Like everything in Vienna, the Naturhistorisches Museum is done on a grand scale. Opened to the public in 1891, it is housed in a late-19th century building designed in the same Italian Renaissance style as the Kunsthistorisches Museum (Art History Museum) across the street. But, it is filled with treasures of a different sort. There […]
After so many changes in the 20th century, it’s sometimes hard to remember that less than 100 years ago Austria was part of a large empire. A reminder of that period is embodied by the Vienna Parliament building. It will be of interest not just to students of politics, but anyone with a love for […]
Burggarten A Hollywood film about Mozart some years ago generated the now-famous line: “It’s nice to be the king.” Looking at the Burggarten in Vienna, the sentiment is easy to believe. This once-private garden of the Austrian monarch Franz Josef is, indeed, quite a bit more than nice. It’s stunning. Located in central Vienna, it […]
Mention Vienna and you can’t fail to evoke thoughts of one or more of its famous musicians. From Mozart to Brahms, this grand city has either given birth to or hosted a dozen who permanently reside in the pantheon of the greats. Joseph Haydn has intimate ties to Vienna and for ten years even sang […]
Like many royal families, the Hapsburgs were avid art collectors. Rulers of the Austro-Hungarian Empire for centuries they had ample means, time, and opportunity to scour the continent for the finest available over many generations. The results of many of their efforts are housed in the Kunsthistorisches. While the name in medieval German would be […]
The former summer residence of many a Hapsburg ruler, Schonbrunn Palace, remains one of Vienna’s top tourist attractions. It’s not hard to see why. First used as hunting grounds, the current palace was begun in 1697 and completed in 1749. It’s an enormous building with two giant wings and a prominent entrance done in a […]
To the ear of an English speaker, it might seem deeply ironic that the City Hall of Vienna is called the Rathaus. But accidental associations with the character of politicians aside, this neo-Gothic building and nearby park are among Vienna’s most delightful tourist offerings. Deepening the irony, the City Hall building (erected in 1883) is […]
Think of Venice and gondola rides immediately come to mind. Visit St. Petersburg and a cruise along the Volga becomes a must. But Vienna has its own unique waterway, the Danube River that will provide a journey that is equally unforgettable. Anyone who has enjoyed a larger cruise ship knows already what that means. But […]
Dating back to the 16th century, the Hofburg Palace was once the family residence of many of the Hapsburgs, successive rulers of the Austro-Hungarian empire. Built over a period of several centuries, the complex incorporates styles ranging from neo-Gothic to Classical Revival to Baroque to many that have no known name. The entire complex of […]
Set in a sweeping park filled with over 4,000 plants is one of Vienna’s premier attractions: the two Belvedere Palaces. The smaller of the two was erected in 1716 and the grand Upper Palace was completed in 1722. Both offer an outstanding look at the Rococo style popular during the early 18th century. Ownership passed […]