Great Cities of Europe

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<F16>Vienna</F> <F14><L7>Basic Information</F> Documents Required: United States and EC citizens need only a valid passport for stays not exceeding three months. American Consulate: 16 Boltzmanngasse; 222/ 315-511. Currency: The unit of currency is the schilling (AS), which is divided into 100 groschen. Banks: Business hours are Monday-Wednesday and Friday from 8A.M. to 3P.M. Customs: You may export goods up to $400 in value. There is no limit on the import or export of currency. Climate: Austria has four distinct seasons. In Vienna, summer day time temperatures range from 60-80 degrees. In the winter, daytime temperatures hover around 35 degrees. Tipping: Virtually all hotels and restaurants include a service charge in your bill. It is appropriate to round restaurant bills up when paying; taxi drivers expect a five-ten percent tip. Tourist Information: The main tourist bureau is at 38 Karntnerstrasse. Airports: Vienna's Schwechat Airport is located 12 miles southeast of the city. Express buses shuttle between the airport and central Vienna. Taxis to the city center are also priced reasonably. Getting Around: Vienna has one of Europe's best-integrated public transportation systems. By tram or bus: Lines spread out from either the Ring or the Gurtel, the two semicircles that surround the inner city, toward outer districts. A one-way ticket allows transfers throughout the system. Routes operate between 5A.M. and midnight. By taxi: Hire cabs at taxi stands throughout the city. Postal and Telephone Service: The main post office is at 19 Fleischmarkt. To call Austria from the United States, dial 011-43, then the city code (Vienna is 222), and the local number. Public Holidays: January 1, Epiphany (January 6), Easter Monday, May 1, Christi Himmelfahrt (40 days after Easter), Whit Monday (50 days after Easter), Corpus Christi (Thursday of the week following Whit Monday), Assumption of the Virgin (August 15), National Day (October 26), All Saints (November 1), Annunciation (December 8), December 25 and 26. Electric Current: Plugs are standard European, with two round prongs. The current is 220V. <F14>Time Line</F> Beginnings of the City 15-12 b.c. Romans conquer the Danube plains between Vienna and Budapest. 395 Barbarian invasions force the Roman Empire to abandon the Danube frontier. eighth century Bavarian king Tassilo conquers Austrian uplands; introduction of Christianity. 803 Charlemagne creates Austria on the Danube. 883 First mention of Wenia (Vienna). 960 Leopold of Babenberg extends authority to the Viennese plain. 1137 First recorded mention of Vienna as a city. 1141-1177 Heinrich II transfers Babenberg seat to Vienna.. 1192 Duke Leopold V captures Richard Lionheart of England. 1246 Babenbergs become extinct with the death of Friedrich II. 1273 Rudolph of Habsburg elected Holy Roman Emperor, acquires the duchy of Austria. Beginning of 640 years of Habsburg rule. Habsburgs 1358-65 Rudolph IV "the Founder" adopts the title of Archduke. 1438 Albrecht V elected Emperor (as Albrecht II). Habsburgs control the imperial title until 1806. 1452 Friedrich III crowned Holy Roman Emperor. 1469 Vienna becomes a bishopric. 1516 Karl V inherits the kingdom of Spain. In 1519, he is elected Emperor. His brother Ferdinand I governs Austria, with the title of Archduke. 1529 First Turkish siege of Vienna under Sultan Suleyman. 1556 Habsburg domain divided on Karl's retirement: Philip II, his son, inherits Spain and Burgundy; Ferdinand takes Austria, Bohemia-Hungary and the Imperial title. 1545-1563 Council of Trent: Habsburgs lead the Catholic cause in Europe. 1679 Plague kills more than 30,000 in Vienna. 1683 Second Turkish siege of Vienna. Turks defeated by pan-European army. 1700 End of Spanish Habsburg dynasty causes War of the Spanish Succession. 1722 Vienna becomes an archbishopric. 1718 Melk abbey church built. Rise of Culture 1740 Maria Theresa's ascension to the Habsburg throne. 1740-1809 Haydn resides in Vienna and Eisenstadt. 1782-1791 Mozart visits the city. 1792-1827 Beethoven calls Vienna his home. 1828 Schubert dies in Vienna, aged 31. 1806 Abolition of the Holy Roman Empire after Napoleon's victories at Austerlitz. 1812-1814 Austria joins Russia, Prussia and England in an alliance to defeat Napoleon. 1809-1848 Prince Metternich leads Austria and dominates European diplomacy. 