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Questo articolo è rilasciato sotto i termini della
GNU Free Documentation License ViennaDa Wikipedia, l'enciclopedia libera.
Vienna (Wien in tedesco) è la capitale e allo stesso tempo uno stato federato dell'Austria, completamente circondato dalla Bassa Austria. Vienna è sede di importanti organizzazioni internazionali tra le quali: OPEC, AIEA e ONU. Il centro storico della città è stato dichiarato patrimonio dell'umanità dall'UNESCO.
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Geografia
La città, situata nel Nord-Est dell'Austria, dista 40 km dal confine con la Slovacchia e circa 50 km da Bratislava (capitale della medesima). La città è composta da 23 distretti (in tedesco Bezirke, per approfondimenti vedi Distretti di Vienna) e il centro della città è il primo distretto. Gli altri distretti si susseguono a spirale intorno al primo distretto con numero crescente. La periferia cittadina è pianeggiante e industrializzata a sud, collinosa e verdeggiante a nord ai piedi del Wienerwald (foresta viennese). L'anello (Ring) che circonda il centro storico, è oggigiorno una strada di raccordo; in passato invece accoglieva le mura della città. Una secondo anello intorno al centro storico, la cosiddetta "cintura" (Gürtel) è oggigiorno la strada più frequentata di tutta la città, con molto traffico e una linea sopraelevata (U6) della metropolitana che la percorre in buona parte, dalla Westbahnhof a ovest fino al Danubio a nord. La città è attraversata nella sua parte orientale dal Danubio, mentre un piccolo canale artificiale (il Donaukanal) lambisce il centro storico a est. Vienna presenta sul Danubio un'isola creata artificialmente, per proteggerla da eventuali innondazioni. L'isola viene utilizzata dagli abitanti per praticare dello sport o per rilassarsi sotto il sole, inoltre una volta all'anno (verso la fine di giugno) vi si festeggia per 3 giorni consecutivi il Donauinselfest. Panoramica di tutta la città di Vienna
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StoriaNel luogo dell'odierna città, abitata in età antica dai Celti, i Romani attorno al 100 d.C. stabilirono un campo militare che venne chiamato Vindobona, a protezione della vicina città di Carnuntum. Successivamente vi si stabilirono anche civili, e l'imperatore Marco Aurelio vi morì probabilmente colpito dalla peste. Ancora oggi è possibile vedere le vecchie mura erette tra il 100 e 500, l'odierna Vienna presenta al suo centro stradine che rispecchiano all'incirca l'antica struttura. Data la posizione molto esposta verso l'est, Vindobona fu presto oggetto di conquista dei vari popoli che cercavano di penetrare in Europa, tra i quali i Bizantini, i Longobardi, i Magiari e gli Slavi. La città riottenne la sua posizione centrale nella zona dopo che Carlomagno la inglobò nella Marca Orientale (Ostmark), tuttavia essa dovette ancora difendersi dalle invasioni - questa volta degli ungheresi - finché nel 955 Ottone I, imperatore del Sacro Romano Impero, non scacciò questi definitivamente ricostituendo la Marca e donando Vienna nel 976 alla dinastia dei Babenberg, conferendo a Leopoldo di Babenberg il titolo di magravio. La dinastia dà a Vienna il ruolo primario che gli spetta nella regione, dovendo tuttavia continuare a contrastare le pressioni ungheresi, fino al 1246 quando con Federico II di Babenberg (morto in battaglia contro gli invasori) terminò la dinastia e cominciò il cosiddetto Interregnum, durante il quale si succedettero governanti boemi (Hermann di Baden, Ottocaro II Przemysl) fino a che nel 1278 Rodolfo I di Germania sconfisse Ottocaro stabilendo sull'Austria e su Vienna il dominio asburgico, che proseguirà fino al 1918. Inizialmente osteggiata dalla popolazione (nel 1288 fu soffocata una sollevazione contro i governanti), la dominazione asburgica diede a Vienna il ruolo privilegiato di capitale dell'Impero quando nel 1438 Alberto II d'Asburgo trasferì qui la sede del potere. Sotto Massimiliano I la città conobbe una grande fioritura artistica e culturale (nel 1365 era stata fondata l'Università) mentre l'Impero sotto il suo governo e quello del nipote Carlo V giunse alla sua massima estensione. Facciata dell'Hofburg. Nel 1533 la sede del potere venne spostata nell'edificio dell'Hofburg, il tradizionale palazzo imperiale di Vienna. Non cessarono tuttavia per Vienna le invasioni straniere: dal 1485 al 1493 la città fu sotto la dominazione di Mattia Corvino, re degli ungheresi, scacciato dalla città da Massimiliano, e nei primi anni del Cinquecento iniziò a farsi temere la minaccia turca. Vienna fu per tutto il XVI secolo funestata dalle guerre di religione, divisa tra il protestantesimo (circa l'80% sotto Massimiliano II, di fatto protestante) e il cattolicesimo, uscito vincente dopo le persecuzioni dei successivi sovrani e la violenta Controriforma dei gesuiti. Gli scontri tra le due religioni provocarono lo scoppio nell'Impero e in tutta Europa della Guerra dei Trent'Anni, durante la quale la città fu devastata dalla peste (circa 30.000 morti) e dagli assedi stranieri.
