Vororte. The Vorstädte were located outside the city walls, but within the Linienwall, a second ring of fortifications outside the city. The city walls were located in the place of the modern Ringstraße, while the Linienwall has been removed to give way for the Gürtel (both being rings of streets around the central city). Thus, the Vorstädte correspond to the so-called "inner districts" of Vienna (2nd to 9th and 20th districts).