t is difficult to write about Vienna - all its corners are walked-over by tourists, and the sights are described by numerous guidebooks. But, each has its own discovery of the city. I came here for the first time. I had to gradually, step by step, to know Vienna, its history, culture, people, events. Get your own impressions of palaces and temples, embankments and bridges of the Danube, beautiful parks.
I was lucky with the trip - October - the beginning of the golden autumn. Almost all days the weather was favorable for walking along the capital's streets.
So my story begins.
Step 1. Ring
First of all, most of the newcomers to Vienna usually flock to the Ring Area - the center of Vienna's sights. It is here - Hofburg and Stefansdom, Town Hall and Vienna Opera, Burgtheater, Albertina, Secession ...
The Ring is a park ring of streets under the general name Ringstrasse that surrounded the historic center of Vienna. The chic boulevard appeared in the middle of the 19th century, when Emperor Franz Joseph I ordered the demolition of the old city fortifications, and in their place started a grand new construction. Pompous palaces, stylish public and private buildings were erected along the Ring according to the projects of the best architects.
There are several metro stations inside the Ring. In its very center is the Stephansplatz station. From here our walk began. Immediately at the exit of the subway - Stephansdom (Stephansdom) - Gothic St. Stephen's Cathedral, considered a symbol of Vienna and all of Austria.
The first parish church at this place appeared in 1137-1147. A century later, the construction of a new temple began. After numerous reconstructions and reconstructions, the cathedral in 1511 regained its present appearance. The cathedral has two towers, with different heights. The south tower rises 136.44 m. During the Austro-Hungarian Empire, not a single church was allowed to be higher than the south tower of St. Stephen. The north tower - 68.3 m - serves as the bell tower of the cathedral. Here is Pummerin - the largest bell in Austria.
The temple was badly damaged by fire in the spring of 1945. But after seven years, services were resumed in the cathedral. Citizens raised money for reconstruction, donated personal religious values, worked at a construction site.
Then we headed along the streets of Graben and Kollmarkt to the Hofburg palace complex. The names of the streets - Graben and Colmarkt - are of ancient origin. Graben is translated from German as "moat", it was here that the Roman defensive moat once stretched. And on Colmarkt, i.e. "Coal market", coal trade flourished.
Now in historic buildings housed many expensive shops, restaurants and cafes.
Kollmarkt Street leads to Michaellerplatz, where you can see real antique buildings. This is the excavation of the ancient Roman settlement of Vindobona.
... Immediately after the ancient Vienna - Vienna is imperial.
Our acquaintance with the Hofburg began at the front gate of the Michaeller - Michaelertor (Gate of St. Michael).
A grandiose architectural ensemble was built over the centuries. According to documents, the Habsburgs settled here from 1279. Until 1918, when the Republic of Austria was proclaimed, the Hofburg was constantly expanding, and each of the rulers brought something of their own.
Today, the imperial residence (19 palaces and 18 other buildings) is a mixture of different time periods and different architectural styles. Nevertheless, the palace ensemble looks very harmonious and makes a truly imperial impression.
The modern Hofburg Palace is museums, a library, the National Theater, the official residence of the President of Austria. Hofburg also houses the OSCE headquarters.
Behind the Hofburg, across the road, is Maria Theresien-Platz Square with two identical buildings - the Museum of Natural History and the Museum of Art History. Further beyond the square, museums are once again located - the Museum Quarter (Museums Quartier Wien) begins.
In the center of the square is a solemn monument to the Austrian Empress Maria Theresa, surrounded by prominent military leaders of that time.
When I saw this monument, I immediately remembered another - a monument to Catherine the Great in St. Petersburg. These monuments are very similar - Catherine also stands surrounded by prominent figures of her era. However, after all, in life they had much in common.