1897 Group of progressive artists (Klimt, Otto Wagner) form the Secession. 1907-1913 Adolf Hitler lives in Vienna as aspiring artist. Austrian Republic 1914 Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand in Sarajevo precipitates World War I. 1914-1918 Austria-Hungary joins Germany in World War I. 1919 Treaty of St. Germain creates independent Austria. 1920-1938 Social Christian (Catholic conservative) rule in Austria; Marxists control Vienna city government. 1934 Nazis assassinate Chancellor Dollfuss in coup attempt. 1938 German troops occupy Austria. 1943 Moscow Declaration: United States, United Kingdom, and the USSR agree to re-establish Austria after the war. 1945 Allied air raid causes heavy damage in Vienna. Today 1945-1955 Four-power occupation of Austria. 1955 State Treaty grants Austrian independence under condition of 'perpetual neutrality.' 1986 Election of Kurt Waldheim to the Presidency causes diplomatic furor. 1989 Revolutions in Eastern Europe enhance Austrian influence in Hungary and Czechoslovakia. </L7> <F14><L6>Hotels</F> Bristol $$$ 1 Karntner Ring 222/51-5160 Teddy Roosevelt and the Duke of Windsor called it their home away from home. Imperial $$$ 16 Karntner Ring 222/50-1100 Previously the residence of Duke Philipp of Wurttemberg, and still ornate. Sacher $$$ 4 Philharmonikerstrasse 222/51-4560 Splendid rooms and one of Europe's top restaurants. K+K Hotel Maria Theresa $$ 6-8 Kirchberggasse 222/5-2123 Ostentatious in decoration, but the rooms are comfortable. Wandl $$ 9 Petersplatz 222/53-4550 Originally a monastery, then a dormitory for Vienna's prostitutes. Service is as good as its history. Altwienerhof $ 6 Herklotzgasse 222/892-6000 Famous for its gourmet restaurant, the inn offers several comfortable rooms upstairs. Wild $ 10 Lange Gasse 222/40-6517 Close to the city center, with friendly service. <F14>Restaurants</F> Korso Bei Der Oper $$$ 2 Mahlerstrasse 222/5-1516 Haute cuisine with an individual character. Zu Den Drei Husaren $$$ 4 Weihburggasse 222/51-2109 Traditional dishes and attentive service recall a past era. Kupferdachl $$ 5 Schottengasse 222/63-9381 Unpretentious family-run establishment with traditional fish dishes. Zum Herkner $$ 123 Dornbacherstrasse 222/45-4386 Genuine Viennese cuisine; the goose and pheasant are always excellent. Hedrich $$ 2 Stubenring 222/512-9588 Light meals and courteous service. Stadtbeisel $ 21 Naglergasse 222/3-3350 Come for a glass of wine and try the venison. </L6> <F14><L1>Sites</F> Stephansdom (St. Stephen's Cathedral) Rotenturmstrasse The Gothic cathedral of St. Stephen has dominated Vienna's skyline since the 14th century. The spire rises 449 feet (343 stairs) to an observation platform. The Hofburg Kohlmarkt opposite Michaelerplatz 222/587-5554 The principal residence of the Habsburg dynasty has evolved over the course of 800 years. Franz Joseph and his wife's opulent apartments are open to visitors, as is the court library, designed in 1723, which houses 15,000 gold-bound volumes of Prince Eugene's private collection. Opera House 2 Opernring Completed in 1869 as the first great building of the Ringstrasse, the Opera was destroyed by American bombs in 1945. Its reopening ten years later became a symbol of Austria's rebirth from the ashes of war. Schonbrunn Schonbrunner-Schloss strassse 222/83-3646 Modeled after Versailles, Maria Theresa commissioned architect Nicola Paccassi to build a palace at Schonbrunn. Chamber operas, mostly Mozart, are performed during summer months in the palace gardens. </L1> <F14><L2>Museums and Culture</F> Kunsthistorische Museum Maria-Theresienplatz 222/93-4541 Aside from the premier collection of paintings by the Northern European master Pieter Bruegel, the museum's holdings include works by Raphael, Titian, Mantegna, Bellini, Durer, and Holbein. Music Musikverein 12 Bosendorferstrasse Vienna Philharmonic. The Konzerthaus 20 Lothringerstrasse Vienna Symphony Orchestra. The Volksoper 78 Wahringerstrasse Operettas and musicals. The Vienna Choirboys can be heard at Mass every Sunday in the Hofburg chapel. </L2> <F14><L5>Shopping</F> Gramola 5 Kohlmarkt Classical music retailer; huge selection and expert sales help. Osterreichische Werkstatte 6 Karntnerstrasse 222/512-2418 The 3-story shop is a cooperative venture involving several hundred Austrian artisans working with glass, ceramic, enamel, leather, and