Vienna, State Opera House
Stephansdom
Schönbrunn Palace
Central Cemetery
The Vienna Philharmonic
Vienna Coffee House
This Opera House is one of the most famous Opera Theaters in the world. Some of the best directors of all times have performed here. The list is almost endless, but to name just a few: Mahler, Strauss, Krauss and von Karajan. The origins of this Opera House are not very fortunate; one of its architects (Eduard van der Nüll) killed himself because he couldn’t stand the negative reaction of the citizens of Vienna to his work. The other architect (August von Sicardsburg) died soon after too. The Opera House was almost totally destroyed in the World War 2, but soon after was reconstructed following the original plans (it was reopened in 1955).
Stephansdom
The cathedral was first built as a parish church, in 1147, and rebuilt and enlarged over the centuries, with major new work concluding in 1511, although repair and restoration have continued from the beginning to the present day.
It was previously thought that the church had been built in an open field outside the city walls; but excavations for a long-awaited heating system during 2000, revealed graves that were carbon-dated to the fourth century, 8 feet (2.5 meters) below the surface. The 430 skeletons were then moved to the catacombs. Thousands of others must have been buried in the ancient cemetery of this neighborhood, starting in Roman times; and this, instead of St. Ruprecht's Church, may be the oldest church site in Vienna
It was previously thought that the church had been built in an open field outside the city walls; but excavations for a long-awaited heating system during 2000, revealed graves that were carbon-dated to the fourth century, 8 feet (2.5 meters) below the surface. The 430 skeletons were then moved to the catacombs. Thousands of others must have been buried in the ancient cemetery of this neighborhood, starting in Roman times; and this, instead of St. Ruprecht's Church, may be the oldest church site in Vienna
Schönbrunn Palace
Schönbrunn Palace is one of the most important cultural monuments in Austria and since the 1960s has also been one of the major tourist attractions in Vienna. Soon after the end of the monarchy the population of Vienna discovered the park as an attractive recreational area. Eventually the palace was also opened to the public, drawing around 1.5 million visitors annually. The park and all the other attractions at Schönbrunn together see a further 5.2 million visitors each year, giving a grand total of 6.7 million visitors to the imposing palace complex each year. At the 20th session of the World Heritage Committee held in December1996 Schönbrunn Palace was put on the list of UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Sites, an institution founded in 1972. Inclusion in this list confirms the importance of the palace and its gardens as a Baroque work of art. If you have any further questions we would be pleased to answer them at any time.
Central Cemetery
Among many others, Gluck, Beethoven, Schubert, Hugo Wolf, Johann Strauss Father and Son, Lanner and Brahms are buried in Group 32a, Bruno Kreisky, Austrian Federal Chancellor from 1970 to 1983, Arnold Schönberg and Robert Stolz in Group 32c.
Directly in front of the Memorial Church is the mausoleum in which the Austrian presidents who have died since 1945 (Renner, Körner, Schärf, Jonas) are interred. Mozart was given an honorary monument in Group 32a, but his actual grave is in an unknown location at the Cemetery of St. Marx.
Across Simmeringer Hauptstrasse from the main gate is the Crematorium, built by Clemens Holzmeister in 1922 in the style of an oriental fortress. Further along the wall of the cemetery, you reach Gate 3, a secondary entrance and entrance to the Protestant section; and Gate 4, the access to the new Jewish section which has been in use since 1928
Directly in front of the Memorial Church is the mausoleum in which the Austrian presidents who have died since 1945 (Renner, Körner, Schärf, Jonas) are interred. Mozart was given an honorary monument in Group 32a, but his actual grave is in an unknown location at the Cemetery of St. Marx.
Across Simmeringer Hauptstrasse from the main gate is the Crematorium, built by Clemens Holzmeister in 1922 in the style of an oriental fortress. Further along the wall of the cemetery, you reach Gate 3, a secondary entrance and entrance to the Protestant section; and Gate 4, the access to the new Jewish section which has been in use since 1928
The Vienna Philharmonic
There is perhaps no other musical ensemble more consistently and closely associated with the history and tradition of European classical music than the Vienna Philharmonic. In the course of its over 160 year history, the musicians of this most prominent orchestra of the capital city of music have been an integral part of a musical epoch which due to an abundance of uniquely gifted composers and interpreters must certainly be regarded as unique.
