Wiener Blond Secret Vienna Interview
Wiener Blond- Secret Vienna Interview
The band Wiener Blond focuses on Viennese music and on a Viennese atmosphere. I’m sure that those of you – who have an interest in Viennese music – have heard…
Museumsquartier Secret Vienna
The story of the Museums Quartier
You must visit the Museums Quartier if you are into contemporary art! I am sure some of you have walked past or even visited Vienna’s Museums Quartier (MQ) before. Today…
Freud Museum Secret Vienna
Freud Museum in Vienna
If you are interested in psychology, you should visit the Freud Museum! I am certain that some of you are familiar with Sigmund Freud, psychoanalysis and his theories about the…
Old Vienna Secret Vienna
The beauty of old Vienna
Travel back in time - Old Vienna Most of you know about our city’s history. About our traditions and the places, where we can still experience old Vienna. We at…
Wiener Kriminalmuseum Vienna Secret Vienna
Wiener Kriminalmuseum
Death, crime, and fires - Vienna's Kriminalmuseum I’m sure by now you’re more than familiar with Vienna’s obsession with death and eerily-beautiful stories. The ones that have visited our Wiener…
5 Spots Where You Can Enjoy Your Coffee Outside
5 spots where you can enjoy coffee in Vienna
Here are 5 spot where you can enjoy coffee in Vienna Drinking coffee while enjoying the sun is one of our favourite pastimes, no matter the season (as long as…
Mozart In Vienna – Celebrate The Arts
Mozart in Vienna – Celebrate the Arts
If you are into classical music you have to visit the Mozart house! The Mozarthaus Vienna tells the story of Wolfgang Amadé Mozart’s life and work. It is located in…
Jewish Museum Vienna Secret Vienna
Jewish Museum Vienna
The Jewish Museum Vienna is one of our absolute favourites, and I am sure you can imagine why. The museum gives an insight into Jewish history, culture, and religion, and…
Café Central Secret Vienna
The story of Café Central
A place full of history and whispers of old times The Café Central, located just a street down from the Michaelerplatz. It was founded in 1867 and ever since it…
Schildermaler Museum Vienna Secret Vienna
Schildermaler Museum
An old tradition about to die out - the Schildermaler Museum Perhaps some of you may have heard of Vienna’s Schildermaler Museum before. Located in the Mühlgasse 7 in the…
Austria’s Drugstore Museum
The Drugstore Museum in Vienna
Looking for a different museum? Visit the Drugstore Museum in Vienna! Located in Vienna’s 9th district, in the Währinger Straße 14, Austria’s Drugstore Museum has a long history, tracing back…
Axel Flóvent and Plàsi
Axel Flóvent and Plàsi
There is something truly inspiring about the collaboration of Axel Flóvent and Plàsi. The two are about to tour Europe and also have a show planned in Vienna for the…
Snow Globe Museum Vienna Secret Vienna
Snow Globe Museum
Vienna's Snow Globe Museum is definitely worth the visit! It was the year 1900 as Erwin Perzy created the first ever snow globe. His first design was the basilica Maria…
Neidhart Saal Vienna Secret Vienna
Neidhart Saal
Medieval relicts in the heart of the inner city - Vienna's Neidhart Saal Dating back to 1407 the frescos found in the Neidhart Saal tell stories inspired by songs of…
Wiener Alltagspoeten
Wiener Alltagspoeten
Vienna is undoubtedly famous for being one of the unfriendliest cities – our “Grant” (meaning anger/unfriendliness) is world famous and we are quite proud of it. Today, we want to…
Vienna’s New Year’s Concert Vienna Secret Vienna
Vienna’s New Year’s concert
An internationally famous event - Vienna's New Year’s concert Without a doubt, most of you know about Vienna’s New Year’s concert. Every year the Vienna Philharmonic presents a program focused…
Café Gerstner Vienna Secret Vienna
Café Gerstner
Café Gerstner - a piece of old Vienna What started as a confectioner’s shop, is now one of our most cherished and traditional coffee houses in Vienna. The Café Gerstner…
Coffee In Vienna
Coffee in Vienna
What's the story of coffee in Vienna? When did the liquid gold find its way here? Vienna is famous for its coffee house culture. A one of a kind tradition…
Café Frauenhuber Vienna
Café Frauenhuber
Café Frauenhuber - one of Vienna's oldest coffee houses The Café Frauenhuber is one of Vienna’s oldest coffee houses. Its history traces back to the year 1891, the name is…
The Gloriette Schönbrunn Palace Vienna Secret Vienna
The Gloriette in Schönbrunn Palace
Schönbrunn is always worth a visit, no matter the season. The Gloriette towers over the castle and the garden, a true eyecatcher full of history. As empress Maria Theresia ordered…
Kaleo Vienna Secret Vienna
Kaleo concert in Vienna is coming up
Most of you may know the band Kaleo from their song “Way Down We Go”, which was and still is being featured in different movies, tv shows and advertisements. The…
Cafe Korb Secret Vienna
The story of Cafe Korb
Just like the Café Demel, the Café Korb is one of our traditional coffee houses, located in the first district. The place where the Café Korb is located is full…
The Story Of Cafe Demel Secret Vienna
The story of Cafe Demel
There’s no doubt that our beautiful city is internationally known for its coffee houses. Today I want to tell you more about the history of the “Demel” one of our…
Nut Cookie Recipe Secret Vienna
Nut Cookie Recipe for Christmas