Negli ultimi anni del Settecento e nel primo decennio dell'Ottocento Vienna e l'Austria dovettero subire gli effetti devastanti di Napoleone Bonaparte. Nel 1806 Francesco II fu costretto dall'imperatore dei francesi a cedere il titolo di sovrano del Sacro Romano Impero, eliminando così definitivamente l'antica istituzione che risaliva a Carlomagno, mentre il sovrano assunse il titolo di Francesco I, imperatore d'Austria. Ripetutamente battuta da Napoleone, l'Austria dovette subire la sua occupazione: Bonaparte nel 1809 s'installò a Schönbrunn sposando la figlia di Francesco I, Maria Luisa. L'abile diplomazia del principe Metternich portò tuttavia l'Austria ad aderire nel 1813 alla coalizione contro la Francia che portò alla disfatta di Napoleone e alla fine del suo dominio. Proprio a Vienna sotto la regia di Metternich si tenne il Congresso che sancì la nuova divisione dell'Europa post-napoleonica. I sovrani europei si trattennero nella capitale austriaca per circa un anno, rendendola in pratica il centro del mondo occidentale. S'imposero in questo periodo - detto periodo Biedermeier - la sinfonie di Schubert e i valzer di Strauss, ma la bella vita aristocratica non durò a lungo poiché nel 1848 i moti rivoluzionari borghesi e liberali portarono la definitiva caduta del regime reazionario di Metternich - che fuggì in esilio - e di Ferdinando I, che abdicò in favore del nipote Francesco Giuseppe, appena diciottenne. L'ultimo imperatore d'Austria, sicuramente il più grande, governò per 68 anni. A Vienna il sovrano operò una rivoluzione urbanistica, demolendo le mura già in parte distrutte da Napoleone ed edificando al loro posto la monumentale Ringstrasse, il viale che circonda la città ad anello ed ancora oggi arteria principale della città. Qui nel 1879 si tenne una grandiosa parata per celebrare le nozze d'argento dell'imperatore con la moglie Elisabetta (la famosa Sissi). Nella capitale s'imposero le musiche di Brahms e Strauss, mentre nel 1869 venne inaugurata l'Opera di Vienna. Nei primi del Novecento la città fu scossa da nuovi fermenti artistici: la Secessione viennese di artisti quali Gustav Klimt e Koloman Moser, lo Jugendstil architettonico che portò all'edificazione di molti edifici in stile Art Noveau, mentre la grande Vienna concludeva il suo ciclo storico con la morte di Francesco Giuseppe nel 1916, la disfatta della Prima guerra mondiale e la conseguente scomparsa dell'Impero, dopo l'abdicazione di Carlo I e la proclamazione della Repubblica nel 1918. L'influenza mise in ginocchio la capitale del nuovo stato, ridotto a una piccolissima porzione dell'antico dominio, portando a fermenti rivoluzionari socialisti per tutto il decennio 1920 e buona parte degli anni '30. L'esercito nazista entra a Vienna (1939) Nel 1933 il cancelliere della repubblica Engelbert Dollfuss sciolse il Parlamento proclamando con una risposta reazionaria ai socialisti un regime di stampo fascista. Non durò a lungo: l'anno successivo rivolte di sinistra fecero vacillare il governo, che venne colpito al cuore dagli invasori nazisti che tentarono un colpo di stato uccidendo Dollfuss ma fallendo il tentativo di conquista dell'Austria a causa dell'opposizione di Mussolini. Il successore di Dollfuss, Kurt Schuschnigg, non riuscì a impedire la pressione di Hitler, che nel 1938 penetrò nel paese dopo che Arthur Seyss-Inquart - successore del dimissionario Schuschnigg - aprì le frontiere portando all'Anschluss con la Germania. Dopo aver drammaticamente condiviso il destino del terzo Reich, l'Austria fu occupata dagli Alleati e Vienna venne divisa tra i vincitori della guerra fino al 1955. Il rapido ritorno della democrazia, sancito anche dall'installazione nella città delle sedi delle principali organizzazioni internazionali, permise a Vienna e all'Austria un rapido risveglio economico e politico. Nel 1995 il Paese ha aderito all'Unione europea e oggi Vienna è una delle capitali più visitate dal turismo internazionale.
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TrasportiTram viennese Vienna ha una grande rete di trasporti pubblici. Consiste nella rete S-Bahn, gestita dalle ferrovie austriache (ÖBB), dalla linea locale Wien-Baden (in tedesco Wiener Lokalbahn o Badner Bahn) e dalle rete delle linee cittadine (Wiener Linien), composte dalla metropolitana (U-Bahn), da tram e da linee di autobus. I trasporti pubblici viennesi trasportano circa 750 milioni di passeggeri all'anno.
