![]() |
City Guide - Vienna - Key Attractions | ||
![]() |
||
Key Attractions Stephansdom The imposing St Stephen's Cathedral marks Graben's eastern end, and is easily spotted from more distant viewpoints by its brightly coloured roof tiles. Construction began on the cathedral in the twelfth century and was completed in 1433. Major restoration and rebuilding work was necessary after it caught fire at the end of World War II. Stephansplatz 1 Tel: (01) 5155 23767. Fax: (01) 5155 23191. Transport: U-Bahn Stephansplatz Opening hours: Daily; Tours Mon-Sat at 1030 and 1500, Sun 1500. Admission: öS30 (south tower), öS40 (north tower), öS40 (catacombs). Guided tours are available for öS40. Hofburg The Imperial Palace until 1918, the Hofburg is almost a city in itself. Today it is used for a variety of state functions and also houses 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) can also be seen. 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 fifteenth-century Burgundian treasure and the treasure of the Order of the Golden Fleece. Innerer Burghof 1, Kaisertor Tel: (01) 533 7570 (Imperial Apartments and Court Silver) or 533 7931 (Treasury). Fax: (01) 5337 57033 (Imperial Apartments and Court Silver) or 5332 4352 (Treasury). Opening hours: Daily 0900-1700 (Imperial Apartments and Court Silver), Wednesday to Monday 1000-1800 (Treasury). Admission: öS80 (Imperial Apartments or Court Silver), öS95 (both attractions), öS100 (Treasury). Spanische Hofreitschule For over 400 years, the horses of the Spanish Riding School have performed their elegant manoeuvres at the Imperial stables. The Lipizzaner Museum Wien at the stables traces the history of these renowned performing horses and also offers the opportunity to see the animals quartered. The easiest way to see the horses in action is at their morning training sessions 1000-1200 Tuesday to Friday. Tickets for the actual performances are in high demand, and should be booked well in advance. The season generally runs from February to June and from September to December. Gala performances are on Wednesday evening and Sunday morning and tickets are available on the internet, by post or by fax (öS300-900 or öS200 for standing room). Classical dressage to music is on Saturday morning; tickets cost öS250 plus booking fee and are only available through travel and ticket agencies. Michaelerplatz 1 Tel: (01) 533 9031. Fax: (01) 535 0186. E-mail: office@srs.at Website: www.spanische-reitschule.com Transport: U-Bahn Stephansplatz; tram D, J, 1 or 2; bus 57A to Burgring. Opening hours: Daily 0900-1800 (museum). Admission: öS50 (museum) or öS100 (training sessions - tickets are only available at the door on the day of the performance). Schloss Schönbrunn Schönbrunn Palace is Vienna's answer to Versailles and was used as the summer residence of the Hapsburgs from the eighteenth century until 1918. Of the 1411 rooms in the palace, 40 are open to the public. The golden-yellow palace is set within equally magnificent gardens in the Baroque style, with straight lines and 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 gardens and the city beyond. The Palmenhaus (Palm House) and Schmetterlingshaus (Butterfly House) are excellent examples of late nineteenth-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 as the site for summer productions of Don Giovanni. The world's oldest zoo can be found in the park - it was commissioned in 1752 to amuse and educate the court. Schönbrunner Schloss Strasse 13 Tel: (222) 8111 3239. Fax: (222) 8111 3333. E-mail: info@schoenbrunn.at Website: www.schoenbrunn.at Transport: U-Bahn Schönbrunn or Hietzing (Zoo). Opening hours: Daily Apr-Oct, 0830-1700; Nov-Mar 0830-1630. Admission: öS95 (audio-guided tour), öS125 (extended, audio-guided tour) or öS150 (guided tour). Belvedere The Oberes Belvedere (Upper Belvedere Palace) was built in 1721-23 for Prince Eugene of Savoy and offers terrific views across the gardens to the Unteres Belvedere (Lower Belvedere) and the city beyond. Artwork from the middle ages and the Baroque era is featured in the Unteres Belvedere. The Oberes Belvedere houses art from the nineteenth-century Classical, Romantic and Biedermeier periods on the second floor, and post-1918 art on the ground floor. The first floor, however, is what draws visitors - the paintings of Gustav Klimt (including der Küss), Egon Schiele and other fin-de-siècle artists are not to be missed. Österreichische Galerie Belvedere, Prinz Eugenstrasse 27 Tel: (01) 79557. Fax: (01) 798 4337. E-mail: belvedere@belvedere.at Website: www.belvedere.at Transport: U-Bahn Südbahnhof; tram D. Opening hours: Tues-Sun 1000-1700. Admission: öS90 - special exhibitions cost extra (concessions available). Kunsthistorisches Museum (Museum of Fine Arts) This 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 (see above). The grand staircase in the Kunsthistorisches Museum provides passage to the galleries, which include the Antiquities, Egyptian-Oriental and Coin collections. The Kunstkammer (art chamber) houses sculpture and decorative arts. The Gemäldegalerie (picture gallery) has works by Old Masters, including Dürer, Raphael, Rembrandt, Rubens and Titian, and the most comprehensive collection of Brueghels in the world. Burgring 5 (postal); Maria-Theresien-Platz 1 (entrance) Tel: (01) 5252 4401. Fax: (01) 523 2770. E-mail: info@khm.at Website: www.khm.at Transport: U-Bahn Babenbergerstrasse or Volkstheater. Opening hours: Tues-Sun 1000-1800 (Thurs until 2100). Admission: öS120 including special exhibitions (concessions available). Naturhistorisches Museum (Natural History Museum) This the mirror image of the Kunsthistorisches Museum, and houses 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. Burgring 7 (postal); Maria-Theresien-Platz 1 (entrance) Tel: (01) 521 770. Fax: (01) 523 5254. Website: www.nhm-wien.ac.at Transport: U-Bahn Babenbergerstrasse or Volkstheater. Opening hours: Daily 0900-1800, closed Tues. Admission: öS50 (concessions available). |