I started before breakfast with a walk to Schloss Belvedere, a baroque beauty in tiered gardens overlooking Vienna.
On the way I walked past the Soviet War Memorial and Hochstrahlbrunnen fountain.
The light was stunning, the streets were quiet and it was a beautiful walk.
I went back to the hotel for a huge breakfast and then had a little lie down in my nest bed. Two hours of deep sleep later... off for more walkies.
I followed the Lonely Planet Best Walks - ‘Essential Vienna’ and ‘Living History’ with a few deviations here and there so I will now attempt to put the photos in chronological order (ish).
This is Karlskirche in the corner of Resselpark, lots of twiddly bits.
The Hofburg complex is full of magnificent museums and attractions including the Spanish Riding School and these offices of the Austrian President.
The numbers of tourists were building and my plan to have coffee and cake at the famous Cafe Central was defeated by the queue, so I took a photo of the queue, as you do. Probably not the same as when Trotsky went there to play chess.
Next stop on the tourist trail was Peterskirche and then Stephansdom, a huge gothic masterpiece which unfortunately but no doubt essentially is being renovated, so not easy to appreciate with the sound of drills and just too many people inside.
Onto the ‘Living History’ walk and I was a much happier bunny. The Hoher Markt is Vienna’s oldest square and home to the Ankeruhr clock.
In total contrast to all the show off buildings, Ruprechtskirche is Vienna’s oldest church and tucked away from the main tourist trail.
The Monument to the Victims of Fascism is located on the site of the former Gestapo HQ, it’s interesting how much less attention is given to this element of history in Vienna compared to Berlin.
The stand out highlight of my day was Dominikaner-kirche, Vienna’s oldest baroque church which I had all to myself, a thought provoking and moving moment in the middle of a bustling city.
The two last essentials on my one day in Vienna were the State Opera House and a suitably huge ice cream.
No comments:
Post a Comment