Vienna sights
Schönbrunn
This Baroque palace is in Schönbrunn Park in the 13th district. This building was built by Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach and completed in 1700. Maria Theresa chose to renovate and extend the summer palace between 1744 and 1749. The palace houses the Grosse galerie (Great Gallery), the Spiegelsaal (Mirror Room), the Rundes Chinesisches Kabinett (Round Chinese Cabinet) and the Milionezimmer (Million Gulden Room). The interior of the palace can be visited daily between 8.30am and 5pm. The Imperial Tour gives access to 22 rooms for AS80 and the Grand Tour gives access to 40 rooms for AS105. The Gardens are beautifully arranged in French style and are a popular place to go jogging or just to enjoy the lovely surrounds on a sunny day!
Volksprater
Volksprater is a large amusement park east of the Innere Stadt and is dominated by the Riesenrad (Ferris Wheel). The wheel was built in 1897, is almost 65m high ad wieighs 430 tonnes. It operates as late as 11.40pm and costs AS50.
The park contains all sorts of funfair rides which cost between AS10 and AS50 and is a great place to wander and soak up the atmosphere.
Stadtpark
The city park lies on the eastern side of Parkring. It has a pond, winding walkways and several statues. The Kursalon at the south western corner hosts waltz concerts in the aftenoon and evening daily from April to late October.
Museums to visit
Kunsthistorisches Museum - The Museum of Fine Arts has on the ground floor, an Egyption collection and sculptures and decorative arts covering a range of styles. The first floor is the picture gallery (considered the most important part of the gallery).
Naturhistorisches Museum - The Museum of Natural History houses exhibits such as minerals, meteorites and animal remains and opens daily except for Tuesdays from 9am to 6pm.
Museum für Angewandte Kunst - The Museum of Applied Art has exhibition rooms with different styles such as Renaissance, Baroque, Oriental and Wiener Werkstätte. The basement houses the Study Collection which groups exhibits according to the type of materials used, particularly good porcelain and glassware pieces. Open daily except Monday from 10am to 6pm, the museum costs AS45 for students.
Akademie der bildenden Küunste - The Academy of Fine Arts has a picture gallery with its most impressive exhibit being Hieronymus Bosch's The Last Judgement alterpeice. Admission costs AS15 and opens Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 10am to 2pm, Wednesday from 10am to 1pm and 3 to 6pm and weekends 9am to 1pm.
Jüdische Museum - The Jewish Museum documents the history of the Jews in Vienna from the first settlements in the 13th century to the present. The museum opens daily except Saturday from 10am to 6pm (9pm on Thursday) and admission is AS70 or AS40 for concession.
Lipizzaner Museum - Expounds on Lipizzaner stallions, the Spanishe Reitschule (Spanish Riding School) and the Bundesgestüt Piber (stud farm). Windows allow a view directly into the stallion stables, albeit obscured by thick galss and fine mesh. Admission costs AS50 or AS35 for concessions and opens daily from 9am to 6pm.
Josephinium - The Museum of Medical History is a small museum housing such exhibits as the wax specimen models of the human frame created more than 200 years. In addition, it contains arcane meidcal instruments, photos of past practitioners, accounts of unpleasant looking operations etc. Admission is free for students and opens Modnay to Friday from 9am to 3pm.
Museum Moderner Kunst - The Museaum of Modern Art contains various movements in 20th centruy art including expressionsim, cubism, futurism, constructivism, surrealism, pop art, photorealism and Viennese Actionism. In addition, it houses conceptual art and minimal art. Entry is AS25 for concessions and opens 10am to 6pm except Tuesday.
Sigmund Freud Museum - This museum is in the apartments where Freud lived and worked from 1891 to 1938. It houses furniture, possessions, letters and photographs. This museum opens daily from 9am to 4pm (6pm in the summer) and costs AS40 for concession.
Historisches Museum der Stadt Wien - Historical Museum of Vienna is considered the best of the municipal museums which gives details on the development of Vienna from prehistory to the present day. Three floors include maps, plans, artefacts and paintings. The museum opens daily from 9am to 4.30pm except Mondays and costs AS20 for students.
Parliament
The parliament building (1873-83), on Dr Karl Renner Ring, displays a Greek revival style, with huge pillars and figures lining the roofs. The beautiful Athena Fountain at the front was sculpted by Karl Kundmann. Greece was the home of democray and Athena was the Greek goddess of wisdom. It was hoped both qualities would be a permanent feature of Austrian politics.
The Parliament is the seat of the two federal assemblies. Guided tours are conducted Monday through to Friday with the exception of when parliament is in session.
KunstHausWien
Designed by Friedensreich Hundertwasser, KunstHausWien is something of a tribute to Hundertwasser, presenting his paintings, graphics, tapestry, philosophy, ecology and architecture. The building features uneven floors, coloured ceramics, patchwork decorations, irregular corners and grass and trees on the roof. The gallery opens daily from 10am to 7pm for AS50 (concession). Entry is half-price on Mondays unless it is a public holiday. There is a cafe round the back.
While in the area, you can stroll down the road to see the Hundertwasserhaus, a block of residental flats designed by Hundertwasser on the corner of Löwengasse and Kegelgasse. Opposite is Kalke Village, also by Hundertwasser, created in an old Michelin factory. It contains a cafe, souvenir and art shops open daily.
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