The many facets of a gem

In Vienna, history comes alive - more than six centuries of Habsburg rule have left an indelible mark on the city, its music, art, literature and architecture.
The Austro-Hungarian monarchy is a thing of the past, the vast empire "where the sun never set" is reduced to a small Alpine country, and the surviving members of the Habsburg dynasty are people like you and me (well, almost), but the word "imperial" has lost none of its glamour in Vienna.

Music, another Word for Vienna

Vienna is Europe's capital of music. Much of what we call "classical Music" today was created in and around the city in a tremendous burst of creativity. And Vienna continues to hold the banner high by giving music of every age and every type the ultimate in performance, in the opera houses, in the concert halls, in public squares and gardens, in restaurants, night clubs and taverns.

Art is the Accomplice of Love

Vienna, hometown of many great artists, is also the home of some of the greatest art collections in the world. During their 640 (!) year reign, the Habsburgs, avid art collectors, accumulated innumerable masterpieces and some lesser works by European artists. Most of these may be viewed in Vienna's museums. Austrian painting and applied arts didn't come into their own, however, until the reign of the Habsburgs was nearing its end. At the turn of the century, the artists of "Secession" came to be known and emulated all over the world. Gustav Klimt, Egon Schiele and Oskar Kokoschka have long been considered among the greatest painters of the twentieth century.

The Way They Lived and Worshipped

A stroll through Vienna may turn into a delightful architectural treasure hunt.
Emperors and their entourage, just like everybody else, needed appropriate living quarters. Since they had enough ready money at their disposal and the most famous architects at their command, it is not surprising that one stumbles upon architectural masterpieces wherever one turns in Vienna. Habsburg summers were spent at the "imperial summer residence" in Schönbrunn Palace - with more than 1400 rooms certainly large enough even for Maria Theresa's 16 children.

Viennese Cuisine

Viennese cuisine is an important reason for a trip to Vienna.
Did you know that Viennese cuisine is the only one in the world named after a city? This is all the more remarkable as almost all its dishes derive from other European countries. But it took Viennese chefs to adapt the foreign recipes and make them uniquely Viennese - "good plain cooking", the way it is served in any restaurant in Vienna. Taste a Wiener Schnitzel or try Tafelspitz. Vienna is world-renowned for its pastries and desserts: take Kaiserschmarren or a Strudel, filled with either apples or sweet cream cheese.