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Luoghi d'interesse
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Palazzi storici
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ChieseLa Karlskirche
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Musei
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Teatri
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Parchi e natura
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Vienna moderna
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Altri luoghi d'interesse
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Vienna nelle altre lingueLa città di Vienna è famosa in tutto il mondo e pertanto il suo nome viene tradotto in quasi tutte le lingue: simili al nome originale Wien per tutte le lingue culturalmente distanti dall'Austria, e anche molto diverse e irriconoscibili per paesi e lingue limitrofi. Qui di seguito una lista di come viene chiamata la città in differenti lingue:
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Voci correlate
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Altri progetti
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Collegamenti esterni
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http://travelpuppy.com/austria/vienna/index.htm Vienna Travel Guide Vienna Travel Guide and Vienna Travel Information - TravelPuppy.com Vienna (Wien) is a unique blend of the historic and the modern, so full of tradition it can be read on the face of the city and with a forward-looking approach it will surprise the visitor. Vienna’s role as the seat of the Hapsburg Empire for centuries can be seen in the wealth of architecture and in the city’s artistic and musical heritage. Many of the world’s most important composers, including Beethoven and Mozart, have lived and performed behind Vienna’s Baroque façades. In addition to this Baroque splendour, there are excellent examples of the Art Nouveau (Jugendstil) architecture that also flourished here. The fall of the Hapsburg Empire, at the end of World War I, allowed Vienna’s socialist undercurrents to come to the fore during the Red Vienna period, resulting in numerous social housing and other projects, which still play a role in the city. Vienna’s occupation by the Nazis and subsequent partitioning by the 4 Allied powers tend to be forgotten, as the city instead focuses on its post-war neutrality and the glittering remnants of its Imperial glory. This seems to be reinforced by the image of older Viennese walking small dogs or eating cakes in cafés but it ignores the energy of Vienna’s alternative and underground scenes, whose members react against the attachment to tradition in a way similar to their Secessionist counterparts before. The original city that lay within the protective walls comprises the First District of modern Vienna. Vienna is divided into 23 Bezirke (districts) and the demolition of the city walls led to the construction of the Ringstrasse and an impressive parade of buildings along its length. The majority of the tourist attractions lie on and within the Ringstrasse. Districts 2 to 9 are arrayed between the Ringstrasse and the concentric Gürtel (Belt). The other districts lie beyond the Gürtel and extend into the foothills of the Wienerwald (Vienna Woods), where Heurigen (wine taverns) and pretty villages are dotted among the vineyards. Vienna’s climate is generally moderate, although the city can experience some heavy snowfalls and low temperatures from December to March, as well as occasionally very high temperatures during July and August. Summer, however, is usually comfortable with an average daily temperature of 20°C, although heavy thundershowers are not uncommon. The city is not only the capital of Austria but also a federal province as well, surrounded by Niederösterreich (Lower Austria). Vienna’s location on the east–west trade route along the River Danube played an important part in its history, an empire that once covered a large part of Europe was ruled from here. Even today, Vienna is the financial and administrative capital of Austria and home to a number of international organisations, including the United Nations, and with the fall of Communism, Vienna is once again at the centre of Europe. ___________ Vienna Nightlife Vienna Nightlife - TravelPuppy.com The most popular cluster of bars is around the Bermuda Dreieck (Bermuda Triangle), the old Jewish Quarter, in the area around Ruprechtskirche. Other districts with fewer tourists include the Spittelberg area, around Amerlinghaus (in the Seventh and Eighth Districts) and in the Fourth District, adjacent to the Naschmarkt. A lot of the best places in Vienna will not be obvious to tourists, as they are strictly marketed at the locals and are not necessarily in the centre of the town. Quite a few clubs are filled with ‘schicki-micki’ (style-conscious) partygoers and many of these venues operate choosy door policies, where the beautiful or the correctly dressed waltz past the queue. Alternatives to the club and bar scene abound – hip and trendy Viennese still enjoy traditional favourites, such as Heurigen and the city’s many balls. Clubs generally stay open until 0200 hrs during the week and 0400 hrs on the weekend, although there is considerable variation. For late, late nights, there are quite a few bars in the First District that are open until 0300 hrs, 0400 hrs or even later. The legal drinking age is 18 years. A beer costs, in general, between €3 and €4, and up to €5 for a small beer in the more upmarket bars and clubs. For information on what kind of sound and crowd to expect on any given night of the week, pick up the Der Falter listings paper or check out the online information on the club scene Balls The ball season takes place during Fasching, Vienna’s winter carnival season from New Year’s Eve until the beginning of Lent. Of the 300 or so balls, the most prestigious are the New Year’s Eve Imperial Ball and the Opera Ball. The latter is the highlight of the Viennese social calendar and takes place in the elegant surroundings of the Staatsoper, Hanuschgasse 3, on the Thursday before Shrove Tuesday. Waltzers in long gowns and dinner jackets twirl under the chandeliers, recalling the splendour and romance of a bygone era. New Year’s Eve is marked not only by the Kaiserball (Imperial Ball) in the Hofburg, Innerer Burghof 1, Kaisertor, but also by the conversion of the city centre