Austria: Vienna II. - All Sighseeings In One Day

A sightseeing bus with a guide´s comments (you get ut mostly from musical ear, a choice is available from several world languages), is the most simplest solution for individual tourists in world metropolis. In Vienna, you have the offer from circular tours with sightseeing bus in some tourist centre, as, for instance, in front of St. Stephen Cathedral or close to Hotel Sacher.

Except monuments in city centre, four kilometres long internal transit circle Ringstrasse (it was established on a place of former fortification) belongs to traditional circle tours. This planned roadway goes round historical city centre, along right bank of Danube-river. You can admire there most of remarkable monuments from architectonical point of view, such as: the Parliament Building (in a style of antique church), Town Hall (Rathaus), Opera Building, Theatre (Burgtheater), St. Charles Church (Karlskirche), the University Building, famous MAK Design Museum (Museum fuer angewandte Kunst), Townpark (where you can find famous gilt Johann Strauss statue, which became also a Viennese symbol), and many other interesting monuments.

During a drive, the visitors could come to know a lot of facts from the history of the town. Vienna could be thankful for its prime to a fact that, within early Middle Age, the town obtained rich ransom from Richard Lion´s Heart, the English King, when he return from his Crusade. Except well-known names from classic musical world, (such as: Mozart, Haydn, Strauss, Beethoven and others), the guide does not forget to mention Johann Holzl, rock singer, local native, known under Falco, his artistic name. Anyway, similar enumeration follows in the section of literature and other sorts of art. Vienna is connected with another top artistic branches, such as: Art Nouveau, Biedermeier, Baroque style, etc.

The longer route makes a diversion to Schonbrunn Castle and other more distant places of interest.

Schonbrunn Castle belongs to most beautiful European Emperor´s seats, sometimes named as Vienna Versailles. In the Chateau, you can choose from several sightseeing tours. On the other hand, a walk through extensive park could be a great experience. As a dominanta, it is Gloriette, sightseeing terrace. Inside the park, you can find also the ZOO (Tiergarten - the oldest one from all over the world!), a Museum of Coaches (Carriages) and Sledges (Wagenburg Museum), Palmenhaus and Wustenhaus Glasshouses, Garden labyrinth (Irrgarten), and others. On a space in front of Gloriette, musical concerts are often taken place.

Text/photo: Jiří Výborný