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 Vienna
It is a federal province and also the federal capital of Austria.
It is an important nexus of East-West trade and a frequent
host of major congresses - International Congresses in the
Hofburg Center (UNO City) or the recently completed, Austria
Center, Vienna. Vienna lies in the northeast of the country,
with the Danube running through the northern suburbs of the
city. The Inner City, or Innere Stadt, is the heart of Vienna,
bounded by the Ringstrasse and containing some of the best
of the city's architecture, shops and hotels. Walking is one
of the best ways to see the Inner City, as the area covers
just a square mile and is steeped in an atmosphere of elegance
and the style and romance of a vanished era. The Austrian
National Library at Josefplatz is generally regarded as an
outstanding masterpiece of the Baroque period. The Schonbrunn
Palace is a rival to the sumptuous palace at Versailles and
the city houses some of the finest art collections in the
world. The city has a number of festivals and balls running
from New Year's Eve to Mardi Gras. Spring sees the Festival
of Vienna with concerts, operas and theatrical performances.
Essential is a visit to the Spanish Riding School in the Hofburg,
once the Central Palace of the Austrian Empire which has the
Imperial apartments and Crown Jewels.
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The State Opera House (Vienna)
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
World War 2, but soon after was reconstructed following the
original plans (it was reopened in 1955).
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Museum of Fine Arts and the Museum of
Natural History (Vienna)
The Museum of Fine Arts and the Museum of Natural History
are two symmetric buildings that sit one in front of the other.
The Fine Arts Museum has a vast collection of Fine Arts, from
Ancient Egypt works to Rubens, Rembrant, Titian and Raphael.
The Natural history museum has a collection of meteorites,
fossils, insects and skeletons of pre-historic animals. Both
Museums were built by Gottfried Semperand and Karl von Hasenauer.
The construction of these buildings began in 1872, the first
was completed in 1881 and the second in 1891.
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Parliament (Vienna)
In the lower house of Austria (the National Council), the
members are elected by popular vote and the upper house (the
Federal Council), the members are chosen by the states. Both
the lower and upper house members sit in this building. The
building is on Dr Karl Renner's Avenue. Renners was Austria's
first Chancellor at the establishment of the republic in 1918,
and its president from 1945 to 1950 after the re-establishment
of the democratic republic.
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The City Hall (Vienna)
The City Hall (Rathaus in German) houses the office of the
mayor of the city of Vienna and the governor of the state
of Vienna, the Assembly and the City Council. It was built
in a neo-Gothic style by Friedriech von Schimdt between 1872
and 1883. This 321 feet building is the most important secular
work of this style in the city
On both sides of the City Hall is a very
attractive park (Rathauspark). On the top of the tower of
the City Hall, sits the "Iron Knight of City Hall"
(Eiserner Rathausmann), which is one of the symbols of Vienna.
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Burgtheater (Vienna)
The Burgtheater, houses the Court and National Theater. This
institution was founded in 1776 by Emperor Joseph II, and
since then is a reference point for all Theater lovers in
Central Europe. The original was completed in 1888 and was
reconstructed after the second World War.
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Votive Church (Vienna)
This is one of the most beautiful churches in Vienna. This
church is famous because it holds the tomb of Count Niklas
Salm (commander of Vienna in the first Turkish siege of 1529),
which was transferred from the Church of St. Dorothy in 1878.
The church was completed in 1879 by Heinrich von Ferstel,
under the instructions of Archduke Ferdinand Max, as a token
of gratitude, when his brother, emperor Francis Joseph, survived
an assassination attempt.
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 St.
Stephen's Cathedral (Vienna)
Here you can see some of the horse cars that take tourists
on a tour of the city in front of the Saint Stephen's Cathedral.
This Cathedral has a Romanesque origin. Its construction began
in the 12th century during the reign of Ottokar II of Bohemia.
The church was completely reconstructed in Gothic Style following
the orders of Duke Rudolph IV of Habsburg.
This Cathedral is dedicated to the first
martyr of Christendom: Saint Stephen (Stefan in German). The
South Tower was completed in 1443 and the Northern Tower in
1579. The Baroque altarpieces were added in the 18th century.
The Cathedral was reconstructed after being devastated by
a fire during World War 2.