into the world’s largest ballroom. Bars The American Bar, Kärntnerdurchgang 1, lies just off Kärntnerstrasse. Designed by the famous Austrian architect, Adolf Loos, in 1908, it is a small, quiet space that serves as an excellent getaway from the crowds. The Spittelberg area (Seventh District) is dotted with bars, including the perennially popular Amerlingsbeisl, Stiftgasse 8, with its leafy garden, and Blue Box, Richtergasse 8, which hosts a different DJ each night. The Bermuda Triangle, in the Jewish area around Schwedenplatz, also contains many attractive bars. Other popular spots include Café Europa, Zollergasse 8, and Chelsea, Lerchenfeldergürtel 29–31, situated under the S-Bahn arches, with regular live concerts and football by satellite from England. Casinos The Casino Wien, Palais Esterházy, Kärntnerstrasse 41, is the most central of Vienna’s casinos. Casino Wien opens at 1500 hrs and admission is free. The minimum age for admission is 18 years and either an identity card or passport must be shown. Games include roulette, poker and blackjack, as well as 184 slot machines. The dress code is smart. Clubs One of the hottest clubs in Vienna is Volksgarten, Burgring 1 located on the Ringstrasse, which offers raves on Friday and Saturday from 2200 hrs until late in the morning and draws a very dressed-up crowd. Flex, Augartenbrücke, draws ravers and all sorts of alternative types, while U4, Schönbrunner Strasse 222, is still going strong, with a different theme every night of the week. P1, Rotgasse, is a popular spot for a (very) young international crowd. Club Roxy, Faulmanngasse 4, Lindbergh, Mahlerstrasse 11, and Atrium, Schwindgasse 4, are also worth checking out for a change from the techno scene and the music at these venues tends to be the latest dance hits but nothing too heavy. Coffee Houses (Kaffeehäuser) The coffee shops are an essential part of life in the city. For the price of a coffee one can sit for hours with the papers, some work, a book, or just watching the world go by. The new ‘szene houses’ attract a young, trendy crowd. Stein, Währingerstrasse 6–8), is the king of the new style, with minimalist decor, Internet facilities, veggie fare and all-day breakfasts. Café Demel, Kohlmarkt 14, is the best and most expensive of the old-style cafés – the pastries are not to be missed. Heurigen Originally the Viennese word for the wine of the latest harvest, the word heuriger now also refers to the place where this wine is sold. Each heuriger can only sell the wine produced on its own estate and only for a maximum of 300 days in the year. Although it is possible to have heurigen in the centre of Vienna, the best locations are in the small villages in the Tenth to 23rd Districts, such as Grinzing, Nussdorf, Heiligenstadt, Sievering and Stammersdorf. Live music A converted porn cinema, Porgy & Bess, Riemengasse 11, near the Stubentor U-bahn stop, is now Vienna’s best jazz club. Clair Piano Bar, Naglergasse 23, and Jazzland, Franz-Josefs-Kai 23, both offer what their names suggest. Open-air concerts are held on the Donauinsel (Danube Island) in summer, while larger rock concerts are performed at the Ernst-Happel-Stadion, Meiereistrasse 2. The main indoor venue for large acts is the Wiener Stadthalle, Vogelweidplatz 14. ________________Vienna Festival - Events Vienna Festivals and Events Guide - TravelPuppy.com The following is a selection of festival - events occurring in Vienna in 2005: Vienna Philharmonic’s New Year’s Concert 1st January, Musikverein Carnival and Ball Season 2nd January to Shrove Tuesday (day before Lent), venues throughout the city. Resonanzen Middle Ages/Baroque music, mid-January, Konzerthaus Opera Ball Last Thursday before Lent (February/March), Staatsoper Haydn Festival Third week February–first week March, various venues Vienna Spring Festival Arts festival with opera, concerts and plays, mid-March to mid-April, various venues. Osterklang (Sounds of Easter) Music festival, late March–early April, various venues Vienna Mozart Week Mid-April, various venues Festwochen Wien (Vienna Festival) Festival featuring music, drama and dance, mid-May–mid-June, throughout the city Vienna City Marathon Late April/May, begins Arbeiterstrandbadstrasse/Wagramerstrasse and ends Heldenplatz. Donauinselfest (Danube Island Festival) Contemporary music festival, late June weekend, Donauinsel. Vienna Jazz Festival Vienna Jazz Festival, first 2 weeks July, various venues. Klangbogen (Musical Summer) Music festival, July–August, various venues Viennale Film Festival End of October, various cinemas throughout the city Wien Modern 20th-century music festival, late October–late November, various venues, especially the Konzerthaus. International Choir Competition Mid-November, Konzerthaus Brahms Festival Mid-November, Musikverein Christkindlmarkt (Christmas Market) Mid-November–24th December, Rathausplatz Kaiserball (Imperial Ball) 31st December, Hofburg Silvester in Wien (New Year in Vienna) Ball, 31st December, Innerstadt Vienna Philharmonic’s New Year’s Concert 31st December, Musikverein ______________ Vienna Getting Around Getting Around Vienna - TravelPuppy.com Public Transport The Vienna Transport Authority, Wiener Linien (telephone number: (01) 790 9105), operates the U-Bahn (underground), S-Bahn (commuter rail), Strassenbahn (tram) and bus network. Public transport operates between 0500 and 2400 hrs. After midnight, half-hourly night buses radiate out from Schwedenplatz. The U-Bahn system comprises 4 lines. The U2 follows the Ringstrasse from Karlsplatz to Schottenring. The U4, with its Art Nouveau stations, completes the ring and leads off into the northern and western suburbs. The east–west U3 and north–south U1 cross in the centre of the Innerestadt (inner town). The U6 is basically a tram on a dedicated track that runs parallel to the Gürtel. Vienna has one of the largest tram networks in the world and the trams are affectionately referred to as ‘Bims’ for the noise they make. Tickets A single fare for U-bahn, bus and tram costs €1.50 or €2 if purchased on the tram or bus and there is no additional charge for transfers. A single night bus fare costs €1. There is a fine of €40 for passengers who are caught without a valid ticket and on-board inspections are carried out at various times. Tickets are available at Wiener Linien ticket offices and service centres, vending machines and tobacco/newsagent (tabak) outlets. Passes