Vienna ~ Austria 2019

 

 

The Prater and the Giant Ferris Wheel 

Capital of the Republic of Austria and one of Europe's most visited cities, Vienna (Wien) owes much of its charm and rich history to its splendid location on the banks of the Danube River. For centuries the gateway between West and East Europe, it was the natural nucleus of the once sprawling Habsburg Empire, and to this day remains Austria's most important commercial and cultural hub.  

 

 

 

Karlskirche  

Dedicated to St. Charles Borromeo, a saint invoked during times of plague, Karlskirche (St. Charles Church) was built in 1737 and remains Vienna's most important Baroque religious building. This vast building is crowned by a magnificent 72-meter dome and is famous for its twin 33-meter Triumphal Pillars, based on Trajan's Column in Rome, with their spiraling bands depicting scenes from the life of St. Charles. Interior highlights include the fabulous frescoes of St. Cecilia. Be sure to check the church's official website for details of its regular concert program.

Also worth visiting is the Gardekirche, built in 1763 in the city's southern outer district as the church of the Imperial Hospital and later serving Polish congregations (of particular interest is the painting above the High Altar).

 

St. Stephen's Cathedral

 

St. Stephen's Cathedral (Stephansdom) is not only the main Roman Catholic church in Vienna — and the seat of the city's Archbishop — it's also one of Austria's mostpopular atractions, welcoming more than a million guests each year. 

 

With its 137-meter-high spire and richly decorated roof, it's the city's most important Gothic edifice and represents eight centuries of architectural history.

 

All that remains of the original 13th-century structure are the massive gate and the Heathen Towers (Heidentürme), while extensive reconstruction in Gothic style took place in the 14th century. Later additions include the completion of the choir and the Chapels of St. Eligius, St. Tirna, and St. Catherine, while the South Tower, the Nave, and the Chapel of St. Barbara were added in the 15th century.

 

During WWII the building experienced nearly complete destruction. Its reconstruction, from 1948 until 1962, proved to be a tremendous communal effort involving the whole of Austria, demonstrating the nation's eagerness to restore this former symbol of the country's illustrious past.

 

 

 

Mechanical organ in St. Stephen Cathedral

 

 

 

Prater, a large natural park between the Danube and the Danube Canal, is a little like stepping into another world. Covering an area of 3,200 acres, this vast park-once a royal hunting ground-has long been one of Vienna's most popular recreation areas. 

 

The famous Giant Wheel, a Viennese landmark that has provided fine views over the city since 1896

 

Austria! Wiener-Wiesn Fest

 

Collegial and Parish Church of St. Peter 

Modeled on St. Peter's in Rome, Peterskirche-the Collegial and Parish Church of St. Peter-is built on a site originally occupied by a Roman church and later by one founded by Charlemagne in 792 AD. The present edifice was built in the 18th century and boasts a massive dome with a superb fresco and many artistic treasures.

Other highlights include the Barbara Chapel with its magnificent portal, and in which Franz Karl Remp's Decollation of St. Barbara is found, and the choir with its High Altar and painting of the Immaculate Conception. The church is also noted for its frequent organ recitals.

Also of note is the nearby Plague Pillar, a 21-meter-tall Baroque pillar built to commemorate the end of the devastating plague of 1679 that cost at least 75,000 Viennese their lives. The nearby Abbey of the Scots (Schottenstift), built in the 12th century and extensively renovated and enlarged since, is also worth popping into. Its school included Johann Strauss and Austria's last emperor, Charles I, among its pupils, while its fine collection of artwork includes pieces from the 16th to 19th centuries.

 

 

Peterskirche (Saint Peter’s Church)