Schonnbrunn Palace
Schonbrunndff Palace is one of the most important cultural monuments in Austria. The palace and gardens reflect the tastes, interests and aspirations of successive Habsburg monarchs. The founder of the complex was Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian II. Interested in the newly founded zoo, the Tiergarten Schönbrunn, he tried to establish not only the systematic maintenance of wild animals, but also a garden of rare and exotic plants. Schönbrunn’s name, meaning ‘beautiful well’, derives from a well from which water was consumed by the royal court of Vienna. Schönbrunn soon became a favourite royal summer residence. The palace was rebuilt under Emperor Leopold I, and all of his successors added a bit to the inner and outer parts of the building. By order of Empress Maria Theresa of Austria, Schönbrunn Palace was rebuilt in the Rococo style, becoming a vigorous centre of Austria's empire and the imperial family. Franz Josef I of Austria spent the majority of his life there. Through the course of his reign, Schönbrunn Palace was seen as a total work of art and restored in accordance with its history. The palace complex also includes some artificial Roman ruins and an orangerie, staple luxuries in European palaces of its kind. Prater
The Wiener Prater is a large public park which houses the amazing Wurstelprater amusement park, offering plenty of attractions for all ages. In 1766, Emperor Joseph II transformed the Prater from a hunting ground into a free public space. The main avenue is Hauptallee, lined with horse chestnut trees, closed to motorists and known to sports fans for the annual Vienna Marathon. There’s also a narrow gauge railway, the famous Liliputbahn. Another unusual object in the Wiener Prater is the Republik Kugelmugel, a spherical micro-nation. The Wiener Prater also houses a planetarium and the Prater Museum, but its greatest attraction is definitely the Riesenrad, one of the world’s oldest Ferris wheels, erected in 1897 to celebrate Emperor Franz Josef I's Golden Jubilee. It's a must to try a ride on this popular tourist attraction, which for many people is the symbol of Vienna. St. Stephan's Cathedral
St. Stephen's Cathedral, the main religious building in Vienna and the seat of the Roman Catholic Archbishop, is one of the city’s most famous symbols. It also houses many important events in Austria's national life. It was first built as a parish church of the Diocese of Passau in 1147 and then rebuilt and enlarged over the centuries. The church was dedicated to St. Stephen, the patron of the bishop's cathedral in Passau, and is oriented towards the sunrise on his feast day, the 26th of December. The main entrance is called the Giant's Door, coming from the bone of a mastodon that once hung over it. At the tympanum above, there’s a fresco of Christ Pantocrator flanked by two winged angels. On the left and on the right of the Giant's Door are the two Roman towers built from the rubble of Roman structures, which are the oldest parts of the church. From the massive south tower, you can admire a beautiful panoramic view of Vienna. The cathedral boasts a lavishly patterned, richly coloured roof covered by 230,000 glazed tiles forming a mosaic of a double-headed eagle which symbolises the Habsburg Empire. The church also has 23 bells, the largest one called Pummerin (‘Boomer’). Legend has it that composer Ludwig van Beethoven discovered his deafness when he saw birds fly out of the bell tower when the bells rang, but couldn't hear them. Belvedere Palaces
The Belvedere is a Baroque palace complex built during the reign of Prince Eugene of Savoy in 1697. It began as a suburban entertainment villa with an orangerie and painting gallery. The complex was sold in 1752 to Maria Theresa, who first named it Belvedere. The last to reside here was Archduke Franz Ferdinand. The residence was designed by Johann Lukas von Hildebrandt, one of the most important Austrian Baroque architects. The most splendid room is the Marble Hall, with marvellous paintings by Martino Altomonte. The room also contains Apotheosis of Prince Eugene, sculpted by Balthasar Permoser. Outside, you can walk through the beautiful garden, a replica of the famous Versaille gardens, with gravel paths and fountains by Dominique Girard. The palace also houses the Austrian Gallery Museum, with a great collection of imperial portraits.