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Vienna signtseeing in "Hahns Vienna Apartments(HVA)"
Sightseeing : The others - Palaces Click below !!
1. Archduke Albrecht Palace (Albertina)
2. Epstein Palac
3. House of Parliament
4. Hofburg Palace (Imperial Palace)
5. Kinsky Palace
6. Pallavicini Palace
7. Rasumofsky Palace
8. Rothschild Palace
9. Schwarzenberg Palace
10. University
11. Urania Sternwarte
The Albertina is a museum in the Innere Stadt (First District) of Vienna, Austria. It houses one of the largest and most important graphic arts collections in the world with approximately 65,000 designs and approximately 1 million pressure graphic sheets.
Vienna's Albertina was erected on one of the last remaining section of the fortifications of Vienna, the Augustian Bastion. Originally, the Hofbauamt (Court Construction Office), which had been built in the second half of the 17th century, stood in that location. In 1745, it was refurbished by the director of the Hofbauamt, Emanuel Teles Count Silva-Tarouca [1], to become his palace. It was therefore also known as Palais Taroucca. The building was later taken
over by Duke Albert of Saxe-Teschen. He used it as his residence and later brought his collection there from Brussels, where he had acted as the governor of the Habsburg Netherlands. For that purpose, he had the building extended by Louis Montoyer. Since then, the palace has immediately bordered the Hofburg. The collection was expanded by Albert's successors.
The collection of paintings was created by Duke Albert in the 1770s in the Castle of Bratislava, where he resided as the governor of the Kingdom of Hungary from 1765 to 1781. In the 1820s, his heir Archduke Charles initiated further modifications of the building by Joseph Kornhäusel, which affected mostly the interior decoration. After Archduke Charles, Archduke Albert and Archduke Friedrich, Duke of Teschen lived in the building.
In early 1919, the building and the collection passed from the Habsburgs into the ownership of the Republic of Austria. In 1920, the collection of pressure graphics was unified with the collection of the former imperial court library. The name Albertina was established in 1921. In March 1945, the Albertina was heavily damaged by bomb attacks. The Albertina was completely refurbished and modernized from 1998 to 2003.
Palais Epstein is a Ringstraßenpalais in Vienna. It was build for the industrialist and banker Gustav Ritter von Epstein. The architect was Theophil von Hansen, who also designed the adjacent Austrian Parliament Building. Unlike traditional, baroque noble palaces in Vienna, the Palais Lieben-Auspitz was build in the late 19th century and is therefore considered a Ringstraßenpalais. It is up to five storeys high and build in the for its time typical
neo-renaissance style.
The precursor to the present building was the temporary House of Deputies or Representatives (Abgeordnetenhaus), located at Währinger Straße, which was erected within six weeks. In its layout the Abgeordnetenhaus would be a model for the later parliament building. This temporary structure was opened in 1861 by Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria. The building was soon named afterwards named "Schmerlingtheater", after its Speaker Anton von Schmerling.
The "Schmerlingtheater" was used by the deputies until the construction of the new building in 1884.
The site was the location of the city’s fortifications and walls. In his famous decree (Es ist Mein Wille at Wikisource) in 1857, Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria laid down the plans of the Ringstraße boulevard, which replaced the old walls. The parliament building was supposed to feature prominently on the Ringstraße, in close proximity to the Hofburg Palace and the city hall of Vienna
An Imperial Commission was appointed to study the building of the Parliament. The Commission decided that the building’s style should be classical. Those who preferred the classical style argued that classical Greek architecture was appropriate for Parliament, since it is connected to the Ancient Greeks and the ideal of democracy.
After studying rival proposals, the Imperial Commission chose Theophil von Hansen's plan for a classical style building. The foundation stone was laid in 1873 by the emperor; the Lords' Chamber was completed in 1847, and the Commons' Chamber in 1852 (at which point Hansen was elevated to the nobility). Most of the construction work was finished by 1884, minor work continued afterwards. The fountain with the statue of Athena in front of the building was designed
by Baron Hansen as well, but only completed in 1898 to 1902. The official name of the building was Reichsratsgebäude (Council of the Realm Building), the street behind the building Reichsratsstraße still reminds of that name. The word "Parlament" however was in use since the beginning.
The building saw tumultuous years during the Austro-Hungarian Empire, as the House of Representatives was extremely fractious between liberals and conservatives, German-speaking nationalists and Czech deputies, as well as the government and parliament. It became a common feature of undisciplined deputies to throw inkwells at each other. The joke on the street was that Athena was so disgusted by the political infighting, that her statue purposely has her back
turned to the building. Nevertheless the building housed the first form of a parliamentary system for much of the people of Central Europe.
