Day 12-13: Last Stop-Vienna
Orientation Walking Tour
Site Highlights (the walking tour started at St. Stephen's Cathedral walking towards the hotel)
- St. Stephen's Cathedral stands on the ruins of two earlier churches and is located in the center of Vienna.
- Graben Street dates back to the Roman Empire when it was a moat protecting the Roman military camp. Today it is a pedestrianized shopping street.
- Pestsaule was built by Emperor Leopold to give thanks for the end of the plague epidemic.
- Hapsburg Palace - Michaelerplatz Gate- Embellished with Hercules sculptures and the fountains that feature scenes from the powerful Hapsburgs empire.
- Hapsburg Palace Inner Courtyard Amalientrakt was built for the Empress Wilhelmine Amalia who was married to Emperor Joseph I (Maria Theresa's oldest son)
- Hapsburg Palace - Imperial Court Library now known as the Austrian National library has over 12 million items in its various collections.
- Maria Theresa had sixteen children and although she treated them with affection, she used them as pawns for the benefit of the Hapsburg empire. At the time of her death, she was the ruler of Austria, Hungary, Croatia, Bohemia, Mantua, Milan, Lodomeria and Galicia, the Austrian Netherlands and Parma.
- Kunsthistorisches Museum (Museum of Fine Arts) was was built in 1891 to house the extensive collections of the imperial family.
Day 13: Full Day in Vienna
Naschmarkt and Art Nouveau
We were able to walk through the Naschmarkt and view the Art Nouveau on the Otto Wagner buildings on our way to the Third Man Museum
Nachmarket is a melting pot of cultures where you can find treasures for your taste buds as well as handmade crafts and gifts.
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Art Nouveau appeared in the 1890's when Viennese architect Otto Wagner decorated the tall box-shaped buildings with floral patterns.
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Third Man Museum
There are 14 rooms filled with over 2000 artifacts on display with captions in multiple languages explaining the artifact and its history. It is evident that this is Gerhard's passion ! The history that rolled off of Gerhard's tongue during our tour was impressive as he highlighted the facts with emotion and excitement.
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Gerhard's Negative Series
The negative series illustrated Vienna after the war with the visual reality of what war does to the cities and its people.
The negative series illustrated Vienna after the war with the visual reality of what war does to the cities and its people.
The pictures show one dimension of the history; however Gerhard story and history lessons put the significance of the history into perspective. "It was absolute horror what happened in Germany and Austria during the wars."
The Third Man Museum is a hidden gem and a must see. If you are lucky enough to get Gerhard as your personal guide, you will not be disappointed! |
A People Story
Thanks Gerhard for making this real
Thanks Gerhard for making this real
The picture on the left was taken the day before her Jewish parents put the little girl on a kinder transport to Sweden. Early in the war, children were given pardon and could be sent away for their protection and out of love, these parents sent their only child away. In the letter on the wall, the mom writes, "The longest walk my husband and I ever had to make was from the railway station to our apartment. We opened the door and fell down to the floor."
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When the little girl got to Sweden her foster parents did not want her, so a protestant pastor and his wife who already had 4 children welcomed her into their home. These are the real heroes who are many times forgotten. Seven and a half years later, the little girl was reunited with her parents who survived the concentration camp.
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Vienna Then and Now
These are a few images from Gerhard's slideshow exhibit that show the devastation of war and how Vienna recovered. (Now are from our trip)
I love eating, drinking and sleeping, but there must be more spice in the soup of life and so I built this museum and have made it my passion!
Gerhard Strassgschwandtner |
Local Guide Walking Tour (Touring with Wolfgang)
A few sites on our way to the treasury
Hofburg Palace
Hofburg (Court Palace) consists of eighteen wings, nineteen courtyards, and has more than two thousand rooms.
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At the corners of the Michaelertrakt are large wall fountains with sculptures.
This one is called Mastery of the Sea |
Welcome !!! The Imperial Treasury at the Hofburg Palace
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These treasures include such items as the Imperial Crown of Austria, Imperial Crown of the Holy Roman Empire, and Imperial Keys which did not open doors but rather were a symbol that allowed the wearer to approach the court (royal family). (At least that is what Wolfgang told us)
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Time to Refuel - Coffee and Pastry Break
Coffee with my best friend is like capturing happiness in a cup.
Anonymous
Anonymous
The Kunsthistorisches Museum (Art History Museum)
This first impression are lasting impression !!! This staircase is impressive !
"The Tower of Babel" by Pieter Bruegel
The Tower of Babel is about the Babylonians who decided to build a tall, proud symbol of how great they had made their nation. God did not like the arrogance and caused the people to suddenly speak different languages so they could not communicate and work together to build the tower. The tower was named The Tower of Babel because the word Babel means confusion.
There is more than meets the eye !
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Looking at this artwork makes you wonder what was the artist thinking or what inspired them to capture this moment.
A Procuress with a Couple by Hans von Aachen
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Judith slaying Holofernes from the Book of Ruth
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One Final Look at the Habsburg's collections at the Kunsthistorisches Museum
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Because the Habsburgs ruled so many nations, there is a variety of artwork from Austria, Germany, Italy, Spain and the Netherlands.
Free Time to Explore Vienna
Schonbrunn Palace Vienna - The Habsburg's Summer Residence
With limited time and beautiful weather, we chose to wander through the gardens rather that tour inside the palace
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Neptune Fountain
The Neptune Fountain is a centerpiece of the garden made of white marble with a fountain that when viewed from the back frames the beautiful Schonbrunn Palace (one of my favorite fountains)
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"Behind the Scenes" Beauty (in this case behind the fountain)
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Views looking back at the Schonbrunn Palace walking to the Neptune Fountain and then onto the Gloriette
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Schonbrunn Palace Gloriette
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The Gloriette was built as lookout point for the garden and in the time of Emperor Franz Joseph I it was also used for dining and festivals.
Good Friends, Good Food, Good Times !!
Schubel-Auer wine tavern
Schubel-Auer wine tavern
Our final farewell dinner was at Schubel-Auer, a wine tavern at the outskirts of Vienna. Our surprise guest musician was Cornelia Mayer, one of Austria's best known zither players.
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Where to Next ? You Pick