Vienna takes its rightful place in the galaxy of glittering European capitals. From the very foundation in ancient times, the city experienced several architectural upsurges, but it began to turn into a real masterpiece after the accession of the Habsburg dynasty in the 13th century.
The life and work of the musical geniuses of Mozart, Schubert, Haydn is associated with Vienna. Here are the magnificent palaces of the Austrian emperors, the bells of the majestic cathedrals ring, real court balls are held.
For tourists, the capital of Austria is attractive all year round. In between sightseeing, they sit in cozy Viennese coffee houses, taste delicious Austrian sausages, enjoy fresh pastries on the Kärntnerstrasse. And in the evenings they arrange promenades in the parks and admire the illumination of the promenade embankments of the Danube.
What to see and where to go in Vienna?
The most interesting and beautiful places for walking. Photos and a short description.
Hofburg palace
The palace is the former city residence of the imperial family and embodies the very spirit of the once great Austro-Hungarian Empire. The complex occupies an entire block: dozens of buildings, nineteen courtyards, two parks and countless indoor areas. The Hofburg acquired its present appearance by 1913. Now on its territory there are museums, galleries, a national library and concert halls.
Schonbrunn
Summer residence of the Habsburgs, built in the pompous Austrian Baroque style. The palace is surrounded by a huge landscape park, especially picturesque in spring and early summer. It is home to hundreds of species of flowers, shrubs, trees and exotic plants. 40 rooms and halls of the residence are open for visiting, where you can look at the imperial bedrooms, reception rooms, ballrooms.
Gazebo
Another gem of the 18th century palace baroque style. The palace complex is often called the "Vienna Versailles" for its beauty. Belvedere belonged to the brilliant Austrian commander Prince Eugene of Savoy. Now in the halls of the Lower and Upper Belvedere there is a museum complex of medieval art, Baroque period and an impressive collection of paintings from different eras.
Vienna Opera
The symbol of Vienna the Musical, one of the best opera houses in Europe. Placido Domingo, Luciano Pavarotti, Maria Callas and other great performers performed here at different times. Among the regular productions are works by Strauss, Mozart, Verdi and Ravel. The modern theater building appeared in the 19th century, it was immediately headed by Gustav Mahler. At the opening in 1965, the audience sounded "Don Giovanni" by W. A. Mozart.
Vienna Philharmonic
A famous concert venue, one of the centers of the musical life of the Austrian capital. The Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra and invited groups perform here, many come on tour from other countries. The Philharmonic is popular with visitors to Vienna, as musicians in costumes from the Mozart era often perform here and create a unique environment and atmosphere of the 18th century.
Burgtheater
Royal Drama Theater of Austria. It appeared at the behest of Empress Maria Theresa in the first half of the 18th century. The building is located near the Hofburg and the city hall. The theater was destroyed by bombing during the Second World War, and it took a lot of time and effort to restore it. Today the Burgtheater is a well-known and popular venue that hosts the world's leading theater groups.
Vienna City Hall
The building is located in the Inner City (central district of Vienna) and serves for administrative purposes. The City Hall houses the Parliament - Landtag, the Municipal Assembly, as well as the Mayor's residence. During the construction, a model of the Brussels Town Hall in the neo-Gothic style was used. The interior is more like a palace with rich decoration, huge crystal chandeliers and large halls.
Austrian parliament building
An architectural complex with elements of neoclassical, Byzantine and antique style, designed and built by the architect Baron Hansen in the 19th century. He specially created such a project to remind future parliamentarians of the birthplace of democracy, Greece. Since the collapse of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in 1918, the National and Federal Councils have been sitting here, before that the Chamber of Deputies was located.
Liechtenstein palace
The palace-museum, in the past, belonged to one of the oldest and noble European families - the princes of Liechtenstein. The building houses a large private art collection that the family began to collect in the 16th century. Among the exhibits are works by Flemish painters, paintings of the Renaissance, Romanticism, jewelry, antique furniture, collections of weapons, household items from different times.
