Schönbrunn Palace in its present form is one of Vienna's most popular tourist attractions, hosting thousands of visitors a week. This Rococo Palace was finished in 1700 under Leopold I and is a diminished version of an imperial project first planned by Johann Fischer von Erlach. The Palace was renovated and extended under Maria Theresia, and at that time had 2,000 rooms, a chapel and its own theater. Like all the imperial buildings associated with Maria Theresia, the Schönbrunn complex is today painted in rich yellow. Napoleon lived here from 1805 to 1809 and Emperor Francis Joseph I, who was born here in 1830, spent the last years of his life in the palace.
Le « Steffl » est peut être la cathédrale gothique le plus enchanteresse du monde. Au début une construction du XIIe siècle, elle a été rénovée en style gothique entre 1304 et 1433. Sa tour nord, à une hauteur de 70 mètres, et été conçu d'après l'esthétique du Renaissance en 1679 et l'intérieur a pris une tendance baroque après la contre-réforme. La cloche fameuse de Cathédrale Saint Stephen, « Pummerin », qui pèse 21 tonnes, a subi des dégâts considérables pendant la Seconde Guerre mondiale. Elle a été réparée est aujourd'hui vous l'entendrez sonné pour le nouvel an. La cathédrale contient les restes de 11 000 personnes aux ossuaires que vous pouvez visiter.
Le Hofburg (palais tribunal) est un énorme bâtiments laïques des plus importants à Vienne, au centre de l'Empire Habsbourg. L'ancien Hofburg, avec plusieurs parties et cours, a été construit (et rénové plusieurs fois) entre le 13e et le début du 19e siècles. Le Neue Burg (Nouveau Palais) a été développé à la fin du 19e et le début du 20e siècles, malgré l'amenuisement de l'Empire Habsbourg. Aujourd'hui, le Hofburg loge plusieurs musées (Volkerkundemuseum, Schatzkammer, Nationalbibliothek, Albertina, Musée du Théâtre, Prunksaal, Lippizanermuseum, Spanische Hofreitschule et Kaiserappartments) et la bibliothèque, ainsi que les bureaux du Président Autrichien. À la chapelle, le choeur de l'Opéra de Vienne chante la messe. Le trésor impérial contient la couronne de l'Empereur de l'Empire Saint Romain et la couronne de l'Empereur de l'Autriche. Les meubles et les autres collections montrent le luxe et l'élégance de l'endroit. En janvier l'événement prestigieux Wiener Ärzteball y a lieu.
The new town hall was built from 1872-1883 to replace the old town hall in Wipplingerstraße and is neo-Gothic in style. A huge central tower, topped by the three-meter-high statue of a knight in armor, dominates the front facade. Known affectionately as the Rathausmann, it was designed by Friedrich Schmidt. The facade's most attractive feature is its lofty loggia, with its delicate tracery and curved balconies. The building has seven courtyards where concerts, markets and ice skating rinks are often held. At the top of the first of the two grand staircases is the Festsaal, a ceremonial hall that stretches the length of the building.
Vienna's beauty is two-fold. Its rich natural endowments as well as its cultural heritage make it the perfect destination spot for tourists. When here, don't miss out on a concert at the "musical landmark" of the city. The Philharmonic Orchestra is a regular feature here at the Musikverein, their New Year's concert being a major attraction, and a lucky few will get to hear the famed Vienna Boys' Choir in full form. Stroll through the venue's spacious chambers - the Brahms Hall, the Grosser Hall, the Steinerner Saal and the Magna Auditorium - to treat your senses to some quintessentially charming classical music.
Designed and built at the end of the 19th Century by Gottfried Semper and Karl Hasenauer, the Kunsthistorisches Museum houses the Habsburg family's art collection, widely regarded to be one of the finest in Europe. The Picture Gallery is literally a Who's Who of the old masters, containing works by the likes of Rubens, Rembrandt, Vermeer, Dürer, Raphael, Titian and Velazquez, as well as a comprehensive collection of paintings by Breugel. One visit is hardly enough to take everything in - lots of people return for a second or third time. The Ephesus Museum - a collection of arms and armour - and the collection of ancient musical instruments in the Imperial Palace also belong to the Kunsthistorisches Museum and are worthy of a visit in their own right.
The capital of Austria, Vienna flaunts a taste for the finer things in life. The grand architectural legacy of Vienna's imperial past is owed to the Habsburg monarchy, with Hofburg Palace as the crown jewel of a reign that extended over 600 years. Here, the Burgkapelle hosts the Vienna Boys' Choir each Sunday, while the Kaiserappartements showcase the world-renown Imperial collection of fine art. The baroque Schloss Belvedere and neo-Gothic Rathaus are other exceptional excerpts from Vienna's long-standing penchant for outstanding architecture and art. Its museums too are rivetting attractions. The contemporary MUMOK is a fitting companion to the classical art on display at the Leopold Museum, while the Naturhistorisches Museum delves into the region's natural history. The city is best known for its musical soul, however, with grand dames like the Musikverein, Konzerthaus and Staatsoper the cornerstones of an age-old tradition helmed by the likes of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Josef Haydn, Ludwig van Beethoven and Johann Strauss. Culinary delights are aplenty as well, led by Vienna's world-renown coffeehouse culture, while its pubs serve Austrian comfort food at its best. Wine bars are hidden away in vaulted cellars, acclaimed restaurants serving soul-stirring cuisine and Naschmarkt's international flavors mark Vienna as a veritable showstopper of the gourmet world. All this and more make Vienna an uncontested beauty.
Tucked beneath the famed St. Stephen's Cathedral, possibly the most recognizable landmark in all of Vienna lies the Stephansdom Catacombs. An attraction unto themselves, these eerie caverns hold the remains of over 11,000 people, including bishops of the church. Tours take place ever half hour for those brave enough to see what lies beneath this historic city.
La capitale autrichienne est connue pour son 'Schmäh', un humour macabre et parfois méchant dont font preuve ses habitants. On en fait les frais autour d'un 'Schoppen Heurigen', un vin typique, au début de sa fermentation. L'emblème de la ville est la cathédrale Saint-Etienne dont le toit de tuiles vernissées de couleur est indissociable de Vienne. La vieille ville, ainsi que le château de Schönbrunn, témoignent encore de la double-monarchie. Vienne est également réputée pour ses cafés élégants et conviviaux.