The
legendary opulence of Vienna lives on and can be experienced
with a walk around the Innere Stadt, from the stunning St. Stephan's
Cathedral to the statuesque Hofburg Palace. What was once a
Roman settlement on the Danube River called Vindobona, Vienna
became the center of the Austro-Hungarian court after the removal
of the Turks in 1683, and dominated the culture of Europe in
the 19th and into the 20th centuries. Though ravaged by World
War II, much of the city's ancient glory has been restored and
it now shines once again as the best place for high society
in Central Europe.
The Baroque and Rococo architecture
that exist on all levels of the city are products of the great
aristocratic families that built palaces and homes here; while
the cozy coffeehouses are still haunted by the likes of Freud,
Schoenberg, and Klimt. Today, Vienna still offers some of the
finest music and art in the world, but can also delight visitors
with a vast array of delectable treats, from cakes and pastries
to coffees and wines.
Areas Within the Destination
The capital of Austria is separated
into 23 Bezirke, or districts, the most important being District
1: the Innere Stadt (inner city), enclosed by the Ringstrasse
and the Danube Canal. Districts 2-9 lie clockwise around the
Ringstrasse, and Districts 10-23 lie further outside these districts
in another circle. Most districts have their own distinct flavor;
such as Districts 10-12 being a densely populated residential
section for blue-collar workers, and District 9 as the Academic
quarter.
Innere
Stadt (District 1): Roughly the size of Medieval Vienna,
the compact center of the city is home to the most beautiful
monuments, churches, palaces, and museums at every turn. The
center of the center is Stephansplatz, the crowded pedestrian
square around Stephansdom (St. Stephan's Cathedral), which is
the only remaining building from the Middle Ages. Any street
in the Innere Stadt will delight, but Kärtnerstrasse is
a pedestrianized highway of shops and street performers, that
leads to the Vienna State Opera House and the Ringstrasse. Visitors
spend most of their time in this section of town, walking from
the Hofburg Palace to the Rathaus (City Hall), to the beautiful
Naturhistorisches (Natural History) and Kunsthistorisches (Art
History) museums, amongst dozens of other tremendous buildings.
Leopoldstadt
(District 2): On the opposite of the Danube Canal, this
section was once the thriving center of Vienna's Jewish community,
and is also home to the enormous yet pretty Prater park, where
sits an amusement park, sports facilities, and a giant ferris
wheel that provides an all-encompassing view of the entire city.
Landstrasse
(District 3): The main attraction in this section is
the Belvedere, built in 1723 for Prince Eugene Savoy, with beautiful
gardens and baroque architecture. Yet the Schwarzenburg Palace
and the Konzerthaus (Concert House) can't be missed either.
Leisurely strolls are also offered here in the refreshing Stadtpark
(City Park).
Wieden
(District 4): The center of this little neighborhood
is Karlsplatz, a modern city square dominated by Karlskirche,
built by Emperor Karl IV in 1713. The Secession Building, which
housed Vienna Art Nouveau movement, and the Museum of the City
of Vienna, can also be found here. The grand Kärtnerstrasse
of the Innere Stadt turns into Wieder Hauptstrasse in this district
and leads to Vienna's main southern train station, the Südbanhof.
Margareten
(District 5): A little farther from the Innere Stadt,
this little district is more residential and has the historic
homes of Franz Schubert and Christoph Gluck.
Mariahilf
(District 6): This hearty neighborhood comes upon the
Mariahilferstrasse, one of the busiest shopping streets in Vienna.
More shopping can be found at the large Naschmarkt (Produce
Market), and on Saturdays at the nearby Flohmarkt (Flea Market).
Neubau
(District 7): This picturesque but vibrant community
borders the Museum Quarter and is an ideal place to find accommodations,
with easy access to the Innere Stadt, and compelling sites of
its own, such as the Spittleburg quarter, with many boutiques,
restaurants, and art galleries.
Josefstadt
(District 8): The smallest district in Vienna has the
oldest and nicest theater, the Josefstadt Theater, and sits
behind city hall.
Alsergrund
(District 9): Often referred to as the academic quarter,
here the University of Vienna and the Freud Museum can be found,
along with the Federal Museum of Modern Art inside Lichenstein
Palace.
Districts 10 through 23 are not
as easily accessible, and are mainly suburbs or industrial parks.
However, Schloss Schönbrunn, another Hapsburg Palace, is
located in District 13, Hietzing. In District 22, Donaustadt,
Donau Park and the modern business complex UNO-City sit on the
far side of town.
