Vienna is not only the capital of Austria, but also one of its nine federal states. The city covers 415 square kilometres and is divided into 23 districts. With woods, grassland, parks and gardens accounting for almost half its area, Vienna is the city in Europe with the highest ratio of green space. “Urban green” such as Stadtpark (with the most frequently photographed motif in the city, the golden Johann Strauss monument) is joined by the woods and grassland of Prater, the extensive Schönbrunn Palace Gardens, sections of the Vienna Woods, vineyards, farmland and the wetlands of the legendary Danube River. During summer temperatures rarely rise above 30°C, during the winter hardly ever fall below -5°C.

From Roman camp to capital of the republic

Vienna’s history goes back to the first century AD, when the Romans founded the military camp Vindobona. The city of Vienna was first mentioned in documents in 1137. Around 1155 the Dukes of Babenberg chose it as their residence, and from 1282 it was where the Habsburgs reigned from for more than six centuries. Today’s cityscape is dominated by the Baroque, which for the main part originated during the reign of Empress Maria Theresia. Emperor Franz Joseph I also put his imprint on the city when he leveled the city walls in 1857 and oversaw the completion of the splendid Ring Boulevard. He died during World War I after reigning for 68 years. In 1918 Vienna became the capital of the Republic of Austria. Following the annexation of Austria by Nazi Germany in 1938, Vienna was designated a “Reichsgau” (an administrative district of the Third Reich). In 1945, it was again proclaimed capital of the Republic of Austria. In 1967, the city became one of three United Nations headquarters alongside New York and Geneva, and in 1995 joined the ranks as a capital city of the European Union.

City of music – traditional and modern

Vienna has traditionally accorded the arts great respect, and over the centuries has never ceased to foster creativity and attract artists from other countries. Vienna boasts 50 theatres, including three opera houses and two stage musical theatres, 100 museums, and renowned drama, music and dance festivals. In addition, ambitious exhibitions are frequently mounted. All this ensures an extraordinarily rich cultural program throughout the year, making Vienna one of Europe’s leading cultural centres.

Vienna, as a city of music, enjoys a paramount reputation around the world. No other city has been home to so many composers of international renown. Some, such as Schubert, Strauss, Schoenberg and Berg were born there, others, such as Mozart, Beethoven, Haydn, Brahms and Mahler chose to live there. It boasts one of the world’s finest orchestras – the Vienna Philharmonic – as well as the Vienna Symphony Orchestra and several other orchestras and ensembles of note. The Vienna State Opera is one of the world’s leading opera houses, and is joined by three more in the city. The Vienna Boys’ Choir enchants music lovers the world over. In addition to classical music, Vienna has also made its mark as a city of musicals, and recent successes in electronic music show that the avant-garde is also taken seriously in Vienna. A very special way to enjoy music is presented at the House of Music – a unique high-tech voyage of discovery into the phenomenon of music – where sounds become visible, organ pipes may be walked on and visitors can become virtual conductors and composers, all on an area of 2,000 square metres. Yet a further attraction is the Mozarthaus Vienna which was opened on January 27, 2006 – Mozart’s 250th birthday – in his former residence at Domgasse.

Lifestyle: Imperial nostalgia and contemporary trends

The juxtaposition of what is traditional – coffeehouses and wine taverns with typical Viennese congeniality – and what is modern – events such as the Life Ball and the Festival of Electronic Music – conveys a lifestyle that appeals to the modern tourist. A choice between relaxation and serenity, or action and stimulation, that can be made depending on your mood.

The Naschmarkt, Vienna’s multinational fruit and vegetable market which also features a flea market every Saturday – has witnessed the emergence of an extraordinarily diverse gastronomic scene in its vicinity over the past years. Mariahilfer Strasse, a street linking the historic center with Vienna’s most popular sightseeing attraction, Schönbrunn Palace, has been transformed into an attractive shopping thoroughfare since the completion of the U3 underground line. During the summer, Viennese and tourists alike throng not only to Prater park with the famous Giant Ferris Wheel, but also to the Copa Cagrana on Danube Island – which boasts Europe’s largest open-air party in June. Beach atmosphere can also be soaked up at the numerous riverside bathing areas along the Danube Canal where summer sun is accompanied by cool drinks. And the wine tavern districts on the gentle hillsides of the Vienna Woods extend an invitation to seriously “study” Vienna and its wines.

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