Liechtenstein castle
The castle is the ancestral home of the Liechtenstein family. This magnificent example of medieval architecture is located in the Vienna Woods. The history of the castle began in the 12th century along with the history of the family. Over the centuries, the building was destroyed several times during the fighting. After the bombing of the Second World War, it was rebuilt at the expense of the townspeople, and Liechtenstein leased the castle to the Vienna municipality.
Kreuzenstein castle
Kreuzenstein is one of the most visited Austrian castles, it is located a few kilometers from Vienna. The fortress arose on the site of an ancient Roman fortification, in the 13th century it passed into the possession of the reigning Habsburgs. After being destroyed in the 17th century by the Swedish War, the castle lay in ruins for almost two centuries. Only in the 19th century, the Wilczek family bought the land and reconstructed the castle in its original form.
St. Stephen's Cathedral
A gothic cathedral of the 14th century with a magnificent interior decoration, a real symbol of the Austrian capital. The temple underwent many reconstructions, by 1523 it acquired the form in which it has survived to this day. The observation deck on one of the towers offers a breathtaking view of Vienna. The cathedral catacombs contain the tombs of E. Savoy, Frederick III, Rudolf IV and other representatives of the royal dynasty.
Karlskirche Church
Catholic church in the Baroque style with elements of Rococo, Byzantine, Greek and even Arabian style, built by order of Emperor Charles VI in the first half of the 18th century. The reason for the construction was a terrible plague epidemic that struck Vienna in 1713. The emperor promised the Lord that he would build a church in honor of his patron Saint Charles, if the city gets rid of the terrible infection.
Votivkirche church
A striking monument of neo-gothic architecture of the 19th century. It has the most typical elements for this style: openwork decorative patterns creating a "flying" airy image, pointed window spans and arches, high spiers of the main towers. The temple is built of white sandstone, so the building often requires reconstruction. The church appeared as a token of gratitude to God from Emperor Franz Joseph.
St. Peter's Church
One of the oldest churches in the capital, built during the reign of Emperor Leopold I. The dome of the temple was designed in the image of the dome of St. Peter's Cathedral in the Vatican. According to some historical sources, in 792 there was a church founded by Charlemagne. The first direct mention of the temple dates back to the XII century. The Romanesque building burned down in the 17th century, and ten years later the modern St. Peter's Church was erected in its place.
Mozart House Museum
The apartment where the great composer lived with his family in the period 1784-1787. Here one of his main creations was born - the opera "The Marriage of Figaro".The museum was opened on the 150th anniversary of the death of Mozart and was reconstructed 100 years later. Only the stove, window openings and doors remain from the original furnishings. In the museum you can see various items that belonged to the composer's family.
Albertina Gallery
An outstanding collection of paintings started by Duke Albert (Albrecht). The gallery has several dozen rooms, which exhibit works by Renoir, Monet, Picasso, Rubens, Raphael, Michelangelo, Rembrandt. In addition to the painting exhibition, the Albertina has a library with a reading room. For tourists, there is a restaurant and a gift shop where you can buy books on art history.
Sigmund Freud Museum
Museum, organized in the house of the founder of psychoanalysis Z. Freud. The expositions tell about the activities and research of the scientist. Visitors can look at the psychoanalyst's waiting room, study, and waiting room. The museum also contains an extensive library of three hundred volumes on psychoanalysis research. Freud and his family lived in this house until the German occupation in 1938.
Museum of Art History and Museum of Natural History
Two Italian Renaissance museums located close to each other. Both buildings were designed by the craftsmen Baron von Hasenauer and Gottfried Semper. A picturesque landscape park with small fountains, alleys and figuratively trimmed trees is laid out between the museums. The interior decoration is also luxurious, the interiors are reminiscent of the imperial palace.
