Vienna, Austria is one of the nicest-looking cities we’ve seen. It’s clean, and as far as we can tell, well-managed. Parks and stately-looking buildings are everywhere you look. Viennese architecture is impressive. And those building names… Wiener Staatsoper, Rathaus, and more.
During our visit to Schönbrunn Palace, we learned about the Habsburg dynasty and the empire that generations of Habsburgs put together. They built many of the stately buildings we’ve been seeing around town.
Someplace to Put Your Stuff
Some public museums were initially built by the Habsburgs just for their own personal use. They had amassed so much beautiful stuff, they had to build nice places just to store it all.
Back in the day, when a regime defeated an enemy on the battlefield, they’d go in, find all of their enemy’s neatest stuff, take it back home, and put it on display. To the victor went the spoils.
Everyone did it. That’s just the way it was. How many priceless works of art on display in the Louvre were brought back by Napoleon’s army after defeating an enemy somewhere? I don’t know the answer, but “quite a bit” would be my guess.
The Habsburgs built other museums specifically for public use. They’re full of art and collectibles the Habsburgs got one way or another, and put on display for the Austrian people to enjoy.
They’re Not All Museums
Hofburg Palace is another impressive building in central Vienna. Schönbrunn Palace was the Habsburg’s summer retreat, but their main residence was Hofburg Palace. We’ll have a closer look soon.
Add Vienna’s City Hall to the list of impressive Viennese buildings. It’s called the Rathaus. I don’t speak german, but that sounds to me like it must mean “House of Rats.”
And since it’s City Hall, and likely full of politicians of one sort or another, who can argue with the choice of name?
Der Wiener Staatsoper
Another stately structure is just around the corner from our hotel. It’s called the Wiener Staatsoper. Can you guess what this building might be?
It sounds kind of like “wiener grasshopper,” but we know that can’t be right. You might think it has something to do with hot dogs, roping, and the state. Maybe it’s where they have the state rodeo? But I don’t think they have rodeos in Austria.
Let’s get to the bottom of this… You may recall that “Wien” means “Vienna.” And you had probably figured out that “staat” is “state.” The last part, “oper,” is “opera.” So the “Wiener Staatsoper” is the State Opera House. Hey – maybe you guessed it!
The Viennese are seriously into opera. Even though the Wiener Staatsoper is just around the corner from our hotel, I don’t think we’ll be attending any performances. Perhaps we’ll go someday in the future, if we get way more cultured that we are now.
Dinnertime
We worked up an appetite walking around Schönbrunn Palace today, so we’re looking forward to dinner. We spotted a restaurant yesterday in the Innere Stadt pedestrian zone that looked inviting. There was an outside patio, and everyone there seemed to be having a good time.
We did some research and found that the restaurant got high marks all around. We didn’t make a reservation, but hopefully we’d be able to get in with the early-birds.
The restaurant is within walking distance from our hotel, but the pedestrian zone area in the Inner Stadt is kind of like a maze. Hopefully we’ll be able to find it.
Like most restaurants around here, it seems, this place is famous for its wiener schnitzel. I’ve never met a wiener schnitzel that I didn’t like, but I had wiener schnitzel for dinner last night, and there’s another dish that I’m anxious to try. It’s called spaetzel.
I haven’t tried it yet, but it’s supposed to be spaetzelicious!
To be continued…