Inside the Cathedral there are many art treasures:
the tomb of Prince Eugene of Savoy (1754), the Altarpiece
of Wiener Neustadt, the pulpit by Anton Pilgrim (1514-15),
the sepulcher of Emperor Frederik III by Niclas Gerhaert (1467-1513)
and the Gothic winged Altar.
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Schönbrunn Palace (Vienna)
The Palace has its origins in 1559, when Emperor Maximilian
II who was looking for a hunting lodge purchased a mansion
in the outskirts of the city.
Later, this Palace used to be the Habsburgs
Summer residence (their official residence was the Imperial
Palace). Here you can take a look at some of its magnificent
rooms, among others the Room of Millions, one of the best
samples of rococo in the world. The Schönbrunn Palace,
is one of Vienna's most beautiful buildings. Here is where
the Empress Maria Theresa lived with her 16 children and her
husband Emperor Francis I. Years later this was the place
chosen by Napoleon as his headquarters during his Austrian
campaigns.
In 1749 Nikolaus Pacassi created the present
exterior.
Inside the walls of the Schönbrunn Palace
have taken place some events that have changed the history
of Austria: a six year old prodigy kid gave a concert in 1772
(nothing special, if he wasn't Mozart), Maria Theresa held
private conference with Prince Kaunitz, Napoleon met with
his generals in the Vieux Laque Room, and in 1918 Emperor
Charles I signed his abdication of the crown.
From the Maria Theresien Gloriette you can
admire a wonderful view of the Palace and of the city of Vienna.
Here there's a bar where we can sit for a while and enjoy
the moment. The Gloriette was constructed in 1757 to commemorate
the battle of Koln over Frederick II of Prussia.
Other interesting visits in the gardens of
the Schönbrunn Palace are the Palm House, the Butterfly
house, the Baroque Palace Theater (restored in 1980) and a
Zoo (Tiergarten).
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UNO City (Vienna)
UNO city was completed in 1979, in order to host some international
organizations that had their offices in other parts of Vienna.
Some of the most important organizations are: the International
Atomic Energy Agency and The United Nations Industrial Development
Organization, among other agencies of the UN.
Next to the UNO city, there's the Austria
Convention Center Vienna built from 1982 to 1987, with several
conference halls, designed by the Viennese architect J. Staber.
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Belvedere Palace (Vienna)
The Belvedere Palace was constructed in 1722 by Johan Lukas
von Hildebrandt, when Prince Eugene of Savoy - Commander in
Chief of the Imperial Army-- asked him to construct a Summer
palace for him. He actually never lived here.
The Palace houses the Austrian Gallery, with
19th and 20th century Austrian and International works. Among
others, there are the works of Amerling, Hausner, Hundertwasser,
Klimt, Kokoscha, Romako, Schiele, Waldmüller and some
French impressionists too.
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Imperial Palace (Vienna)
The imperial Palace was the residence of the Habsburg emperors,
who's empire lasted until 1918. The palace has undergone several
modifications and expansions.
Originally it was a medieval castle - unfortunately
from this period only the chapel remains. In the 16th century
the Palace stables and Amalia's wing were added. In the 17th
century Leopold's wing, in the 18th century the Imperial Chancery
wing, the Court Library and the Spanish Winter Riding School
were added. In the 19th century the St Michael's wing was
added. Finally, in the 20th century the New Palace was built,
and then came the end of the empire and with it, the Palace
expansion ended.
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Spanish Riding School (Vienna)
...is the oldest and last Riding School in the world where
classic dressage is still practised in its purest form. This
Institute was founded in 1572 and its very name gives away
the fact that the horses were of Spanish origin. The Lipizzaner
is regarded as the oldest classic horse race in Europe.
The Imperial Court Stud was situated near
the village of Lipizza and it was this village which gave
the race its name.
After the collapse of the Danube Monarchy
in 1920, the Austrian Republic became the legal successor
and from this time the Lipizzaners have been bred at the federal
Stud at Piber in Styria.
The superb arena - the Winter Riding School
in the Vienna Hofburg (Imperial Palace) in which the Riders
of the Spanish Riding School train the horses and where they
perform was commissioned by Emperor Karl VI. His portrait
decorates the white baroque hall built by Josef Emanuel Fischer
von Erlach from 1729 to 1735. Since 1920 the presentations
of classical dressage have been open to the public.
