City Break Vienna NL DE

Vienna: From Schönbrunn Palace to St. Stephen's Cathedral and from Sachertorte to Wiener Schnitzel

Even in the current present the Austrian capital of Vienna has a bit of a dull image, but this is completely unjustified. Of course, the city is still filled with pompous baroque buildings from the Habsburg past, and the references to Empress Sisi, Johann Straus and Franz Lehar are simply too much. But you can also find wonderfully modern museums, bold architecture and enjoy a delicious dinner at restaurants where the Wiener Schnitzel has been removed from the menu and the newest culinary trends are embraced. Vienna has found a new elan over the past few years, and a three day city trip is hardly enough to get acquainted with this city along the Danube River.

The Habsburg Emperors

Vienna greatly owes its riches to the Habsburg Emperors who showed off their riches by building enormous palaces and furnishing them with art treasures from across the world, such as the Hofburg in the centre of Vienna. A part of the tragic lives of emperor Franz Josef I and the depressed and neurotic empress Elisabeth of Bavaria (better known as Sisi or Sissi, immortalized in the famous trilogy with Romy Schneider) took place here. The sport equipment of empress Sissi can still be seen at the Hofburg Palace. After the First World War the Habsburg empire was done for. Another world war ended the prosperity of Austria and Vienna. Vienna was completely impoverished after the two world wars. It wasn’t until the 1950’s that Vienna started scrawling back up to give the city it’s new and more modern image.

Stephansplatz

The contrast between the old and new Vienna can be seen beautifully at the Stephansplatz (St. Stephen's Square), where the medieval gothic St. Stephen's Cathedral with its 250,000 colored tiles reflects against the Haas Haus, a building built in 1990 designed by architect Hans Hollein. There is a restaurant in the Haas Haus that gives you an excellent view on St. Stephen's Cathedral. The church was heavily damaged during World War II but has been completely renovated. It serves as a symbol of the renovation of Austria.

Do not forget to visit St. Stephen's Cathedral, even if it’s only to take a look at the pulpit of Anton Pilgram which was built in 1510. It has been exquisitely crafted and the railings have been decorated with toads and lizards which serve as symbols of evil. The artist Pilgram has depicted himself under the pulpit watching his own work from an open window. (“ Der Fenstergucker”) It is also worth climbing the stairs to the first floor above the west façade, where exhibitions are often held. It gives you a beautiful view on the city and the magnificent tile floor.

Luxurious shops

Around the Stephansplatz there are several streets with a wide variety of shops, from international chain stores to exclusive fashion boutiques. Especially in the Graben and Kolhmarkt, that lead to the Hofburg Palace, the exclusive fashion and jewelry catch many an eye. Café Demel is one of the most famous Viennese coffee houses and was frequented by empress Sissi. The shop is beautifully arranged and just because of this it is worth ordering an Einspanner (Coffee with whipped cream) or Grosser Schwarzer with Sachertorte or a Dobostorte (never ever just order an “kaffee”, but order according to the items on the menu). Halfway the Graben is the Pestsäule, a monument that Emperor Leopold II had built in 1679 after a plague epidemic took the life of more than 100,000 people.

Palaces

Culture lovers can eat their heart out in Vienna. In the Hofburg Palace you can see the imperial chambers of Franz Josehp and his wife Elizabeth; six rooms are completely dedicated to the unhappy Empress Sissi. Baroque lovers shouldn't miss the enormous Belvedere with the French garden built in the beginning of the eighteenth century. It is here where the independence of Austria was sealed in 1955. And then there is the Schloss Schönbrunn, the former summer residence of the Habsburger family. The interior is a pinnacle of the rococo style; in the beautiful Hall of Mirrors Mozart once performed for Empress Maria Theresa. The room is now used for daily concerts in Mozart style for tourists. concerten in Mozartstijl gegeven.

Museums

The Museum of Art History (Kunsthistorisches Museum) is a highlight of the city not only because it is an impressive building, but also because of the collection that has been brought into the museum by the Habsburger family. The collection is regarded as one of the most important of the world. It features work of Rubens, Rembrandt, Titian and Pieter Brueghel the Elder (one third of his work, including a farmers wedding). Also the subtle highlighted Roman and Egyptian departments are worth a watch.
Across the Museum of Art History is the Natural History Museum (Naturhistorisches Museum), with a collection of more than 20 million objects. A selection of all the stuffed up animals, geological and archeological items is still stalled out in old fashioned cases. This gives the museum a special atmosphere. One of the top pieces is the Venus of Willendorf, a 25,000 year old female figurine. Near the Museum of Art History is the Museumsquartier, that used to serve as the horse stables for the emperor. From 1990 onwards the stables were changed into a big cultural complex. Here you can find the Leopold Museum with works of Gustav Klimt and Oskar Koloschka. In and around the complex there are plenty of diner establishments. .

Opera and concerts

A night out to the Staatsoper(State Opera), the Volksoper or the Musikverein (known for its new year concert) is a true experience, especially because of the beautiful entourage. Vienna is still an important centre of classical music, with a critical audience that is not afraid to hear its voice. The tickets aren’t cheap and in the Staatsoper there are a number of seats with a restricted view (take a look at the map on the website before you buy a ticket) but often there are pitch places for a couple of euros. Keep in mind that you will look funny in the Staatsoper if you are wearing jeans and a jumper.

Hundertwasser House and Secession building

Vienna is an important centre of the art nouveau (Jugendstil) that was shaped here in the Secession-movement, founded by Gustav Klimt in 1897. Pivotal to the movement are bright colors, flowing human forms and styled plant motives. A well known example of the secession architecture is the Secession building in the Friedrichstrasse. The white building has simple geometrical forms and is crowned by a striking dome filled with 3000 plated laurel leaves. Notable is the fact that the building was in poor condition for years and its importance wasn’t recognized until the 1970's. Now it is fully restored. Inside of the building the Beethoven fresco by Gustav Klimt can be admired.

Just as famous as the Secession building is the Hundertwasser House (Hundertwasserhaus, a colorful complex built in the 1980’s by Friedrensreich Hundertwasser. Try to visit this building on a sunny day so that you can see the beautiful concrete walls in their full glory and try to ignore the hordes of tourists that flood this attraction from early in the morning. The apartments in the house are occupied and cannot be visited. Facing the house is a big souvenir shop and a café in Hundertwasser style.