Holidays in Vienna
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St. Stephan’s cathedral |
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| Museum of Art History |
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| Schönbrunn Palm Pavilion |
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| Town Hall on New Years Eve |
The city of Vienna is the capital and at the same time a federal state of the Republic of Austria. It is situated on both sides of the Danube, 40 kilometres from the Slovakian border and its capital Bratislava and on the River Vienna. Seat of the archbishop of Vienna, the Stephansdom (St. Stephan’s Cathedral) is the landmark of Vienna.
A brief History of Vienna
The history of Vienna begins in the first century AD as a frontier settlement erected by the Romans on the site of the present-day city centre. The Romans called this settlement Vindobona. Even today, the settlement is still recognisable in the streets of houses in the 1st district – the Innere Stadt (city centre) – the course of the city wall and in the streets themselves. In the Middle Ages, Vienna developed into a significant trading metropolis founded primarily on the trading routes for amber and salt.
Vienna grew in importance during the Hapsburg Dynasty. In 1360, under Rudolf II, construction of the Stephansdom began and one of the first universities in Europe was founded in 1365. By the 15th century, the city had developed into one of the most important in Europe.
In 1740, Maria Theresa was crowned Archduchess of Austria. The fact that she lost the 17-year was against Kaiser Friedrich of Prussia was put down to her being ‘permanently pregnant’. She gave birth to a total of 16 children who all grew to see adulthood. During her reign, Vienna experienced a truly glamorous time. The baroque and rococo periods still characterise the city today. Schönbrunn was erected mirrored on the palace of Versailles to become grand and stately residence. Mozart, Haydn and Beethoven lived in Vienna.
Vienna’s heyday was certainly in the second half of the 19th century. Franz Joseph married the daughter of the Duke of Bavaria, the beautiful Elisabeth they called ’Sissi’. In making a political statement of the time, the ceremony took place in Budapest. Hungary had become a partially independent kingdom and the imperial and regal dual monarchy came into being. Budapest and Vienna became truly modern cities. The growth of industrialisation led to the so-called Gründerzeit – the period of promoterism. Vienna witnessed a construction boom. In 1857, the city walls were torn down. It their place a ring road was built lined with monumental luxurious buildings in classical style. The Vienna Opera was built. In 1873, the World Exhibition took place in Vienna and in the Wiener Prater the Ferris wheel was erected.
Johann Strauss II composed waltzes which enthralled all of Vienna. At the turn of that century, Vienna was home to the likes of Brahms, Bruckner, Mahler, Klimt and Schiele, Hugo von Hofmannsthal, Arthur Schnitzler and Stefan Zweig. And Sigmund Freud founded psycho-analysis.
This time also saw the growth of traditional coffee houses that still typify the face of Vienna today.
Vienna today consists of 23 districts, or Bezirke, is governed by a socialist party and last but not least is the 3rd headquarters of the United Nations. Since the fall of the ‘iron curtain’ politically and economically Vienna has assumed a highly significant role as an East-West hub; a role it already occupied during the Hapsburg Dynasty.Vienna Events
Vienna is a hive of activity: the Silvesterpfad at New Year, Easter’s Osterklang, the Vienna Festival Weeks, the Film Festival at the city hall square, Eistraum and the Christmas market the ‘Christkindlmarkt’, the Danube Island Festival, the Life Ball and the Vienna Marathon just to provide a brief selection of events that take place throughout the year. Of course, we shouldn’t forget the performances at the three opera houses, the constantly changing programme of cabaret, musicals and theatre, the ball season, the highlight of the annual Fancy Dress celebrated in good style in Vienna.
Further information:
Ballkalender 2006/2007
Wiener Christkindlmarkt
www.donauinselfest.at
Vienna City Marathon
www.wiener-staatsoper.at
Volksoper Wien
www.burgtheater.at
www.volkstheater.at
kabarett.at
Your Austria Classic Hotels in Vienna:
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Hotel Bleckmann *** |
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Familie Müllner | |
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Austria Classic Hotel Wien *** |
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Herr Mag. Reinhard Blumauer | |
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Hotel Papageno *** |
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Herr Peter Weiss |
+43/1/40 80 899
