This is the firs church in Vienna, or to be more exact, Peterskirche is built on the spot of the oldest church, that existed in 400 AD. Back then, Vienna was still part of the Roman empire, and it was less than a century since emperor Constantine allowed the Christian faith. The modest parish church […]

The story of the landmark church of Vienna starts almost nine hundred years ago, with what was started as a Romanesque edifice. From the very beginning it was dedicated to probably the first martyr of Christianity. St Stephen was killed with stones by the Jews that considered his faith a heresy against the law of […]

If you are interested in architecture, than the Austrian capital is a city not to be missed. The former imperial capital has plenty of impressive palaces, museums hosted in historic buildings, monumental churches, elegant public squares with statues and private buildings from all periods. The historic center is overwhelming with beautiful buildings at every corner, […]

Though the place was assigned to Italians, the name Minoritenkirche does not signify the church of minorities, but is reminiscent of a Latin expression with which Francis of Assisi called his followers. “Fratres minores” meant “the little brothers”, or even the modest brothers, as the order emphasized poverty, humility and social involvement. The French Gothic […]

This part of Vienna has been a place for relaxation and entertainment for Austrians since 1766, when emperor Joseph II opened his hunting ground to the public. It evolved with the centuries from only a meadow with coffee shops to a fair with carousel, roller coaster, people dressed in fairytale characters, carriages and everything else […]

Designed by architect Theophil von Hansen, the Parliament Building is an outstanding construction, in a city packed with impressive architectural monuments. The building is inspired by Greek architecture, as a symbol of the home of democracy and was the legislative building of the Austrian Hungarian empire. A large ramp climbs to the entrance from both […]

Situated right next to the Spanish Riding School and to Hofburg Palace, the winter residence of the Habsbourgs, the church of St Augustine has a history as long as the imperial family. It was here that the royal heads attended the weekly masses and also here some very famous weddings took place. Among those who […]

In a capital of architectural class like Vienna, the town hall couldn’t be anything less than a work of art. The Rathaus, as it is known, looks like an aristocratic palace but is in fact much recent than its look. The reason is that its architect, baron Friedrich Schmidt deliberately chose a historic architectural style […]

Half of millennium ago, on the place of Ringstrasse, the most important boulevard in Vienna, stood the mighty city walls that stopped the Ottoman army in its march to the heart of Europe. At the orders of the Hapsburg emperor Franz Josef, the remains of the walls were turned into a wide boulevard in the […]

The Hofburg Imperial Palace has witnessed history from the time of Habsburgs to modern era, but its cultural value overwhelms its past. When this place was first used by the monarchs of Vienna we do not know, but it was already a royal residence in the 13th century, expanding and being rebuilt constantly. The Hofsburg […]

Unfortunately, as the church was under restoration process, I only have some modest pictures from the outside of this Gothic wonder. Though built in the middle of the XIX century, the Votive Church integrates very well in a city that takes great pride in its medieval heritage. The architect Heinrich von Ferstel, who was only […]

A landmark of Vienna, Schonbrunn Palace, the summer residence of the imperial house of Austria, is among the most important tourist attractions of the city. Be sure to reserve a whole day for a complete tour of the 1442 (!) rooms palace, the zoo garden, the famous labyrinth, the botanical garden, and all the alleys […]