Sights Vienna, Austria

Hofburg Imperial Palace (Hofburg Palace). Imperial Hofburg Palace was home to the August the Austrian Hapsburg dynasty for six centuries. The first fortifications were built by King Přemysl Otakar in the 13 century. Modern building - the result of many generations that added over time, something of their own.

In addition, the palace contains offices of the President, it also has 22 individual museums, the National Library, the Augustinian church of the 14 th century, the famous Spanish Riding School, the Royal Chapel, where every Sunday the Vienna Boys Choir is the mass (this service is conducted the choir for the royal court with 1498goda). During one visit to the palace can not see everything that he can offer, so there should be selective. The most popular museum here - Apartment Kaiser (Kaiserappartements). Also worth visiting the Imperial Treasury Shattskamer (Schatzkammer), storing jewelry splendid relics, including the crown of the Holy Roman Empire and the Austrian Empire. Treasury of silver and porcelain includes a unique porcelain from around the world, painted by hand.

Augustinian Church (Augustinerkirche). This church was the 14 th century was built in the Hofburg palace complex, and its parishioners was the imperial court. In the late 18 th century, it lost the excessive decoration in the Baroque style and returned to the original Gothic features. Chapel of St. George, dating from the year 1337, situated near the right of the nave. Tomb of Maria Christina, the beloved daughter of Maria Theresa, is located in the central nave, near the rear entrance to the church, but the body is not there: in fact, Maria was buried in the Imperial Crypt. The richly decorated tomb - one of the masterpieces of the Italian architect Antonio Canova. A small room in the chapel of Loreto urns filled with the hearts of the imperial family of the Habsburgs. They all can be seen through a window in an iron door. Chapel of St.George Chapel of Loreto and the general public are available only for pre-booked tour.

But not everyone in this church belongs to the death and funeral. Maria Theresa was married here with Francois de Lorrain in 1736, in addition, the Augustinian Church are married royal couple, as follows: Marie Antoinette and Louis XVI in 1770, Marie Louise and Napoleon in 1810 (by proxy, he was not present) and Franz Josef and Elisabeth of Bavaria in 1854. The best time to visit this church - 11 am, when the high mass performed in chorus, soloists and orchestra.

Schönbrunn Palace (Schonbrunn Palace). The magnificent Schönbrunn Palace was used Habsburgs as a summer residence with the 18 th century. Located in the middle of superb gardens this vast palace is symmetrical to your attention all that we can offer the imperial palace. Do you have a chance to look at the royal rooms in baroque and rococo and admire the famous murals on the ceilings of Grand Gallery and the Hall of Mirrors where Mozart once played. Gardens around the equally loved by both tourists and locals, here is the world's oldest zoo (founded in 1752) and the labyrinth. Also nearby is a greenhouse, where concerts of classical music in the summer.

St. Stephen's Cathedral (Domkirche St. Stephan). St. Stephen's Cathedral was founded in 12 century on the basis of the basilica, built on the site of the Romanesque sanctuary, and was then the center of the city. Fire 1258, which destroyed a large part of Vienna, and destroyed the cathedral, and by the beginning of 14 th century on the ruins of the basilica rose gothic building. The Cathedral was badly damaged during the siege of the Turks in 1683, then was a relatively peaceful time before the Soviet bombing in 1945. The destruction continued, when Germany bombarded Vienna at the end of World War II.

The restored and open again in 1948, St. Stephen's Cathedral is one of the great Gothic buildings in Europe, it is rich in carved wooden details, altars, sculptures and paintings. 135-foot spire of the cathedral came to symbolize the spirit of Vienna. The history of the cathedral complex interwoven threads of the residents of Vienna and Austrian history in general. Mourning the death of Mozart were here at his funeral beggar "in 1791, and in 1805 Napoleon hung on the door of his farewell edict.