The tasks of the Spanish Riding School are:
- To maintain classic dressage in perfection.
- To preserve the Lipizzaner race and to supply stallions
which have proved their abilities to the Federal stud
in Piber as stud horses.
- To present classical dressage to the public.
- To represent Austria.
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Graz
Graz has many stories to tell:
First the romantic one: Hidden Courtyards, Renaissance Buildings,
Mediterranean flair and lots of romance.
Then the historic one: starting around 900
years ago, recalling the Middle Ages and the Renaissance when
Graz was the glorious imperial residence of the Habsburg family,
whence it inherited one of the best preserved historical centres
in Central Europe.
And finally, one of contrasts: classical
music and jazz, tradition and modernism, literature, festivals,
the classical music festival "Styriarte" and the
avantgarde "Styrian Autumn". Graz has indeed many
stories to tell.
A fruitful mixture which is appreciated throughout
Europe, since the European Union has awarded Graz the much
coveted title of "European. Cultural Capital" for
the year 2003. Graz combines the pleasures of savoir-vivre
with world-class culture, science, research, and technology.
Tradition matched with a modern way of life.
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Klagenfurt
The folk dancing group "Edelweiss - Klagenfurt"
was founded in 1936 in Klagenfurt, and since then has been
known for keeping up Carinthian heritage and for reviving
the old Gailtaler folk costume in Carinthia, in Austria, and
far beyond its borders, too.
Thus Carinthian folklore has been demonstrated
and presented at a variety of shows and competitions in Mexico,
Russia, Turkey, Tennessee, Missouri (USA), Bahrain, United
Arab. Emirates, Sultanate of Oman (1989, 1991) almost all
European countries. EDELWEISS was Austria's representative
at an international folk dancing contest in Italy. Out of
13 competing nations Austria won the gold medal. This is certainly
one of the greatest achievements in Austrian folk dancing.
The members are made up from all professions.
The group has only be able to achieve its great successes
through total commitment and a great deal of sacrifice. The
girls in the Group wear the heavily pleated skirt, beneath
which flowing underskirts are concealed. The brightly embroidered
top with its trimmed edging is finished off with a wrap and
a wide-sleeved blouse with a pleated lace collar. The variously
coloured aprons are made complete by a leather belt embroidered
with quill.
The boys wear soft leather boots up over
the knee to their black leather knickerbockers and a dark
brown velvet coat to their variously coloured velvet waistcoats.
Their headgear is a black, wide-brimmed hat, which was probably
brought into Carinthia by Friulian cart drivers, just as all
the folk costumes in the neighbouring provinces of Carinthia,
Slovenia (Yugoslavia) and Friaul (Italy) have been influenced
by each other.
The group's repertoire extends to all Austrian
and Carinthian large formations, but also to dances in keeping
with the mentality of Alpine inhabitants. The dancing couples
are accompanied by their own musical section which has different
musicians for the various pieces.
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Villach
Try your luck at the tables! The renowned casino in Velden
is only a 10 minute drive away.
The congress hall in Villach, a venue for important meetings
and conferences on a wide range of subjects is on the doorstep,
a two minute walk away.
Villach by night has also holiday surprises
in store. Immerse yourself in the town's pulsating nightlife,
with its restaurants, bars and cafes. Whether it is culture.
sport, health or business, Villach offers numerous possibilities
of spending a memorable holiday.
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 Salzburg
The province of Salzburg is renowned for its music festivals,
Mozart's music and the magnificent architecture of Salzburg
itself. In the south are the snow-covered mountains of the
Hohe Tauern and to the north the hill country and lakes of
the Salzkammergut in the northeast. Salzburg is open, elegant
and well planned, set amidst mountain scenery with all places
of interest only a few minutes' walk from the old town. Any
views of the town are dominated by the imposing presence of
the Festung Hohensalzburg. Salzburg is probably best known
as the birthplace of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, who is commemorated
in a yearly music festival in the Grosse Festspielhaus. Mozart's
birthplace and the house where he composed The Magic Flute
are both museums housing exhibits from the composer's life.
Like Vienna, Salzburg is a fine example of the Baroque style
of architecture, which stands second only to music in the
country's cultural history.
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