The Reichsratsgebäude continued to function until 1918, when the building was occupied by demonstrators during the end of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. From the ramp of the building, the First Republic was officially proclaimed. The building itself was renamed as “Parlament”, with the new republican National Council (Nationalrat) and Federal Council (Bundesrat) replacing the old imperial House of Deputies (Abgeordnetenhaus) and the House of Lords (Herrenhaus).
The parliament ceased to function with the introduction of the Austro-fascist dictatorship and the Anschluß of Austria to Nazi-Germany in 1938. Half of the building suffered heavy damage or was destroyed, such as the former Lords Chamber and the Hall of Columns, by Allied bombs in the course of the Second World War. It was in the old Abgeordnetenhaus Chamber that the new Chancellor Dr. Karl Renner declared the rebirth of an independent Austria, helped by Soviet troops. Max Fellerer and Eugen Wörle
were commissioned as architect; they chose to redesign and readapt the former Lords Chamber for the National Council, in the process the meeting room of the National Council was rebuilt in a modern and functional style. Work on the National Council Chamber was completed in 1956. The original appearance of the other publicly accessible premises and the building's external appearance were largely restored to von Hansen's design, such as of the Hall of Columns.
Baron von Hansen's design for the Reichsratsgebäude uses the neo-Greek style, which was popular during the 19th century Classic revival. Von Hansen was himself a classical architect, having constructed various other buildings in Vienna in the same style. The Greek architectural style was chosen as a reminder of antique Greece as the "cradle of democracy".
The original plans actually saw a separate building for the House of Representatives and the House of Lords. For practical and financial reasons it was decided to house both chambers in one building. Von Hansen's concept of the layout reflected the structure of the Council of the Realm (Reichsrat), as was stipulated by the so-called February Patent of 1861, which laid down the constiutional structure for the empire. The two chambers were connected to each other
by the great hypostyle hall, which was the central structure. The hall was supposed to be the meeting point between the commoners and the lords, reflecting the structure of the society back then.
The gable has not changed since the monarchy and is decorated with symbols and allegories of the 17 provinces (Kronländer) of the old Austro-Hungarian Empire. The ramp is about four meters high. The pillars are in the corinthian style. On both ends of the roof are quadrigas. It used to be surrounded by smaller patches of lawns, which have been transformed into parking spaces. The building is up to four storeys high.
The stonework of the building was originally ?, a white-coloured ? limestone? quarried in the village of in ?. The stone, however, soon began to decay due to pollution. Although such defects were clear as early as 1920's, nothing was done for the remainder of the 20th century. During the 1970s, however, it became clear that some of the stonework had to be replaced.
Two bronze statues of the horse-tamers are located at the two lower ends of the ramp Auffahrtsrampe. They are a powerful symbol of the suppression of passion, an important precondition for successful parliamentary cooperation. They were designed and executed by?. Further bronze works are the two quadrigas on top of the roof, each chariot pulled by four horses and steered by the goddess Nike. The bronze works had to undergo extensive conservation and restoration
work in the 1990's, due to acid rain and air pollution. Further oxidation corroded the bronze over the decades and ate holes into the sculptures. For that purpose each sculpture was completely encased into a separate structure to protect them from the elements while they underwent restoration.
The Athena Fountain (Pallas-Athene-Brunnen) in front of the Parliament was erected between 1893 and 1902 by Carl Kundmann, Josef Tautenhayn, and Hugo Haerdlt, based on the plans by Baron von Hansen. In the middle is a water-basin and a richly decorated base. The four lying figures at the foot of Athena are allegorical representations of the four most important rivers of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. They represent at the front the Danube and Inn, in the back part
the Elbe and Moldau rivers. On the sides are little cupids riding dolphins. The statues of the Danube, Inn, and the cupids were executed by Haerdtl, those of the Elbe and Moldau by Kundmann. The female statues above represent the legislative and executive powers of the state, executed by Tautenhayn. They are again dominated by the Goddess of Wisdom, Athena standing on a pillar. Athena is dressed in armor with a gilded helmet, her left hand carries a spear, her right carries Nike. The statue of Athena and Nike
were done by Kundmann. The stone material used was? And the height of the statue is? With base?
Parliament is surrounded by greenery. On the north side the Rathausplatz park is located, on the southern side a smaller lawn next to the Justizpalast. Monuments to the founders of the First Republic as well as to Dr. Karl Renner are located on either ends.