straw. A. Heldwein 13 Graben 222/512-5781 Classic jewelry. A.E. Kochert 15 Neuer Markt 222/512-5828 Royal jeweler since 1814. Lobmeyr 28 Karntnerstrasse 222/512-0508 Traditional crystal and glassware. </L5> <L3><F14>Children</F> Prater Praterstern Giant ferris wheel, planetarium, amusement park, and nature trails. Modellbahn-Ecke 21 Olweingasse Model trains. ABZ Scout Shop 13 Breitegasse For father and son. Urania Puppet Theater Julius-Raab-Platz 222/72-6191 Shows October -April. <F14><Night Spots</F> Martini Bar 3 Neuer Markt 222/51-5940 Sophisticated clientele and mixed drinks. Move Club 1 Daungasse Dance club popular with students. Krah Krah 8 Rabensteig Beer-tavern favored by the academic community. Roter Engel 5 Rabensteig Wine bar with live music. </L3> <F14><L4>Excursions</F> Melk 52 miles west of Vienna The Benedictine Abbey of Melk is one of Europe's most important works of Baroque architecture, and one of the most majestic sights along the Danube. The castle of Melk served as the seat of the Babenberg dynasty for 500 years since 976. The abbey church represents the fruition of Austrian Baroque architecture. </L4></F> <L8><F14>Sunshine Guide To Vienna, Austria</F> Seasons: Vienna has a standard European four-season year. Spring (April and May) brings lengthening days, the leafing out of the trees, and the last of the frosts. It is a changeable season. Summer (June through August) sees long warm days with abundant rains. Autumn (September and October) features shortening days, falling leaves, and the first frosts. It is also a changeable season. Winter (November through March) is the season of short cloudy days, snows, and freezing cold. Sunniest Months: Late May through the first part of September will have sunshine on half or more of the daylight hours. This is when you can expect to get the sunniest weather of the year. In general, 41% of the year's daylight hours will be sunny--from a high of 55% in July and August, to a low of 17% in December. September will get the most clear days, about one day out of three. Warmest Months: June through August. Vienna summers are mild to warm, with occasional hot spells and the rare chilly session. The hottest temperature of the year will be around 90 degrees, and will probably occur in July. From late June through August, many nights will be hot enough that you will sleep better with some sort of room-cooling. Not most of the nights, only many of them. There's a difference. Coolest Months: November through March. At this time of year, you can expect frosty mornings on at least half of the days--three out of four from late December through February. During this same season, you should be ready for afternoon temperatures to remain below freezing about two days a week. The coldest temperature of the year will be around 7 degrees, and will probably occur in January. Snow is a common feature on the winter scene, and you can expect the average winter fall to be around thirty inches. The ground is frozen almost all winter long, and is snow-covered for about forty days each winter. The Danube River does not normally freeze over in Vienna, but ice floes are a common sight on the river from December through February. Driest Months: September and October. Some 57% of the year's days will get no measurable precipitation; that is, they will get less than a hundredth of an inch. September and October will have 65% such days, whereas December will get only 50%. A "dry day" in the table, however, is one with less than a tenth of an inch--a more useful measure. It takes at least that much to wet the ground under the trees. During the winter months, most of the precipitation will come as snow, but there is always a bit of rain, as well. It takes from ten to fifteen inches of snow (depending upon how "wet" the snow is) to melt down to one inch of precipitation. Much of the summer rain comes as thundershowers. Things To Know: The city will often have a distinct "urban heat island". Under windless and rainless conditions (or near), the city center will be many degrees warmer than the outlying suburbs. This is especially noticeable at night and in the winter. Precipitation of any kind diminishes this effect, and a strong wind will eliminate it completely. The table data are for the city center. Weather Copyright 1995 by Patrick J. Tyson, Box 492787, Redding CA 96049. All rights reserved. </L8>