Museum of Fine Arts (Kunsthistorisches Museum). This museum was built between 1872 and 1891 year, and had to hold extensive collections of the Habsburg dynasty. The royal family was really passionate admirers and collectors of art objects. The museum, with a delightful Renaissance architecture and superbly decorated ceiling itself is a masterpiece. This is one of the richest and most important museums in the world, capable of holding objects of ancient Egypt, Greek and Roman antiquities, a collection of medieval art, Renaissance and Baroque. Here are stored paintings by Rubens, Rembrandt, Vermeer, Dürer, Raphael, Titian, Bruegel and Van Dyke.

Belvedere Palace (Belvedere Palace). Belvedere comprises two magnificent mansions in the Rococo style, built in the early 18 th century. The buildings stand opposite each other on a slope above Vienna, and it provides a wonderful view over the city. Is the most beautiful palace complex in Vienna, built by Prince Eugene of Savoy, the famous general who saved Vienna from the expansion of the Ottoman Empire. Museums two palaces accommodate some of the most famous art galleries in Vienna, providing an excellent example of Austrian painting since the Middle Ages and ending our days. Exhibits include an unrivaled collection of paintings by Klimt as well as the famous works by Schiele and Kokoschka, Renoir and Monet. Works of the Middle Ages and the Baroque are represented in the lower palace, where many rooms have been preserved in its original form.

Park Prater (Prater). The most famous park of Vienna is located to the north-east of downtown, through the channel of the Danube, along Pratershtrasse. In 1766, to the dismay and chagrin of the aristocracy, the Emperor Joseph II opened this huge park of possession of the imperial family for all the public wants. And since then, Prater is a public park, attractive, with his famous boulevard, whose length exceeds 4 km, sports facilities - there is space for the golf course, stadium, race track and a swimming pool, a planetarium, and the Fair area Vyurstelprater (sausage Prater). The park laid a miniature railway, its main stop - Ferris Wheel Rizenrad, height of 60 meters, built in 1897 for the Vienna World Exhibition. The wheel moves slowly and majestically (it makes a complete revolution in 20 minutes), and the sight of his magnificent wagons.

Vienna State Opera (Wiener Staatsoper). The repertoire of the State Opera House, about one hundred operas, operettas and ballets, presentation held every day during the season, which lasts from September to June. Opera House was opened in the early 18 th century (in 1955 it was rebuilt after destruction in 1945), its romantic ambience and grandeur of help in a special way to enjoy the views. Tickets for seats in the hall is very difficult to acquire, as an alternative you can try to buy tickets for "standing" seats, which is quite reasonable price, but be prepared to defend the long queue. The State Opera collaborates closely with the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, and tickets to their famous joint New Year's concert are reserved, almost a year earlier. As the waiting list for subscription concerts, he stretches out over 13 years!

Spanish Riding School (Spanische Reitschule). This school of riding - a reminder that the horses were an important part of life in Vienna for centuries, especially during the heyday of the empire. The school is located in the white ballroom 18 th century with crystal chandeliers. Here you can watch the skill and beauty of groomed stallions-lipitstsanerov at the time, as they rides led by experienced trainers in the show, which has not changed 4 centuries. These stallions - the most famous classical singers in the genre. Do not miss lipitstsanerov dance to the music of Johann Strauss or Chopin polonaise. Tickets for such representations should be ordered in advance, as soon as possible. As rehearsals, tickets are available directly at the entrance.

House of Music (Haus der Musik). On visiting the House of Music is easy to spend the whole day, this high-tech museum occupies several floors of the palace, built in the early 19 th century. The house is proud of its special rooms, each dedicated to a great composer, who lived in Vienna - Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, Strauss and Mahler, in rooms containing samples of music and manuscripts. Since the year 2006 as Year of Mozart, the focus is now dedicated to him. Here you will find a composite sketch, with which to reconstruct a portrait of the composer, the manuscript of the immortal Requiem, and you will have the chance to become a virtual conductor and manage the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, where he played "A Little Night Music." Even here you can record yourself on a separate CD «The Magic Flute" with the additional sounds, played by you the same.

Other expositions House of Music show the evolution of sound (from primitive noises to the music of masters), and illustrate the structure of the human ear (you can measure your own threshold of sensitivity). Also in the museum contains many interactive computer games.

On the first floor of a cafe, and on the upper floor is a luxurious restaurant Cantina.