GRAVE SYMPHOS | ON THE LINE
In the Josephine era, grave nymphs were jokingly called prostitutes who went about their business around the Wiener Graben, which is now a central shopping street in Vienna. In order to order the “territory” of the street whores, the responsible office issued chalk lines that were supposed to bring order to the nocturnal activity. This […]
JOSEF STRAUSS | FIRE RESISTANT! POLKA
Fireproof! was the slogan with which Wertheim advertised its safes. There were spectacular trials by fire. Safes were placed on large pyres; the contents survived the fire intact and could be demonstrated to the astonished crowd. In 1857 such a rehearsal took place in Constantinople in the presence of the sultan. In February 1869 the […]
DISPUTE | SACHERTORTE
The Café Demel and the Hotel Sacher argued for a long time about the legal name of the Sachertorte. An agreement was only reached after seven years: The “Original Sacher-Torte” was reserved for the Hotel Sacher, while Demel decorated his cake with a triangular seal with the inscription “Eduard Sacher-Torte”. In the meantime, the latter, […]
MUSEUM & CASTLE BELVEDERE VIENNA
Belvedere Palace was built by Johann Lukas von Hildebrandt for Prince Eugene of Savoy (1663-1736) in the Landstrasse district. A beautiful garden with an impressive fountain connects the Upper Belvedere with the Lower Belvedere. On May 15, 1955, the Austrian State Treaty was signed in the Upper Belvedere. The collection of the Austrian Gallery Belvedere […]
SISI | THE COOK IS HERE
Many rumors have grown up about the idiosyncratic personality and the depression of Empress Elisabeth, better known to many as Sisi or Sissi – this is where the spirits argue. Difficulties in adjusting at court are reported as well as possible affairs or their urge for freedom. Perhaps all of this has a bit to […]
VIENNA HOFBURG
The start of construction of the original castle can be expected as early as the 13th century under the Babenbergs by King Rudolf I. Duke Leopold VI probably laid the foundation stone. The Bohemian King Ottokar II Premysl expanded the Hofburg for the first time. In the middle of the 16th century, Emperor Ferdinant I […]
BALL SEASON I VIENNA DANCES INTO THE NEW YEAR
Confectioners, coffee makers, and the Philharmonic all host their ball and invite the Viennese to dance. The dance schools are very busy at this time of year, the finishing touches are quickly put on the waltz step and a real kiss on the hand needs to be learned. Vienna is busy with the traditional balls […]
ALBERTINA VIENNA
The Albertina is an art museum and is housed in the Albertina Palace of the Archduke Albrecht – a part of the Imperial Hofburg in the center of Vienna. The Albertina houses one of the most important graphic collections in the world. The name Albertina refers to Albert Casimir, Duke of Saxony-Teschen, son of Empress […]