Since 1920 the former meeting room of the House of Lords has been used as plenary meeting room by the National Council. The House of Lords (Herrenhaus) used to have its chamber where today the National Council convenes. The chamber was designed in the classical style, with a horseshoe-shaped seating arrangement facing the chair. The Chamber of the National Council was destroyed in 1945 during aerial bombardments and was completely rebuilt in a modern style. The
new chamber was finished in 1956 and is a typical example of the 1950’s architecture. Apart from the coat of arms made out of steel, the chamber is lacklustre without any decoration. The carpet is kept in mint-green, since back then that was not the colour of any party and considered most neutral. Green was also said to have a soothing effect, something that apparently weighed into the decision considering the tumultous debates the building had to endure before the two World Wars. Behind the speaker's pult is
the government bench (Regierungsbank), which is however only completely occupied during important events such as the declaration of the government (Regierungserklärung) or the state budget speech (‘’Budgetrede’’).
The exterior of the Austrian Parliament-especially the statue and fountain of Athena-is one of the most visited tourist attractions in Vienna. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) classifies the inner city of Vienna, including the Ringstraße and thus the Parliament Building as a World Heritage Site. It is also a Grade I listed building. There is no casual access to the interior, but it may be seen in a number of
ways: Since October 2005 a visitors-centre has been built and opened. Visitors can enter the building now not from the old side-entrance, but from the front at ground level.
Hofburg Imperial Palace is a palace in Vienna, Austria, which has housed some of the most powerful people in Austrian history, including the Habsburg dynasty, rulers of the Austro-Hungarian empire, and currently serves as the official residence of the President of Austria. It was also known as the winter-residence, while Schönbrunn Palace was the preferred summer-residence. The Hofburg faces the Heldenplatz ordered under the reign of Emperor Francis
Joseph, as part of what was to become a Kaiserforum that was never completed. Numerous architects have executed work at the Hofburg as it expanded, notably the Italian architect-engineer Filiberto Luchese (the Leopoldischinertrakt), Lodovico Burnacini and Martino and Domenico Carlone, the Baroque architects Lukas von Hildebrandt and Joseph Emanuel Fischer von Erlach (the Reichschancelry Wing and the Winter Riding School), Johann Fischer von Erlach (the library), and the architects of the grandiose Neue Burg built
between 1881 and 1913.
The Habsburgs gradually extended the gothic castle, of which only the chapel remains. Ferdinand I constructed a Renaissance wing, later turned into the Stallburg. In 1575, work was started on the Amalienburg. In the 1720s, a library was built to house some 90,000 volumes acquired by the family over time. It is the core of the Österreichische Nationalbibliothek. In 1735, the chandelier-clad Spanish Riding School was completed. The Crown Jewels of Austria
and the Imperial Regalia of the Holy Roman Empire, including the Imperial Crown that awaits the next Emperor are kept in the Imperial Treasury Schatzkammer. Ferdinand I, Holy Roman Emperor made this castle his home. In the 19th century the Redoutensaal ("ballroom") became a desirable venue for concerts. The Vienna Boys' Choir may be heard at Mass in the Chapel on Sundays.
Palais Kinsky is a baroque palace in Vienna. It was originally built for Wirich Philipp Graf Daun and later bought by the Kinsky family, is therefore sometimes known as Palais Daun-Kinsky.
It was commissioned by Count Daun and construction started in 1717 under the architect Johann Lucas von Hildebrandt. Shortly afterwards it was sold in 1784 to the Kinsky family. The palace is famous for its beautiful yellow-white façade, and the richly-decorated staircase with frescoed ceilings, mirrors and statues.
The palace underwent renovation in the late 1990’s and was restored to its former state. The rooms have baroque frescoed ceilings and expensive parquet floors. The palace is used for auction events, houses shops and a restaurant. It is used for the final-status negotiations between Serbian and Kosovo Albanians in EU-sponsored peace-talks.
Palais Pallavicini is a palace in Vienna. It was owned by the noble Pallavicini family. It was previously build and owned by the Fries family and is therefore also known as Palais Fries.
The palace was constructed in 1784 for Johann Friedrich Hetzendorf von Hohenberg in a classical style. The interior rooms are richly gilded and decorated with stucco, crystal mirrors and chandeliers. The richly lain-in parquet floor is made out of expensive woods.