Leopold Museum
Located in the Museum Quarter of the capital. The expositions are dedicated to the work of contemporary Austrian artists. The gallery exhibits works by Oskar Kokoschka, Egon Schiele, Gustav Klimt. The museum is based on the private collection of the Leopold family. In 1994, the Austrian government bought more than 5,000 paintings from them, established a museum, and Rudolf Leopold was appointed its director for life.
Danube Tower
The observation tower in the Danube Park is 252 meters high, the highest point in the Austrian capital. Visibility reaches 80 km from the summit in clear weather. You can go up by two high-speed elevators, or by climbing the stairs of 779 steps. The tower has two restaurants on a revolving platform. In summer, bungee jumping enthusiasts arrange buckle competitions from the observation deck.
Tower of the Mad
The building appeared in the 18th century. and served as a shelter for people with mental disabilities. This is one of the oldest insane asylums in Europe. In 1786, the ominous tower was given over to the Museum of Pathology. The museum's exhibits are human organs and parts of the body (as well as the entire body) that have undergone mutations as a result of diseases or genetic pathologies, stored in alcohol solutions. The exposition is part of the Natural History Museum.
Hundertwasser House
Home of the avant-garde artist and architect Friedensreich Hundertwasser with an interesting and unusual design. The eccentric creator himself called it an "ecological house". On the one hand, the architecture of the building is somewhat reminiscent of the famous creations of A. Gaudí: smooth asymmetric shapes, bright colors, balconies decorated in the Art Nouveau style. And on the other hand - the fabulous dwelling of the hobbits from The Lord of the Rings.
Vienna Woods
A picturesque natural area and a well-maintained resort area located on the spurs of the Alps in the vicinity of Vienna. The forest has been designated a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO because of its unique ecosystem. Valuable beech and oak trees grow here. Many folk legends and legends are associated with the Vienna Woods, united under the general name "Tales of the Vienna Woods".
Vienna City Park
Public park, laid out in the 19th century. by order of Emperor Franz Joseph. A popular place for local residents to walk and escape from the bustle of the city. Busts and statues of famous personalities are installed on the paths: Schubert, Strauss, Lehar, Bruckner. Concerts are constantly held in the park, dance floors are arranged, cafes and restaurants work. The territory is decorated with flower meadows, curly bushes and fountains.
Ringstrasse
The street that encircles the center of Vienna is one of the main arteries of the city. Ringstrasse was built on the site of the old city walls. The most famous sights of the capital are located along the boulevard: the Hofburg complex, the Vienna Opera, the Parliament building, museums, parks, monuments. Busy transport routes pass here. The street stretches for 5.3 km. in length.
Prater Park
Located on the left bank of the Danube. Until the 18th century, the imperial hunting grounds were located here, then at the behest of the royal family a park was laid out - coffee shops, merry-go-rounds, and pastry shops appeared. People were entertained by clowns and street performers. Since the 19th century, the Vienna Fair has been held on the territory. The park has a Ferris wheel, recognized as one of the oldest in Europe. The Prater is a favorite vacation spot for Viennese families with children.
Cafe Sacher
The world-famous Viennese coffee house, located on the ground floor of the five-star hotel of the same name. The cafe is open to everyone and has fairly affordable prices. Here you can drink magnificent Viennese melange and taste the famous Austrian Sacher cake, the recipe of which is still kept in strict confidence (only the confectioners of the cafe own it).
House of the Sea
An aquarium and a terrarium in the same area, where a wide variety of marine life and amphibians are represented. It contains jellyfish and rays, rare fish species, sharks, turtles and snakes, crocodiles, spiders and lizards. Aquariums and tanks are home to about 10,000 animals. The House of the Sea is located in a 45-meter tower, at the top of which there is an observation deck.
Schönbrunn Zoo
The zoo appeared in the 18th century at the request of Emperor Franz Stephen (the monarch had a craving for natural sciences). Nowadays, the zoo is recognized as one of the best in the world; several hundred species live here. We are especially proud of giant pandas, a rare endangered species of animals. Newly born panda cubs are sent to China at the age of 2 years. this country is the owner of all pandas by agreement.
