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 smaller 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 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.
De "Steffl" is een van de meest charmante gotische kathedralen. De basis is een 12e eeuwse constructie en werd in de gotische stijl gerenoveerd in 1304-1433. De noordelijke toren, van 70 meter hoog, werd herontworpen naar renaissancistische maatstaven in 1579 en het interieur kreeg een barokke tint tijdens de contrareformatie. De klok van de kathedraal van St. Stefan, de "Pummerin," weegt maar liefst 21 ton, en heeft veel brandschade geleden tijdens de Tweede Wereldoorlog. Sindsdien is het gerepareerd en wordt nu tijdens speciale gelegenheden gebruikt, bijvoorbeeld om het nieuwe jaar in te luiden. De lichamelijke resten van ongeveer 11.000 mensen liggen in de catacomben, die door de bezoekers kunnen worden bekeken.
Het grote Hofburg (Hofpaleis) is het belangrijkste seculaire gebouw van Wenen, eens het centrum van het machtige Hapsburgse rijk. Het oude Hofburg, met zijn vele delen en hoftuinen, werd gebouwd (en vaak gerenoveerd) tussen de 13e en de 19e eeuw. De Neue Burg (Nieuwe paleis) werd in de late 19e en vroege 20e eeuw ontwikkeld, ondanks de teruglopende macht van het Hapsburgse rijk. Vandaag de dag is het Hofburg de thuisbasis van verschillende musea (Völkerkundemuseum, Schatzkammer, Nationalbibliothek, Albertina, Theater museum, Prunksaal, Lippizanermuseum, Spanische Hofreitschule en Kaiserappartments) en de bibliotheek, en ook de kantoren van de Oostenrijkse president. In de kapel voert de Weense Staatsopera missen op. De Koninklijke Schatkamer herbergt de kroon van de keizer van het heilige roomse rijk en de kroon van de Oostenrijkse keizer. De meubels en de andere collecties onderstrepen de klasse en de luxe. In januari vindt het Wiener Ärzteball hier plaats.
Built between 1874 and 1878 by Karl Hasenauer and Gottfried Semper, Burgtheater is one of the most famous theaters in the German-speaking world. "The Burg," as the Viennese have dubbed it, was never just a theater but also a sacred place where heated debates took place about the function of art and culture. Older people still remember the golden years of actors and actresses like Paula Wessely, Alexander Moissi and Helene Thimig, but modern times sees a diverse program of theater, concerts and special events, including the annual Vienna Literature Festival.
The Belvedere is comprised of two baroque mansions facing each other across a garden. Prince Eugène of Savoy purchased some land beyond the city walls upon which he ordered a park with elaborate water features and fountains to be built. Later, the Prince had Lukas von Hildebrandt build the Lower Belvedere for his personal use, with its beautiful Marmorsaal (marble hall), the Prunkgalerie and the Spiegelsaal (mirror hall). Then by 1717, the work on the Upper Belvedere had begun. The work of filling the walls of the Upper Belvedere with frescoes was given to artists like Francesco Solimena, Gaetano Fanti and Carlo Carlone. Though damaged by the Second World War, the building today has become a major symbol of Germany's glorious past thanks to the reconstruction work dating back to as early as 1945.
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. Known affectionately as the Rathausmann, it was designed by Friedrich Schmidt. The facade's most attractive feature is its lofty gallery, with its curved balconies. The building has seven courtyards where concerts, markets and ice skating events are often held. At the top of the first of the two grand staircases is the Festsaal, a hall that stretches the length of the building.
The architect Friedensreich Dunkelbunt Hundertwasser is very well known to tourists for the municipal lodgings he has built in the Löwengasse. His style presents color, nature, and a belief that nothing should ever be even! The suitability of the embellishments to the chimney of the neighboring heating plant was the subject of much discussion in Vienna. Finally, the plant's roof was crowned with a big hat, typical of Hundertwasser's work. It's a very bright, colorful building - well worth a look.
Rostock Villa is a time-worn edifice in the heart of Klosterneuburg. Wonderfully restored, the villa functions as a thriving venue for a gamut of cultural events in the city. Apart from housing the Mährisch-Schlesisches Museum, it welcomes large crowds to experience some fine, well-curated acts by local as well as recognized groups. In the past, the villa has hosted the much-acclaimed play Die Kaktusblüte, a well-written act by Jean-Pierre Gredy and Piere Barillet.
Pfarre Kahlenbergerdorf is a charming church nestled in Vienna. This church dates back to the 12th Century and is devoted to the patron Saint George. The present Baroque facade of the church dates back to 17th Century when the church was renovated, while its interiors are adorned with beautiful art and artifacts collected from over centuries of its existence. The church is a place of worship for Roman Catholics and is a popular attraction amongst the history and culture enthusiasts.
Located in the beautiful neighborhood of Währing, Lutherkirche is a historic church that dates back to the 19th Century. The stunning church structure reflects Gothic Revival architecture and is one of the four oldest Lutheran churches in the city. It is also the biggest Protestant Church in Vienna. The interiors are marvelous and feature a 19th Century baptismal font and wooden pulpit. The church also houses a war memorial from 1923 and an early 20th Century organ.