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It was commissioned by Prince Andrey Kyrillovich Razumovsky as a magnificent Neoclassic embassy worthy of the representative of Alexander I, at the prince's own expense, in Landstraße, quite close to the city, and filled it with antiquities and modern works of art . On New Year's Eve 1814, the prince held a glittering ball with the new Tsar Nicholas I as guest of honour. Probably the only person in Vienna who was invited but did not go, was Beethoven.
To accommodate the guests, Razumovsky erected a temporary ballroom extension, heated by a flue from the palace. After all the guests had gone, the flue caught fire, setting the ballroom ablaze and burning out roomfuls of art in the palace. Rasumovsky, though he was raised to Prince the following year, was never the same. He lived in seclusion in Vienna until his death in 1836.
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One of the Rothschild Palaces is at Prinz-Eugen-Straße 26. This Palais Rothschild was designed and built in 1894 by the theatre architects Ferdinand Fellner and Hermann Helmer. The building is up to four stories high and designed in a neo-classic style. Like all Jewish property, the palace was thoroughly plundered by the Nazis during the occupation of Austria. The building survived without any exterior damage and today the Brazilian embassy is renting
it.
Palais Schwarzenberg is a baroque palace in Vienna. It is owned by the princely Schwarzenberg family.
Construction started in 1697 under the architect Johann Lucas von Hildebrandt and finished with alterations in 1728 under Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach. In 1751, a riding school and an orangery were added. The richly-decorated Marmorgalerie (marble gallery) is one of the largest features in the palace.
Today, parts of it are a five star hotel and the building is used for festivities and events.
The University of Vienna (German: Universität Wien) in Austria was founded in 1365 by Rudolph IV and hence named Alma Mater Rudolphina. It is the largest and oldest university in the German-speaking world (except the University of Prague, which used to be partly German-speaking). To distinguish it from other Viennese universities, it is also often informally referred to as Hauptuni ("main university").
The University of Vienna (as all universities and academies in Austria) featured an innovative system of democratic representation. Power inside the university was shared equally among the three pressure groups: students (the largest), junior faculty and full professors. All groups had the right to send representatives to boards that then took votes on almost all issues. While guaranteeing that all groups had equal chances to bring up changes in the university,
some argue that it led to corruption, especially in the nomination of people into prestigious positions.
The present government of Wolfgang Schüssel enacted a reform of the university system in Austria, leading to a concentration of power with the full professors, the introduction of a board of governors (with a government majority in electing it) and tuition fees (currently €387/semester). Another element of these harshly criticised reforms was the creation of separate medical universities out of the Austrian medical schools, one of them being the Medical
University of Vienna -- in the traditional sense, the University of Vienna is therefore not any longer a full university
Nobel-prize winners who taught at the University of Vienna include Robert Bárány, Julius Wagner-Jauregg, Hans Fischer, Karl Landsteiner, Erwin Schrödinger, Victor Franz Hess, Otto Loewi, Konrad Lorenz and Friedrich Hayek.
The University of Vienna was the cradle of the Austrian School of economics. The founders of this school who studied here included Carl Menger, Eugen von Böhm-Bawerk, Friedrich von Wieser, Joseph Schumpeter, Ludwig von Mises and Friedrich Hayek. Some of its better-known students include Bruno Bettelheim, Rudolph Bing, Josef Breuer, Elias Canetti, Kurt Gödel, Franz Grillparzer, Paul Feyerabend, O. W. Fischer, Ivan Franko, Sigmund Freud, Jörg
Haider, Ernst Gombrich, Hugo von Hofmannsthal, Karl Kautsky, Arthur Koestler, Karl Kraus, Richard Kuhn, Lise Meitner, Gregor Mendel, Josef Mengele, Franz Mesmer, Alois Mock, Karl Popper, Peter Porsch, Wilhelm Reich, Manfred Rumpl, Peter Safar, Arthur Schnitzler, Adalbert Stifter, and Kurt Waldheim.
The Urania is a public educational institute and observatory in Vienna.
It was built according to the plans of Art Nouveau architect Max Fabiani (a student of Otto Wagner) at the mouth of the Wien River and was opened in 1910 by Emperor Franz Joseph as an educational center with a public observatory. It was named after the Muse Urania who represents Astronomy.
In the second World War the Urania was severely damaged and the dome with the observatory was totally destroyed. After its reconstruction, it was reopened in 1957. The observatory itself has been continually improved technically over the years.
Today, the Urania also has seminar rooms in which wide-ranging classes and lectures are given, a movie theater that screens at the annual Viennale film festival, and a puppet theater originally created by Hans Kraus.
Text Source : Wikipedia
Picture Source : Planet Vienna
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