The Vienna Card (€16.90) is a pass that allows for 72 hours of travel on the U-bahn, trams and buses (except for night buses) and offers discounts on attractions, at many shops and restaurants. Other passes include the 24-hour network pass (€5), the 72-hour network pass (€12), the weekly season ticket (€12.50), and the eight-day strip ticket (€24), which can be used for 2 people travelling together. Passes are available from Wiener Linien ticket offices and service centres. A comprehensive transit map is available for purchase at €1 from ticket offices. Taxis Taxis are equipped with meters. Higher fares are charged for trips between 2300 hrs and 0600 hrs, all day Sunday and public holidays and a surcharge for luggage is often levied and these rates are clearly posted inside the taxi. Licensed Radio Taxis (telephone number: (01) 31300 or 40100 or 60160 or 81400) and a €1 surcharge for hailing a taxi from a Taxistandplatz. Between 2300 and 0600 hrs, on Sunday and holidays, the initial charge rises to €2.10. Within the city, no additional charges for luggage, pets, driving back without passengers and other circumstances are allowed. A tip of 10 per cent or rounding up to the nearest Euro is common. Limousines Limousines and minibuses are available from a number of companies for sightseeing, airport transfers and special occasions and include Austria Chauffeur Limousines (telephone number: (01) 512 7000, fax number: (01) 512 3800, e-mail: acl@aclvienna.at) and RCV Carey Chauffeur Limousine Service Vienna (telephone number: (01) 7007 33340, fax number: (01) 7007 33377, e-mail: reservation@rcv.at). Hire rates cost around €280 upwards for an 8-hour day, depending on the type of limousine hired. Driving in the City While pedestrian tourists may appreciate the jumble of tiny streets in the Innerestadt, motorists will find it quite a nightmare. The area is best avoided during the day, although even at night it can be almost impossible to find a parking place on the street. Parking lots are often located underneath squares and their entrances are fairly subtle. Parking costs from €5 per hour. Short-term street parking is available in districts 1 to 9 of Vienna’s 23 districts. The designated areas are indicated by a blue line on the road, often only marked at the entrance to the short-term parking zone. Tickets – valid for 30, 60 or 90 minutes and are available for purchase at vending machines and newsagents. Hours and restrictions for these areas vary. Parking is strictly policed and fines are very high, especially if the car is towed way. Visitors should note that there are restrictions on parking camper vans anywhere near the city centre. Outside the centre, the Gürtel (Belt) provides a fairly efficient way of getting around the city but can be slow during rush hour, which is 0730–0900 hrs and 1500–1830 hrs. Car Hire A national driving licence is sufficient for nationals of EU states – other nationalities should obtain an International Driving Permit. The minimum age for hiring a car is usually 21 years, although many firms have a surcharge until 25 years. Third party insurance is mandatory in Austria and those hiring a car should make sure this is covered in the hire contract. A credit card is also required. All of the major car hire firms are represented, including: Avis, Opernring 35 (telephone number: (01) 587 6241, fax number: (01) 587 4900), Budget, Landstrasser Hauptstrasse 2 (tel: (01) 7146 5650; fax: (01) 714 7238), Europcar, Schwechat, Flughafen (telephone number: (01) 7007 33316, fax number: (01) 7007 33716 Hertz, Kärntner Ring 17 (telephone number: (01) 512 8677, fax number: (01) 512 5034), and Sixt, Schwechat, Flughafen (telephone number: (01) 7007 36517, fax number: (01) 7007 36517). Car hire is also available at the airport and at both Westbahnhof and Südbahnhof stations. Car hire rates vary between approximately €80 and €160 per day. Bicycle Hire State-owned bicycles are available for hire from Rent a Bike, at train stations Westbahnhof (telephone number: (01) 5800 32985), Bahnhof Wien Nord (telephone number: (01) 5800 34817), Bahnhof Floridsdorf (telephone number: (01) 5800 31011) and Südbahnhof (telephone number: (01) 5800 35886) for €9 per day (€6.50 with a valid rail ticket and photo identification). There are a number of private hire companies in the city, principally near the banks of the River Danube, with easy access to the miles of cycle paths along the Danube Island. Pedal Power, Austellungsstrasse 3 (telephone number: (01) 729 7234, e-mail: office@pedalpower.at) is located just west of the Praterstern U1 underground station. Rates range from €17 for four hours to €27 for one day (24 hours). Bikes can be delivered to the hotel for a surcharge of around €5. Bicycles are available for hire from March to October only. Rad und Skaterverleih, Copa Cagrana, Donauinsel (telephone number: (01) 263 5242, fax number: (01) 263 5600, e-mail: office@fahrradverleih.at; website: www.fahrradverleih.at), is open from March to October and hires out bicycles for €4.80 per hour, €14.40 for 4 hours or €24 for a day (6–12 hours). Children’s, tandem and family bikes are also available. Bicycles may be taken on the U-Bahn for a half-price fare, except during the rush hours. There is a network of well-marked bicycle paths, however, riders should take care in the Innerestadt and along major routes. The Wien Tourismus (see Tourist Information) provides brochures on cycling in Vienna. The Rad Weg, a booklet available from bookshops, shows all the cycle routes. _______________Vienna Sightseeing Vienna Sightseeing Guide - TravelPuppy.com Sightseeing Overview The heart of Vienna is the Innerestadt, the area that lay within the city walls, until they were demolished during the mid-19th century. and it is here that some of Vienna’s most popular tourist attractions are to be found, along with pedestrianised streets lined with countless shops, bars and restaurants and cafés. The centre point is the Graben which is a wide square lined with shops and pavement cafés under large umbrellas. Following the demolition of the city walls in 1857, the Ringstrasse was laid out and some of the city's most beautiful buildings were built along it, between 1858 and 1865. Among the most important are the Staatsoper (State Opera House), Kunsthistorisches Museum (Museum of Fine Arts), Naturhistorisches Museum (Natural History Museum), Parlament (Parliament), Rathaus (City Hall) and Burgtheater. Most od the major attractions are located in the First District, the other inner districts have a great deal to offer. Leopoldstadt (Second District) lies on the eastern side of the Danube Canal, it is here that the massive Prater can be found. Landstrasse (Third District) includes the Schwarzenberg Palace and the Konzerthaus, although the main attraction is the Belvedere Palace. Wieden (Fourth District) is a small neighbourhood that is just as fashionable as the First District. Most of the city’s activity centres are around Karlsplatz, with its domed namesake, Karlskirsch. Margareten (Fifth District) is a little more residential and the historic homes of Schubert and Gluck still stand here. Mariahelf (Sixth District) includes Vienna’s busiest shopping street, Mariahilferstrass. The Naschmarkt and the Flohmarkt, on Saturday morning, add to the excitement, while the surrounding streets are packed with Beisls, theatres, pubs and cafés. Neubau (Seventh District) includes the Spittleburg Quarter, where the old houses have been renovated into boutiques, restaurants, galleries and theatres. Josefstadt (Eighth District) was once the area favoured by civil servants, the Josefstadt Theatre, the city’s oldest (1788), is still in operation. Alsergrund (Ninth District) is often called the academic quarter, Freud’s home, now a museum, is located here, as is the Lichtenstein Palace, which now houses the Museum of Modern Art. Tourist Information Wien Tourismus Albertinaplatz/Ecke Maysedergasse Telephone number: (01) 2111 4222. Fax number: (01) 216 8492. E-mail: info@info.wien.at Website: www.info.wien.at Opening hours: Daily 0900–1900 hrs. The other tourist information offices are located in the airport arrivals area, at Westbahnhof train station, on the Danube Island near Florisdorfer bridge Triester Strasse 149 (at the end of the A2 motorway, in the south of the city) and at service centre Auhof on the A1 motorway. These provide information, make reservations and supply brochures, maps and the Vienna Card (see below). A number of annually printed guides are available, including Kunst & Genuus, Architecture, Konzert-Cafés, monthly events and even a Gay Vienna guide. Passes The Vienna Card offers discounts of up to 50 per cent at dozens of attractions, 5–10 per cent discount at a number of shops, as well as special offers at a variety of cafés, restaurants and Heurigen (wine taverns). It also includes unlimited travel on the U-Bahn, bus and tram networks (not included on night buses) for 72 hours. The Passes are available from tourist information offices, hotels and Wiener Linien sales and information counters for €16.90. Vienna Cards are also available for purchase in advance with a credit card (telephone number: (01) 7984 40028). The Wien Tourismus website (see above) shows all the attractions covered by the Vienna Pass. Key Attractions Stephansdom (St Stephen’s Cathedral) St Stephen’s Cathedral marks Graben’s eastern end and is easily spotted, due to its brightly coloured roof tiles, from more distant viewpoints. Construction began on the cathedral during the 12th century and was completed in 1433. Major restoration and rebuilding work was necessary after the cathedral caught fire at the end of World War II. Stephansplatz 1 Telephone number: (01) 5155 23767. Fax number: (01) 5155 23191. Website: www.stephansdom.at Transport: U-Bahn Stephansplatz. Opening hours: Daily 0600–2000 hrs, services Saturday 1900 hrs and Sunday 1015 hrs (September–June), Sunday 0930 hrs (July–August) guided tours Monday–Saturday at 1030 hrs and 1500 hrs, Sunday 1500 hrs. Hofburg The Imperial Palace until 1918, the Hofburg is almost a city in itself and today, it houses the office of the Austrian president, an international conference centre, a number of museums, the chapel where the Vienna Boys’ Choir sings and the hall in which the Lipizzan stallions perform. Visitors can tour the Kaiserappartements (Imperial Apartments), including Franz-Josef’s private rooms, the great audience hall, dining rooms and staterooms. The Hofsilber und Tafelkammer (Court Silver and Tableware Chamber) is also on show. The Schatzkammer (Treasury), Schweizerhof 1, contains stunning exhibits that exemplify the power and wealth of one of Europe’s most important empires. The Imperial crown of the Holy Roman Empire rests here, as does the crown of the Austrian Empire, the 15th-century Burgundian treasure and the treasure of the Order of the Golden Fleece. Innerer Burghof 1, Kaisertor Telephone number: (01) 533 7570 Fax number: (01) 5337 57033 or 5332 4352 (Treasury). Transport: Main entrance on Michaelerplatz at the western end of Kohlmarkt, nearest U-Bahn Herrngasse (U3). Opening hours: Daily 0900–1700 hrs(Imperial Apartments and Court Silver, Wednesday and Friday–Monday 1000–1800 hrs, Thursday 1000–2100 hrs (Treasury). Admission: €7.50 (Imperial Apartments and Court Silver), €8 (Treasury). Spanische Hofreitschule (Spanish Riding School) For well over 400 years, the horses of the Spanish Riding School have performed their elegant manoeuvres at the Imperial Stables. The Lipizzaner Museum Wien (located at the stables) traces the history of these renowned performing horses and offers the opportunity to see into the animals’ quarters. The easiest way for visitors to see the horses in action is at their morning training sessions, 1000–1200 hrs Tuesday to Saturday. Tickets to the training sessions, which involve classical dressage exercise to music, are only available at the door on the day. Tickets for the actual performances are in high demand and need to be booked well in advance. The season generally runs from March to June and from September to December. Gala performances vary from month to month, usually Saturday or Sunday mornings and occasionally Friday evenings. Tickets are available on the Internet, by post or by fax and cost €35–105 (seated) or €24–28 (standing room). Final dress rehearsals before the season starts are slightly cheaper (€20). Michaelerplatz 1 (Riding School ticket office), Reitschulgasse 2 (Lipizzaner Museum) Telephone number: (01) 533 9031 (Riding School) or 5252 4416 (Lipizzaner Museum). Fax number: (01) 535 0186. E-mail: office@srs.at or lipizzaner@khm.at Website: www.spanische-reitschule.com or www.lipizzaner.at Transport: U-Bahn Stephansplatz, tram D, J, 1 or 2, bus 57A to Burgring. Opening hours: Daily 0900–1800 (museum), Tuesday–Saturday 1000–1200 hrs. Admission: €5 (museum), €11.50 (training sessions, €14.50 (combined ticket). Schloss Schönbrunn (Schönbrunn Palace) Schönbrunn Palace is Vienna’s answer to Versailles and was used as the summer residence of the Hapsburgs from the 18th century until 1918. The golden-yellow palace is set within equally magnificent gardens, landscaped in the Baroque style, with some monumental views. The palace and gardens are included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. The Gloriette is a triumphal arch that stands on the hilltop behind the palace and affords a stunning view over the grounds and Vienna beyond. The Palmenhaus (Palm House) and Schmetterlingshaus (Butterfly House) are excellent examples of late 19th-century architecture, with cast iron columns delicately holding up the glass walls and roof. The ‘Roman ruins’ in the garden are a typical folly (built during the Hapsburg’s time) and are often used for staging summer productions of Don Giovanni and The world’s oldest zoo can be found within the park, it was commissioned in 1752, to amuse and educate the court. Schönbrunner Schloss Strasse 13 Telephone number: (222) 8111 3239. Fax number: (222) 8111 3333. E-mail: info@schoenbrunn.at Website: www.schoenbrunn.at Transport: U-Bahn Schönbrunn or Hietzing (Zoo). Opening hours: Daily 0830–1700 hrs (April–October, until 1900 hrs July and August), daily 0830–1630 hrs (November–March). Admission: €7.50, €14 (VIP Pass, including the Grand Tour, the Bergl Rooms, the Maze, the Gloriette viewing terrace and the Court Bakery, April–October only). Belvedere The Oberes Belvedere, which was built in 1721–23, for Prince Eugene of Savoy, offers terrific views across the gardens to the Unteres Belvedere (Lower Belvedere) and Vienna beyond. Artwork from the middle ages and the Baroque era is featured in the Unteres Belvedere. The Oberes Belvedere houses art from the 19th-century classical, Romantic and Biedermeier periods on the second floor and post-1918 art located on the ground floor. The first floor is what draws visitors, with paintings by Gustav Klimt (including der Küss), Egon Schiele and other fin-de-siècle artists. Österreichische Galerie Belvedere, Prinz Eugenstrasse 27 Telephone number: (01) 79557. Fax number: (01) 798 4337. E-mail: belvedere@belvedere.at Website: www.belvedere.at Transport: U-Bahn Südbahnhof; tram D. Opening hours: Tuesday–Sunday 1000–1800 hrs. Admission: €7.50 Kunsthistorisches Museum (Museum of Fine Arts) The museum was built to house the Imperial Hapsburg collections in one place, although these have now grown to such an extent that some are housed in the Hofburg and in Schönbrunn Palace). The grand staircase in the Kunsthistorisches Museum provides passage to the galleries, which include the Antiquities, Egyptian-Oriental and Coin collections. The Kunstkammer houses sculpture and decorative arts. The Gemäldegalerie has works by Old Masters – including Dürer, Raphael, Rembrandt, Rubens and Titian and the most comprehensive collection of Brueghels in the world. Maria-Theresien-Platz 1 Telephone number: (01) 525 240. Fax number: (01) 5252 4503. E-mail: info@khm.at Website: www.khm.at Transport: U-Bahn Babenbergerstrasse or Volkstheater. Opening hours: Tuesday–Sunday 1000–1800 hrs (until 2100 hrs Thursday). Admission: €9. Naturhistorisches Museum (Natural History Museum) The Naturhistorisches Museum is the mirror image of the Kunsthistorisches Museum, housing collections of anthropological, geological and palaeontological exhibits, including a variety of dinosaur and ice-age mammal fossils. A highlight among the prehistoric artefacts is the 25,000-year-old ‘Venus of Willendorf’ sculpture. Maria-Theresien-Platz 1 Telephone number: (01) 521 770. Fax number: (01) 523 5254. Website: www.nhm-wien.ac.at Transport: U-Bahn Babenbergerstrasse or Volkstheater. Opening hours: Wednesday–Monday 0900–1800 hrs (until 2100 hrs Wednesday). Admission: €6.50. Further Distractions Prater The Prater is a giant wooded park, fairground and the location of one of Vienna’s most famous sights, the century-old Riesenrad (Giant Ferris Wheel). Harry Lime fought here in The Third Man (1949) and Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy fell in love here in Before Sunrise (1995). Prater Telephone number: (01) 969 7817. E-mail: info@wiener-prater.at Website: www.wiener-prater.at Transport: S-Bahn or U-Bahn Praterstern; trams O, 5 or 21. Riesenrad (Giant Ferris Wheel) Prater 90 Telephone number: (01) 729 5430. Fax number: (01) 7295 43020. E-mail: info@wienerriesenrad.com Website: www.wienerriesenrad.com Opening hours: Daily 0900–2400 hrs (May–September), daily 1000–2200 hrs (March-April and October), daily 1000–2000 hrs (November–February). Admission: €7.50. KunstHausWien (Vienna Art House) KunstHausWien is the unmistakable architectural expression of Friedensreich Hundertwasser’s unique vision. Appearing like a Klimt painting as seen through a kaleidoscope, the building contains an exhibition of Hundertwasser’s artwork as well as a bright café with a chic clientele and relaxing garden and the goulash is very good. The nearby Hundertwasserhaus is an apartment project, which can only be viewed from the street. Untere Weissgerberstrasse 13 Telephone number: (01) 712 0491. Fax number: (01) 712 0496. E-mail: information@kunsthauswien.com Website: www.kunsthauswien.com Transport: Trams N and O to Radetskyplatz. Opening hours: Daily 1000–1900 hrs. Admission: €8, all exhibitions half price on Monday. Kaisergruft (Imperial Burial Vault) The Imperial Burial Vault in the Kapuzinerkirche (Capuchin Church), which was build between 1622 and 1632, is well worth a visit. The vault became the burial place of the Hapsburgs and the highlight is the double casket of Maria-Theresa and Franz I. Neuer Markt 1 Telephone number: (01) 5126 85316. Website: www.kaisergruft.at Transport: U-Bahn Stephansplatz or Karlsplatz. Opening hours: Daily 0930–1530 hrs. Admission: €3.60. Haus der Musik (House of Music) The Haus der Musik is a major new addition to Vienna’s museum scene, offering a link between technology and the arts. The ground floor has concert spaces and a wine bar, while the first floor houses the museum of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, where visitors are given the opportunity to view the last New Year’s Day Concert. The second floor is the Sonosphere, where many aspects of sound are presented, using