Vienna signtseeing in "Hahns Vienna Apartments(HVA)"

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1. Schloss Schönbrunn
2. Stephansdom, Schloss Belvedere, Rathaus, Hofburg
3. Staasoper, Stadtpark, Volksgarten
4. The others(Churches, Palaces, Culture, Various)

Veru Useful Maps - Map of central Vienna with explanation of sights
subway map,  tram map

1. Schloss Schönbrunn

From the 18th century to 1918, Schönbrunn was the residence of the Habsburg emperors. It was designed by the architects Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach and Nicolaus Pacassi and is full of outstanding examples of decorative art. Together with its gardens, the site of the world's first zoo in 1752, it is a remarkable Baroque ensemble and a perfect example of Gesamtkunstwerk. Schönbrunn Palace is one of the most important cultural monuments in Austria and since the 1960s has also been one of the major tourist attractions in Vienna. Soon after the end of the monarchy the population of Vienna discovered the park as an attractive recreational area. Eventually the palace was also opened to the public, drawing around 1.5 million visitors annually. The park and all the other attractions at Schönbrunn together see a further 5.2 million visitors each year, giving a grand total of 6.7 million visitors to the imposing palace complex each year. At the 20th session of the World Heritage Committee held in December 1996 Schönbrunn Palace was put on the list of UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Sites, an institution founded in 1972. Inclusion in this list confirms the importance of the palace and its gardens as a Baroque work of art.

2. Stephansdom, Schloss Belvedere, Rathaus, Hofburg

Stephansdom - Stephansdom is the heart and soul of Vienna, the way Fountain Square is to Cincinnati, or the River Thames is to London. It is the most recognizable landmark in the city, and the square is the main gathering place. This is where Mozart was married, and where his funeral was held. There's a saying that if you're looking for someone in Vienna, get a coffee and find a table at one of the outdoor cafes in Stephansplatz. Eventually the person you're looking for will walk by. Stephansdom is itself dominated by its one large tower, the Alt Steffl built between 1359 and 1433. Every bit of 450-feet-tall (136.4 meters), this Gothic spire looks down hard on the tourists looking up to the heavens.  

Schloss Belvedere - The palaces of the Belvedere were constructed for Prince Eugene of Savoy, and served as his summer residence. It also served as the home of Archduke Franz Ferdinand until he was assassinated. The Palaces and gardens are much larger than they look, and you could easily spend an entire day from sunrise to sunset appreciating the manicured grounds, the statuary, and the art of the Austrian Gallery.

Rathaus - This is the city hall for Vienna, and the seat of the Viennese Provincial Assembly. Its towers climb into the sky in a lacework of stone intricate enough to rival any church, and put any modern government building to shame. The central tower is the tallest at 325 feet. At the top is the Rathausmann, an 11-foot-tall statue of a knight in armor. In front of the city hall is Rathausplatz -- a wide park that separates the building from the Ringstraße. On theother side if the Brugtheater and in-between there are often concerts and other public activities. If you're hungry, and up for a bit of eavesdropping, there's a restaurant in the basement where you can rub elbows with Vienna's politicos.  

Hofburg - This is another one of Vienna's big attractions. And by big, we're talking scale. It encompasses six museums, a chapel, the president of Austria's offices, the national library, the famed Winter Riding School, a greenhouse, and a park. It will take two days to thoroughly see the place. The Hofburg Complex was built as the imperial home of the Habsburgs, and they lived there until 1918. The Kunsthistorisches Museum (Museum of Fine Art) has exhibits of ancient art, a collection of armor, even a collection of antique musical instruments. The Winter Riding School is where the Lipizzaner stallions are trained in the Spanish Riding School. It was designed by Josef Emanuel Fischer von Erlach, and built from 1729 to 1735. Inside two galleries surround the training ground, which is illuminated by two enormous chandeliers. But photography inside is not permitted. Most other buildings allow photography as long as the flash is turned off. There is also a butterfly aviary created out of greenhouses built from 1901-1907.

3. Staasoper, Stadtpark, Volksgarten

Staasoper - The Vienna State Opera House is one of the premier venues in the world. In fact, When the building opened on 25 May, 1869 the first performance was Mozart's Don Giovanni. Mozart loved Vienna, though Vienna loved Strauss more.Inside, the Grand Staircase is a sweeping expanse of chandelier-lit marble decorated by statues representing the seven liberal arts.

Stadtpark - Wiener Stadtpark is The Viennese City Park. On 21 August 1862 the park was opened, becoming the first public park in Vienna. Johann Strauss II gave his first concert here on 15 October 1868. Stadtpark became a popular place for concerts and for dancing, especially during the area of the Strauss brothers. Today, after undergoing some renovation, it is still used for balls, concerts, clubbings and congresses. There is also a Cafe-Restaurant inside it.The gilded bronze monument of Johann Strauß II, is one of the most known and most frequently photographed monuments in Vienna.There are several other monuments, e.g. of Franz Schubert, Franz Lehar, Robert Stolz and Hans Makart; the Stadtpark is the park with the largest number of monuments and sculptures in Vienna.

Volksgarten - The Volksgarten lies between the Hofburg and the Burgtheater. This, the second largest park in the city center, was opened in 1820 on the site of the fortifications which had been blown up by the French in 1809, and soon became a favorite spot with Viennese citizens out for a Sunday afternoon stroll. Notable monuments in the park include the Grillparzer Memorial with reliefs portraying scenes from six of his plays, and the memorial to the Empress Elisabeth.

4. The others(Churches, Palaces, Culture, Various)

1. Churches

Augustinian Church,  Capuchin Church, Charles' Church, Jesuit Church, Kirche am Steinhof, Maria am Gestade, Minorite Church, St. Leopold, St. Peter's Church, St. Ruprecht, Schottenkirche, Votivkirche.   Click Here for more information

2. Palaces

Albertina, Epstein Palace, House of Parliament, Imperial Palace, Kinsky Palace, Pallavicini Palace, Rasumofsky Palace, Rothschild Palace, Schwarzenberg Palace, University, Urania Observatory.   Click Here for more information

3. Culture

Museumsquartier, Musikverein, Raimundtheater, Theater an der Wien

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4. Various

Danube Island, Donauturm, Heldenplatz, Hundertwasserhaus, Kaisergruft, Riesenrad, Ringstrasse, St. Marx Cemetery, Zentralfriedhof

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