Вена

The city of symphony

General information Vienna is the capital and largest city of Austria.   Population is about 1.757 million. Vienna area is 415 km ².

Name of the city The English name Vienna is borrowed from the Italian. "Vienna" and the official German name Wien, and the names of the city in most languages, are thought to be derived from the Celtic word "windo-", meaning bright.  In Slovene, the city is called Dunaj, which in other Slavic languages means the Danube River, on which it is located.

Symbol of Vienna St. Stephen's Cathedral or Stephansdom - Catholic cathedral, the national symbol of Austria and the symbol of the city of Vienna. The highest part of St. Stephen's Cathedral - South Tower. During the time of the Habsburgs, no church of Austria-Hungary could not be higher than the south tower of St. Stephen. There is an observation deck, which offers a magnificent view over the Danube and Vienna.

The roof of St. Stephen's Cathedral is covered multicolor tiles, which are laid in the same arms of the Republic of Austria. Near the main portal in "Romanesque wall" is Chair of St. John of Capistrano, which in 1454 he called for a crusade against turok.V interior of St. Stephen's Cathedral is a lot of sculpture samples XIV-XV centuries.

Culture Vienna is the city of captivating music, and this is no accident. Many famous composers have lived and worked here. Among them - Johannes Brahms, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Ludwig van Beethoven, Franz Schubert, Johann Strauss, Christoph Gluck.

Museums The Hofburg is the location of the Imperial Treasury (Schatzkammer), holding the imperial jewels of the Habsburg dynasty. The Sisi Museum (a museum devoted to Empress Elisabeth of Austria) allows visitors to view the imperial apartments as well as the silver cabinet. Directly opposite the Hofburg are the Kunsthistorisches Museum, which houses many paintings by old masters, ancient and classical artifacts, and the Naturhistorisches Museum.

Vienna balls Famous Viennese Waltz is a descendant of the Austrian folk dance - Ländler and got its name in honor of the Austrian capital. The famous Viennese Ball held annually in February. To get to this celebration is not only very difficult but also requires significant financial costs. Tickets to the ball varies from 200 to 20 000 euros.

Landmarks

Prater Prater - Vienna's largest nature park. Emperor Joseph II opened in 1766 the land for the common people, then the park has become a favorite place for the Viennese.

Ferris wheel Constructed in 1897 by Englishman VB Bassett ferris wheel height of 67 m was the second symbol of Vienna. Sitting in one of the 15 cabins, you can enjoy the panoramic view.

Staatsoper State Opera, one of the leading opera houses in the world, has become the first building on the Ringstrasse. Become traditional annual Ball at the Opera last Thursday carnival.

Hundertwasserhaus The house was built in the period from 1983 to 1985 stands out not only a wealth of ornament and flowers, but also the fact that it implements the basic idea of the artist, many have criticized the traditional communal style. In this unusual and full of life building floors - uneven window located asymmetrically, unevenly plastered walls, flat roofs, decorated with Byzantine towers, on stepped terraces and even the windows grow shrubs and trees

Neues Rathaus New Vienna City Hall (Neues Rathaus) - was built in 1872-1883 years. Friedrich von Schmidt. The space between the Town Hall and the Ringstrasse busy park, passes through driveway, lined with statues of famous personalities, one way or another connected with the history of the city.

Museum of Contemporary Art Acquainted with the masterpieces of fine art the latest trends can be the largest in Austria Museum of Modern Art Ludwig Foundation.

The oldest newspaper in the world The oldest newspaper in the world - Wiener Zeitung is produced in Vienna. She published August 8, 1703.

Foood Vienna is a "real" home to the French croissant, which was first prepared in 1683 by a local baker during the siege by the Turks. After Marie Antoinette brought him to Paris, with the result that the name "French croissant."

Cafe Sacher This is one of the oldest cafes in the city and the most visited today. Visitors "Sacher" offers the most stunning views from the windows - at the Vienna State Opera.