traveldk.com

The beautiful grounds of the Schloss Schönbrunn include ponds, fountains and a maze (see pp36–9).

The park on the left bank of the River Wien was designed as an artificial landscape within the city in 1862, where paths wind through the grassy areas, past ponds and beautiful plantings of shrubs and flowers. But Stadtpark is most famous for the monument of the “King of Waltz”, Johann Strauss.

Vienna’s oldest park has been open to the public since 1775. Sadly it is now overlooked by the massive anti-aircraft tower built by Hitler’s army. However, the formal garden hosts various cultural events during the summer months.

Just behind the National Library is the pretty Burggarten, landscaped in the formal English style and usually inhabited by sun worshippers on warm summer days. Located in the large Art Nouveau greenhouse, built in 1901, is a stylish café.

This garden, which stretches between the Burgtheater and Heldenplatz, is popular with both students from the nearby university and businessmen on their lunch breaks. It has some beautiful rosebeds that bloom spectacularly in spring. The replica of Athens’ Temple of Theseus is used for a range of changing exhibitions.

The park in front of the town hall is busy all year round with various festivals, ranging from a Christmas market and an ice rink in winter to a summer film and music festival. Many monuments and fountains complement the layout of the park. Another attraction is the large number of centuries-old trees.

This large green area just outside the city centre was used as royal hunting grounds until 1766. It is dotted with chestnut trees and is certainly the most popular city park among the Viennese. The lawns and the long avenue are frequented by sun-bathers and sports enthusiasts alike.

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).

Archduke Johann so admired the Tyrolean landscape and its alpine architecture that he ordered that an area within Schönbrunn Park be kept as a natural alpine landscape in the 19th century. Today it still boasts an alpine-style house with a small farm and an orchard.

The green area stretching from Vienna University to the Votivkirche is usually packed with students and picnickers on warm summer days. Fifteen different trees planted in a circle stand for the member states of the European Union.