We arrived in Vienna, Austria just three days ago, but I feel like I got a pretty good taste of what life is like here – figuratively and literally. And there are a LOT of good things to taste here. But it’s time for us to say good-bye to Vienna. Maybe after just one more piece of strudel.
Vienna has been a surprise. We didn’t think we’d like it nearly as much as we did. I guess that wasn’t fair to Vienna, since we didn’t know much about it going in. It’s not on as many tourist itineraries as say, London or Paris. But it should be.
We stayed in the city center, adjacent to a large pedestrian zone in Vienna’s “Inner Stadt.” Walking around in this area is nice. Here ,the Viennese are out in force, sitting in outdoor cafes, drinking Viennese coffee and munching on wonderful things, seemingly all day long.
Start with the Strudel
Vienna has my vote for pastry capital of the world. Strudel is the most well-known Viennese pastry to outsiders. Or maybe the Sacher torte. But bakery windows are lined with numerous other traditional Viennese pastries.
It amazes me that people here don’t just have them on birthdays and special occasions. They don’t even wait until after dinner. They eat these delectable treats all day long!
Our first stop after exploring the Innere Stadt was to make the mandatory visit to Schönbrunn Palace. It’s just outside of town.
Schönbrunn Palace
Schönbrunn Palace was the summer home of the Habsburgs, and our introduction to the Habsburg dynasty. Today the palace is essentially a showplace. When people have as much wealth as the Habsburgs, they tend to amass a collection of really nice things. Eventually they’ll need a palace in which to store them all. So here we are.
The grounds at Schönbrunn Palace are as impressive as what’s inside. The palace, it’s manicured grounds, monuments, and interior decor give off an unmistakable air of power – just like it was meant to do, I’m sure.
We’re not huge tour enthusiasts. I try to do my homework so I have some knowledge of where we are, and then we do our own thing on our own time.
But because Vienna, Austria, and the Habsburgs are in the middle of so much European history, if you’re into history at all, it’s worth taking a tour or two.
The Siege of Vienna
I had no idea that in the 16th century, the Ottoman Turkish empire had conquered lands as far north to Vienna. Vienna was the prize they were after next.
In 1683 they laid siege to the town, camping outside Vienna’s massive city walls for months, sending in demolition teams to blow holes in the walls. You can probably guess the outcome. But it was a close call.
The story goes that the strange brown beans left by deserting Turkish forces turned out to be Europe’s introduction to coffee. Now Viennese coffee is thought by some to be the best in the world, (even if it isn’t grown here). What better to go with all those pastries?
Hofburg Palace
The history of the Habsburg dynasty, Austria-Hungary, and their holdings far and wide is the history of pre-20th century Europe. It wasn’t until the First World War – set in motion by the assassination of a Habsburg – that the fairytale ended.
Hofburg Palace, in the center of town, is home to the 19th-century apartments of the ruling Habsburgs of the time. They’ve been maintained as if they were frozen in time, and they’re open to the public.
The personal living space of perhaps the most the most interesting Habsburg of all, Empress Sisi, make for an interesting tour.
Vienna, at least its city center, is clean, green, and pristine. People here sit at tables outside drinking viennese coffee and having snacks all day. And you can find wiener schnitzel on the menu of every restaurant. The Viennese must be doing something right.
To be continued…