The orchestra's close association with this rich musical history is best illustrated by the statements of countless pre-eminent musical personalities of the past. Richard Wagner described the orchestra as being one of the most outstanding in the world; Anton Bruckner called it "the most superior musical association"; Johannes Brahms counted himself as a "friend and admirer"; Gustav Mahler claimed to be joined together through "the bonds of musical art"; and Richard Strauss summarized these sentiments by saying: "All praise of the Vienna Philharmonic reveals itself as understatement."
The orchestra's close association with this rich musical history is best illustrated by the statements of countless pre-eminent musical personalities of the past. Richard Wagner described the orchestra as being one of the most outstanding in the world; Anton Bruckner called it "the most superior musical association"; Johannes Brahms counted himself as a "friend and admirer"; Gustav Mahler claimed to be joined together through "the bonds of musical art"; and Richard Strauss summarized these sentiments by saying: "All praise of the Vienna Philharmonic reveals itself as understatement."
Vienna Coffee House
The Austrian capital Vienna is famous not only for its music, but also for its coffee. But that way of life may be under threat as Imogen Foulkes has been finding outGoing into Vienna's cafe Sperl is like stepping into the Vienna of 100 years ago.
Its proprietor, Mannfred Staub, lives up to his surroundings - full of old world charm, he kisses my hand when I arrive. Mannfred is justifiably proud of his cafe. He brings me coffee on a silver tray, and shows me what makes the Sperl so special. "It is built in traditional Vienna coffee house style," he says, "but it was designed by two famous architects of the time, Gross and Jelinek and they added their own touches."
Above our heads a marble frieze runs along the top of the walls. "These are coffee house cherubs," says Mannfred, "and they are doing everything you can do in a coffee house, reading newspapers, chatting, playing chess, some are even fighting - that's the one thing I haven't experienced in my cafe"
The story goes that coffee was first brought to Vienna by the invading Turkish army in the late 17th century.
When they withdrew from the city, they left behind several sacks of coffee beans. The Viennese found they liked the drink, and they built around it a whole way of life. By the beginning of this century there were an estimated 500 coffee houses in Vienna places to sit and read, play chess, meet friends, or simply watch the world go by. The Sperl is such a place to go and escape the stress of 20th century life. You can spend an entire afternoon over one coffee, and no one will disturb you.
Today, there are around 200 such cafes in Vienna, from the elegant cafe Landtmann where Viennese ladies in fur coats have cake every afternoon, to the imposing cafe Central, with its arched ceilings and marble columns, where Trotsky is said to have planned the Russian revolution.
But, although these famous establishments remain popular, times are changing.
Its proprietor, Mannfred Staub, lives up to his surroundings - full of old world charm, he kisses my hand when I arrive. Mannfred is justifiably proud of his cafe. He brings me coffee on a silver tray, and shows me what makes the Sperl so special. "It is built in traditional Vienna coffee house style," he says, "but it was designed by two famous architects of the time, Gross and Jelinek and they added their own touches."
Above our heads a marble frieze runs along the top of the walls. "These are coffee house cherubs," says Mannfred, "and they are doing everything you can do in a coffee house, reading newspapers, chatting, playing chess, some are even fighting - that's the one thing I haven't experienced in my cafe"
The story goes that coffee was first brought to Vienna by the invading Turkish army in the late 17th century.
When they withdrew from the city, they left behind several sacks of coffee beans. The Viennese found they liked the drink, and they built around it a whole way of life. By the beginning of this century there were an estimated 500 coffee houses in Vienna places to sit and read, play chess, meet friends, or simply watch the world go by. The Sperl is such a place to go and escape the stress of 20th century life. You can spend an entire afternoon over one coffee, and no one will disturb you.
Today, there are around 200 such cafes in Vienna, from the elegant cafe Landtmann where Viennese ladies in fur coats have cake every afternoon, to the imposing cafe Central, with its arched ceilings and marble columns, where Trotsky is said to have planned the Russian revolution.
But, although these famous establishments remain popular, times are changing.
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