Returning from distant wanderings, impressions, memories and photographs always remain. And it’s great if they can be shared with those who are interested. And the memory is full of information, sensations so that emotions simply overwhelm.
I will try to streamline what I’ve seen and convey what I’ve heard, focusing on certain points. Of course, it will not be a question of all 23 districts of the city, but mainly of the Old or Inner City, once surrounded by walls, which is of great interest to tourists. And any sightseeing and walking tour mainly illuminates the sights of the historical center.
While we surveyed Vienna by bus, before our eyes I imagined a very green, clean, well-groomed, elegant and harmonious city throughout. He is unusually beautiful and unique in his charm. Palaces and temples, ancient and modern buildings in different architectural styles perfectly complement each other and emphasize the dignity of each. Fountains and sculptural groups, bridges across the Danube and the Vienna river (today more reminiscent of a stream) - all are not without appeal.
Even the Spittelau incinerator, unusual in style and brightly decorated, with shiny poppies on the towers, with a cap on the roof of one of the buildings, looks so unusual that you can’t guess its purpose without a guide’s prompting. This original construction of Friedensreich Hundertwasser not only does not spoil the surrounding picture, fits perfectly into the landscape of the modern city, but is also one of the Vienna sights.
Another of the works of the shocking architect, who is considered Austrian by Gaudi, performed in 1986 by order of the Vienna City Hall - "Ecological House". This apartment building is a sample of municipal housing, where people are surrounded by trees, water and paint. According to him, it is unnatural for people to live in the same box-type houses.
Driving through the city streets, we see the Vienna International Center, the headquarters of various organizations, the UN residence (one of the 3 in the world) in glass and metal.
So, having a ride around the city, we find ourselves in its historical center, which, incidentally, has been added to the UNESCO Cultural Heritage List since 2001. Here, no matter what the house is, the architectural monument is the Burgtheater, the Town Hall, in the building of which the city authorities of Vienna sit. The parliament resembles a Greek temple, the Austrian federal authorities work there, in front of the entrance there is a sculptural composition - Athena-Pallas, surrounded by 4 rivers: Danube, Inna, Elba and Vltava.
At Museumsplatz there is a monument to Maria Theresa surrounded by palaces, in one of which is the Museum of the History of Art, in the other - the Museum of Natural History.
Directly across the road, the Arch of Heroes (German Heldentor) on the site of the external fortress gate from the side of the Ringstrasse, through which you can get to Heldenplatz - Heroes' Square. Once the square was intended for parades. From the balcony of the palace 03/15/1938 Hitler announced the inclusion of Austria in Germany (Anschluss) and the creation of the Third Reich. In peacetime, in front of the Hofburg palace complex, a garden (Volksgarten) was set up, decorated with statues of Eugene of Savoy and Archduke Karl, and fiacra and horse-drawn carriages ride tourists and honeymooners and are Vienna's popular public transport.
Hofburg itself was built according to the type of courtyards attached to the medieval castle, which was still here under the Babenbergs (the first princely dynasty, in which Austria became one of the powerful states of the Holy Roman Empire). And later, it served for nearly 7 centuries as a winter residence for members of the ruling Habsburg dynasty. Today, Hofburg is the official residence of the President of Austria.
When the light in the windows of the 3rd floor is on, the crowns know that the father of the nation is at home and working. In addition to the imperial apartments of Franz Joseph and Sissy, there are exhibitions and several museums in the halls of Hofburg.