This late Gothic church was erected in 1856-79 as a reminder of the failed attempt to assassinate Emperor Franz Josef. The plans for its construction were created by Heinrich Ferstel who modelled them after medieval trends in architecture. In the baptistry stands a late Gothic statue of Count Niklas Salms who had control of the Austrian troops during the first Turkish invasion of Vienna.
Established in 1991, the building itself was converted from the Thonet Brothers' furniture factory, built in 1892. One of Vienna's most famous modern artists, Friedensreich Hundertwasser designed this museum/art gallery and filled it with his beautiful and colorful paintings. There are also several international exhibits that change regularly, so you may want to visit over and over again. There is a large museum shop with fabulous artwork and other souvenirs. Of the four floors, the second is dedicated to the works of Hundertwasser, the third and fourth floors contain the international exhibits. On the ground floor, there is the shop and the large and beautiful Im KunstHaus cafe and restaurant.
The rather boring exterior of this museum does not in any way reflect its contents. Its time of construction was, rather clearly, after World War II. The subject matter of its special exhibitions is always specifically Viennese, with connected themes, and these exhibitions are recommended to visitors. The collection in the museum shows a detailed summary of the development of Vienna from its beginning in prehistoric times to the present, all illustrated by plans, maps and artifacts. Important Viennese personalities such as Adolf Loos or Franz Grillparzer; paintings by Klimt, Schiele, and Biedermeier painter Waldmüller make the tour through three floors very interesting.
The Belvedere Palace, designed in baroque style in the early eighteenth century by Johann Lukas von Hildebrandt for Prince Eugene of Savoy, is home to the Austrian Gallery. The Upper Belvedere houses pieces of Austrian art from the 19th and 20th centuries. The remarkable collection contains paintings by Ferdinand Georg Waldmüller, Hans Makart, Oskar Kokoschka, Egon Schiele, Gustav Klimt, Richard Gerstl and many others. The Museum of Medieval Art and the Baroque Museum are situated in the Lower Belvedere. Romanesque and Gothic wood sculptures and altar panels,a comprehensive collection of works by Maulbertsch, Messerschmidt and Donner can all be visited in the splendid summer residence of this former military commander. After visiting the Museum, don't miss a walk through the elegant parks and also the Alpine Gardens.
Built in 1868-1871 by Heinrich Ferstel, the Museum of Applied Arts is the oldest and one of the best museums of its kind in Europe. Its permanent collections are displayed in a series of exhibition halls, each of which has its own unique style (Renaissance, Baroque, Oriental, Art Deco). The design and architecture room contains pieces by some of the 20th Century's greatest designers, while the Studiensammlung showcases fascinating studies of different materials. Visitors will need a whole morning or afternoon to be able to take everything in properly and definitely shouldn't miss the museum café.
This structure was built by Joseph Emanuel Fischer von Erlach between 1723 and 1735, according to a design by his father Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach. Both names represent the highest quality in architecture and the Grand Hall of the National Library is said to be the most beautiful library room in the world. Don't miss visiting Grand Hall, with frescos by Daniel Gran and the historical Reading Room with frescos by Johann Bergl. The National Library's Museum of Globes is also open to the public. To imagine what imperial entertainment such as dances or masquerades were like, take a look into the ballrooms. Such imperial splendor be should enjoyed in a calm and relaxed mood.