Where to start with Vienna……… It seems that every travel article that could ever be written has been and I’m fighting against myself as I try to find something interesting to add.
After all, this is a city that is so ancient it was originally a Celtic settlement. Under the Romans it was the garrison of Vindobona and protected the area at the edge of the Hungarian plains.
It was reduced to ruins in the 5th century by invading Barbarians but by the 10th century it was under German rule (the dynasty of Badenburg) and became a major trading center for three centuries, finally coming under the rule of the Hapsburgs in the 13th century.
In the 16th and 17th century Turkish invasions continually threatened Vienna, but eventually the Turks were driven out and the city flourished again.
The 18th and 19th centuries were periods of immense palaces and lavish court life when Vienna became a major imperial and cultural center and by the turn of the 20th century, the city had grown to a population of two million.
Much of the architecture you see in Vienna today is from that Belle Epoc era, the era of Emperors, Beethoven, Waltzes, Coffee Houses and Biedermeier. As a lover of history and art, I tend to focus on absorbing the city from that perspective. Otherwise; the task of sharing this grand beautiful city can be overwhelming.
So, I have decided that for now, the best way to share our exploration of Vienna and its wonders is by photo-montage. I hope you enjoy it!
After all, this is a city that is so ancient it was originally a Celtic settlement. Under the Romans it was the garrison of Vindobona and protected the area at the edge of the Hungarian plains.
It was reduced to ruins in the 5th century by invading Barbarians but by the 10th century it was under German rule (the dynasty of Badenburg) and became a major trading center for three centuries, finally coming under the rule of the Hapsburgs in the 13th century.
In the 16th and 17th century Turkish invasions continually threatened Vienna, but eventually the Turks were driven out and the city flourished again.
The 18th and 19th centuries were periods of immense palaces and lavish court life when Vienna became a major imperial and cultural center and by the turn of the 20th century, the city had grown to a population of two million.
Much of the architecture you see in Vienna today is from that Belle Epoc era, the era of Emperors, Beethoven, Waltzes, Coffee Houses and Biedermeier. As a lover of history and art, I tend to focus on absorbing the city from that perspective. Otherwise; the task of sharing this grand beautiful city can be overwhelming.
So, I have decided that for now, the best way to share our exploration of Vienna and its wonders is by photo-montage. I hope you enjoy it!
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