All those who meet German for the first time enjoy the thought of government offices being called rat houses. For the record, Rat means “advice,” “counsel” or indeed “council,” while the German for rat is Ratte.
Vienna’s Rathaus is indeed the seat of the provincial and city government (Vienna is both a city and a state), […]
Like many of the sights bordering Vienna’s Ring, the Austrian parliament building appeared in the second half of the 19th century as part of the urban renewal and expansion project that followed the demolition of the former city wall.
Given its representative function, it might come as a surprise to learn that the architect was not […]
Those who like to experience raw history should take the time to find the Capuchin Monastery (Kapuzinerkloster) in the very center of Vienna and visit the attached crypt.
This is the Imperial Crypt, the Kaisergruft, colloquially known as the Kapuzinergruft. The last resting place of dozens of Emperors, Empresses, Archdukes and their spouses and offspring. The […]
The visual image most closely associated with historical Vienna is Stephansdom, seat of the city’s bishop. The cathedral and surrounding square mark the figurative center of town and are an obligatory stop for the informed visitor.
The cathedral has accompanied Vienna through much of its history, with the initial foundation stone dating back to 1137. The […]
The Ring is a wide tree-lined boulevard that encircles the very center of the city. It’s about 6.5km long and probably has a greater number of historical sights lining its edges than any other road in the world.
As a visitor, you might be forgiven for thinking the city planners designed the Ring as a tourist […]
