DK Travel : Vienna

Splendid edifices, magnificent palaces and imposing churches spanning the centuries all make Vienna a wonderful city to visit, oozing both charm and atmosphere. Although its imperial grandeur can still be felt, this city of music has more to offer than just its glorious past; contemporary architecture, a brimming cultural scene and a vibrant nightlife add to its appeal. No matter how many times you return, you will always discover something new.

Akademie der Wissenschaften

This rococo building (1755) was formerly the site of Vienna University. The Academy of Sciences hall staged the premiere of Joseph Haydn’s The Creation in 1808.
Akademietheater

The Akademietheater is part of the Konzerthaus building (see p60). Initially it functioned as the training stage for the nearby Academy of Music and Performing Arts but in 1922 it became the “small” venue for the Burg-theater ensemble. Mainly classic modern plays are staged here.
Alban Berg

Berg (1885–1935) is known for his operas Wozzeck (1925) and the unfinished Lulu . During the National Socialist regime, his music was considered indecent and banned from public stages.
Albertina

The Albertina palace has undergone a major restoration and extension programme and is home to a collection of graphic art, architectural drawings and photographs from all periods. The 65,000 drawings and almost one million prints include works by Albrecht Dürer and Gustav Klimt (see p86).
Albertina

One of the world’s largest and most valuable collections of graphic art is gathered in the Albertina palace, named after its founder, Duke Albert of SachsenTeschen (1738–1822). Although there is no permanent exhibition, three halls are used for several temporary exhibitions, including the Habsburg State Rooms. (see p44).
All Saints’ Day

Austrians visit the graves of their beloved to light candles and lay wreaths.
Alpengarten im Belvedere

Established in 1803 by the Habsburg Archduke Johann, this is Europe’s oldest alpine garden and is part of the Belvedere park. The beautifully laid-out garden is home to more than 4,000 plants, among them an Oriental bonsai collection (see pp22–4).
Alte Donau

The Danube formed an extensive landscape of small islands before it was regulated into a man-made bed in 1870 to prevent flooding. One of the former tributaries, the Alte Donau (Old Danube), now has 11 Strand-bäder (island beach resorts), including Gänsehäufel, the largest outdoor swimming area in Europe.
Alte Kunst und Militaria

Here old uniforms from the imperial age and military medals are on display.
Altes Allgemeines Krankenhaus

This huge hospital complex with 11 courtyards is an oasis of tranquillity. At end of the 18th century Emperor Joseph II converted an existing house for the poor into a general hospital, which included a “birth house”, a “foundling house” and a “mad house” – today this houses a pathological museum (see p47). The complex was still used as a hospital up to the early 1980s but was then given to Vienna University and adapted for the the campus’s arts departments.