Each month, In Motion takes you to a super destination – and gives you some tips on what you shouldn’t miss while you’re there.
The mere mention of Vienna brings to mind images of swirling skirts and dapper tuxedoes on polished wood floors, cozy coffee houses displaying a treasure trove of pastries and tortes, and glorious white stallions moving with balletic precision under enormous chandeliers. Vienna is a unique blend of the historic and the modern, so full of tradition it can be read on the face of the city, yet with a forward-looking, energetic approach.
SEASONAL SPECIALS
In Central Europe in December, one’s thoughts turn toward mulled wine, spiced cookies and small wooden chalets. Luckily, Vienna’s Christkindlmärkten (Christmas Markets) are some of the best on the continent. They are held from mid-November until 24 December in a variety of locations throughout the city; the largest can be found at the Rathausplatz, Spittleberg Quarter and Freyung (corner of Innerstadt).
In 2006, Vienna will be celebrating the 250th anniversary of the birth of Mozart, with various special events throughout the year. There are still hundreds of concerts on tap for the month of December. Visit www.mozart2006.net for more information.
GETTING AROUND
Vienna’s extensive public transport system (underground U-bahn, commuter rail, tram and bus) makes it a perfect city for exploring (it’s also a great city for walking, but it’s nice to know there are other options if your feet get tired).
A single fare for U-bahn, bus and tram costs €1.50 (€2 if purchased on the tram or bus) and there is no additional charge for transfers. Visitors should take advantage of the Vienna Card, a pass that allows for 72 hours of travel on the U-bahn, trams and buses (except for night buses) and offers discounts on attractions, at many shops and restaurants (see Passes in Sightseeing). Passes are available from Wiener Linien ticket offices and service centres.
The heart of Vienna is the Innerestadt – the area that lay within the city walls, until they were demolished in the mid-19th century. It is here that some of Vienna’s most popular tourist attractions can be found, along with pedestrian streets lined with countless shops, cafés, bars and restaurants. The centre point is the Graben (literally “moat�?), which is a wide square lined with shops and pavement cafés under large umbrellas. Following the demolition of the city walls in 1857, the Ringstrasse was laid out and some of Vienna’s most beautiful buildings were built along it, between 1858 and 1865.
NOT TO BE MISSED
Stephansdom (St Stephen’s Cathedral)
The imposing St Stephen’s Cathedral marks Graben’s eastern end and is easily spotted, due to its brightly coloured roof tiles, from more distant viewpoints. Construction began on the cathedral in the 12th century and was completed in 1433. Major restoration and rebuilding work was necessary after the cathedral caught fire at the end of World War II.
Stephansplatz 1
www.stephansdom.at
Hofburg
The Imperial Palace until 1918, the Hofburg is almost a city in itself. Today, it houses the office of the Austrian president, an international conference centre, 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 Joseph’s and Empress Elisabeth’s private rooms. The Schatzkammer (Treasury), 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 is here, as is the crown of the Austrian Empire and the treasure of the Order of the Golden Fleece.
Innerer Burghof 1, Kaisertor
www.hofburg.wien.info or www.hofburg-wien.at
Spanische Hofreitschule (Spanish Riding School)
For over 400 years, the horses of the Spanish Riding School have performed their elegant maneuvers at the Imperial Stables. The easiest way for visitors to see the horses in action is at their morning training sessions, 10:00-12:00 Tuesday to Saturday. Tickets to the training sessions, which involve classical dressage exercise to music, are only available at the door on the day. Guided tours Tues-Sat in the afternoon.
Michaelerplatz 1
www.spanische-reitschule.com or www.lipizzaner.at
Schloss Schönbrunn (Schönbrunn Palace)
Schönbrunn Palace is Vienna’s answer to Versailles and was used as the summer residence of the Habsburgs from the 18th century until 1918. Of the 1,411 rooms in the palace and its adjacent buildings, 40 state rooms are open to the public. The golden-yellow palace is set within equally magnificent gardens, landscaped in the Baroque style, with some fabulous views. The palace and gardens are included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
www.schoenbrunn.at
MuseumsQuartier
On the site of the former imperial stables, this large cultural complex, which opened in 2001, is one of the biggest of its kind in the world. Don’t miss the excellent Leopold Museum, a must for anyone interested in Austrian art, and MUMOK, the Museum of Modern Art.
Museumplatz 1
www.mqw.at or www.leopoldmuseum.org or www.mumok.at
IF YOU’RE FEELING PECKISH …
Restaurant Anna Sacher
Since 1876, dining at the Hotel Sacher has been as much a social experience as a culinary one. Most celebrities visiting Vienna eventually end up at the scarlet dining room, usually to enjoy its most famous (and Austria’s national) dish, tafelspitz (boiled beef), served with an apple and horseradish and a chive sauce. Diners should always save room for the dessert speciality, Sachertorte, a chocolate tart split in half, spread with apricot jam and iced with chocolate.
Hotel Sacher Wien, Philarmonikerstrasse 4
www.sacher.com
Wiener Rathauskeller
Throughout the Teutonic world, city halls have traditionally maintained basement restaurants. Vienna’s city hall is no exception. It features six neo-Gothic rooms, still with all their original stained-glass windows and vaulted ceilings. Besides the usual Viennese dishes, the speciality here is the Rathauskellerplatte for two, consisting of various veal, pork and lamb dishes.
Rathausplatz 1
www.wiener-rathauskeller.at
Zwölf-Apostelkeller (Stadtheurigen)
“City heurigen” are generally located in the cellars of Vienna’s old monasteries. Parts of the “12 Apostles Cellar” predate 1561, with wooden tables under lighting partially provided by streetlights set into the floor. The traditional dishes on offer include goulash, meat dumplings and schlachtplatte (a selection of meats with hot bacon and cabbage salad). Wine comes from a barrel rather than a bottle, and is sold by the quarter liter.
Sonnenfelsgasse 3
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This entry was posted on Monday, July 7th, 2008 at 4:08 pm and is filed under Corporate Travel. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