hands-on computer technology and giant instruments. The third floor is dedicated to historic displays of great Viennese composers, from Haydn to Berg. One room features the Virtual Conductor, where visitors can use virtual technology to conduct the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. The fourth floor includes the Brain Opera, an interactive musical environment with unique ultramodern musical instruments. The fifth floor includes concert rooms and an excellent café with superb views over St Stephen’s Cathedral. All exhibitions are presented in both German and English and anyone can happily spend hours here, whether you enjoy the music or not. Seilerstätte 30 Telephone number: (01) 516 4851. Fax number: (01) 516 4848. E-mail: info@haus-der-musik-wien.at Website: www.hdm.at Transport: U-Bahn Stephansplatz, Karlsplatz or Schwarzenbergplatz. Opening hours: Daily 1000–2200 hrs. Admission: €8.50 (Haus der Musik), €5 (Vienna Philharmonic Museum),€10 (combination ticket). ________________Vienna Culture Guide Vienna Culture Guide - TravelPuppy.com Vienna’s role as the capital of an empire that lasted for centuries has meant that artists and musicians have flourished within the city. The musicians who have at one time lived and worked in Vienna are especially remembered by a series of annual festivals. Among the esteemed maestros are Johann Strauss, Franz Schubert, Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, Brahms, Schönberg and Mahler. It was in Vienna that Mozart created his operas and Strauss gave the world the Blue Danube waltz and such beloved operettas as Der Fledermaus. The city’s performance venues are of the highest calibre and include the world-renowned Staatsoper and the Burgtheater – one of the most important theatres in the German-speaking world. Vienna has been at the centre of a number of artistic movements, notably at the turn of the century, when the members of the Secessionist movement reacted against the rigidity of the bourgeois establishment and the constraints of figurative painting. These artistic periods are writ large in the variety of architecture that graces the city, from splendid Baroque palaces to Otto Wagner’s Art Nouveau U-Bahn stations (on the U4 line, notably Karlsplatz) and Postsparkasse (Post Office Savings Bank). There are wonderful Art Nouveau houses on the Linke Wienzeile (opposite the Naschmarkt) and delightful 20th-century buildings in the Innerestadt, including the Loos Haus (opposite the Hofburg) and boutiques by Hans Hollein. Not to be missed, however, is the Secession, designed by Joseph Maria Olbrich, in 1897. The striking exterior is only the beginning, for Gustav Klimt’s Beethoven frieze lies within. Famous painters, such as Klimt, Egon Schiele and, more recently, Friedensreich Hundertwasser, are an important part of Vienna’s artistic heritage and their works are popular attractions. Tickets to cultural events are available for purchase from all major concert venues and theatres. Bookings can also be make at Bundestheaterkassen, Hanuschgasse 3 (telephone number: (01) 5144 42960). The tourist office at Albetinaplatz produces a monthly magazine of cultural events, called Programm. Another free monthly listing source is Wien Magazin and the weekly tabloid, Falter, which is published (in German) each Wednesday. Classical concerts are listed under ‘Musik-E’, pop, jazz and folk are listed under ‘Musik-U’ and clubs are listed under ‘Party-time’ in the Wienprogramm & Lexikon, yet another weekly cultural magazine. Online information on cultural events in Vienna is readily available (websites: www.viennaonline.at or www.magwien.gv.at/english). Music Vienna is probably home to more classical music performances than any other city in the world. In addition to the regular performance season, which generally runs from September to June, there are 9 annual festivals and numerous special events. Almost completely obscured in the shadow of the past, is Vienna’s vibrant youth scene, with venues offering everything from punk bands to the latest pop favourites. The Wiener Staatsoper (Vienna State Opera), Hanuschgasse 3 (telephone number: (01) 5144 42960, fax number: (01) 5144 42969, performs daily September to June from a repertoire of nearly 100 operas, operettas and ballets. The splendid opera house makes for a romantic and regal setting in which to see the performances. Standing-room tickets are a bargain at €3.50 but the queue for tickets starts in the late afternoon. The Volksoper (People’s Opera), Währingerstrasse 78 (telephone number: (01) 5144 43318, fax number: (01) 5144 42969) is a somewhat smaller venue that stages performances from a repertoire of 50 different, lighter works, including musicals. The Vienna Boys’ Choir is a Viennese institution, having been formed as the Boys’ Choir of the Royal Court in 1498. Together with members of the chorus and orchestra of the Vienna State Opera, they form the Hofmusikkapelle, which performs at Mass in the Chapel of the Imperial Palace at 0915 hrs on Sundays September to June. Seats cost €5–30 (standing room is free). Tickets should be ordered at least 10 weeks in advance from Hofmusikkapelle, Hofburg, 1010 Vienna (fax number: (01) 5339 92775, website: www.wsk.at). The Vienna Boys’ Choir also performs concerts in the Brahms-Saal (Brahms Hall), the venue for chamber music in the Musikverein, Bösendorferstrasse 12 (telephone number: (01) 505 8190, fax number: (01) 5058 68194, e-mail: tickets@musikverein.at, website: www.musikverein-wien.at), Friday at 1600 hrs, from April to June and September to October. The programme costs €6–36 and consists of madrigals and motets, waltz music and folk songs. Tickets are available from hotels or from the Mondial travel agency, Faulmanngasse 4, 1040 Vienna (telephone number: (01) 585 2688, fax number: (01) 587 1268, e-mail: ticket@mondial.via.at, website: www.mondial-travel.com). The renowned Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra (telephone number: (01) 505 6525, fax number: (01) 505 9220, e-mail: philoffice@wienerphilharmoniker.at,) performs at the Musikverein (see above). The annual New Year’s Eve concert is broadcast throughout the world, while the previous year’s concert is now available for viewing in the Haus der Musik (see Further Distractions). The Vienna Symphonic Orchestra performs at the Wiener Konzerthaus, Lothringerstrasse 20 (telephone number: (01) 712 1211, fax |