Today I want to share an old Viennese Christmas cookie recipe with you. Christmas baked goods were once reserved for aristocrats, formed by hand, and made into small shapes. Dried…
Antiquitäten Täuber
Antiquitäten Täuber
Vienna has a deep connection to antiques, let it be furniture from Biedermeier times, engravings that show the city from different perspectives or jewellery. As you walk through the city’s…
The Tragic Life Of Sissi
The tragic life of Sissi
Elisabeth, short Sisi or following the great movie- Sissi, is known all over the globe for her beauty, her tragic life story, and her death. The former empress of Austria…
Karoline Traunwieser The Most Beautiful Woman In Vienna
Karoline Traunwieser- the most beautiful woman in Vienna
The most beautiful woman in Vienna in around 1814 If you’ve visited our blog in the past few weeks you have probably already picked up on her name, since she…
Secret Vienna Saturday Tip Karlsplatz
Secret Vienna Saturday tip- Karlsplatz
Karlsplatz- one of our favourite places in Vienna The Karlsplatz, now an important spot right in the middle of our city, once belonged to an area outside the city wall.…
Interview With Marco Pogo
Interview with Marco Pogo- Secret Vienna
It is hard to describe Marco Pogo with just one profession, he’s a singer, politician, beer brewer and doctor. His path into becoming a Viennese politician was paved by the…
Alma Mahler-Werfel
The life of Alma Mahler-Werfel
Let us tell you the story of one impressive woman - Alma Mahler-Werfel Alma Mahler-Werfel is a rather controversial woman. Her entourage described her as ‘femme fatale’. They saw her…
Anna Sacher Secret Vienna
Anna Sacher
No matter if you’re from Vienna or if you plan to visit our city, you will stumble upon the name Sacher. This article will tell you more about Anna Sacher,…
Emilie Kraus von Wolfsberg
Emilie Kraus von Wolfsberg
Learn more about Emilie Kraus von Wolfsberg - Napoleon's secret lover Emilie Kraus von Wolfsberg was born in 1785. Perhaps you have heard of her before, but her relationship with…
Manuela Linshalm Secret Vienna Interview
Manuela Linshalm
Vienna is internationally known for its art scene. People from all over the globe find their way to Vienna to indulge in the city’s broad variety of cultural events. Part…
Marie Wilt Secret Vienna
Marie Wilt
Fans of opera history have probably heard the name Marie Wilt before. Today I want to tell you more about the successful opera singer whose life ended with a tragic…
Elisabeth Báthory – Vienna’s Very Own Dracula
Elisabeth Báthory – Vienna’s very own Dracula
If there was one person you didn’t want to cross in the 16th century in Vienna, it probably would have been Elisabeth Báthory. We are starting the mysterious and dark…
Elisabeth Plainacher Secret Vienna
Vienna’s one and only witch-burning, the cruel case of Elisabeth Plainacher
We are staying true to our October topic and since witches are an unmistakably important part of the Halloween celebrations, we will now delve deeper into the story of Vienna’s…
Der Liebe Augustin
Drunk Augustin and the plague pit
Have you visited Augustin in the plague pit in Vienna? While strolling through Vienna’s first district you shouldn’t miss out on visiting the Griechenbeisl, a restaurant that can be found…
The Kahlenberg Cemetery
The story of the Kahlenberg Cemetery
Have you ever visited the Kahlenberg Cemetery? Maybe after reading this you will! Would you think of cemeteries if somebody asked you to describe Vienna’s charm? Many tourists that come…
St. Stephen’s cathedral Catacombs
The Catacombs of St. Stephen’s cathedral
Have you visited the St. Stephen’s cathedral Catacombs already? Most of you have probably walked past or even stepped into the St. Stephen’s cathedral by now. You probably know that…
The Memento Mori festival Vienna
We all die and that’s why we must talk about it! The Memento Mori festival took it upon itself to break through barriers and taboos when it comes to death…
The Karmelitermarkt Vienna
The Karmelitermarkt
The Karmelitermarkt is a spot filled with history! Have you ever wondered, if there are other must-visit markets in Vienna? Besides the Naschmarkt, Vienna is home to many street markets,…
The Pompfüneberer
The Pompfüneberer
Vienna's Pompfüneberer is a true celebrity! It’s no secret that Vienna has a very special obsession with death and rituals that circle around it. If you study the Viennese dialect,…
The City Of Spies About Vienna’s History Of Espionage Vienna
The city of spies- about Vienna espionage
Spies, a crime noir movie and a once forgotten theatre hall – Vienna espionage There is just something mysterious about spies and their talents to hide in places we’d never…
The White Lady Vienna’s Ghost Story
The White Lady – Vienna’s ghost story
The ghost which kept the high and mighty on their toes Ghost stories take up a big chunk of Halloween traditions, no matter the age, supernatural beings are always fascinating.…
The Makery Vienna Secret Vienna
The Makery Vienna- A restaurant where you are the chef!
The Makery Vienna - a place where you are the chef! Last week, our Secret Vienna team was invited to the grand opening of The Makery. AA brand new restaurant…
Royi’s Creperie A One Of A Kind Creperie And A Hidden Gem In Vienna
Royi’s Creperie- A one of a kind Crêperie
Royi’s Crêperie, a one of a kind Crêperie in Vienna! In Vienna’s 6th district, in a lovely and quiet street nearby Gumpendorferstraße, one can find a true hidden gem. That’s…
May 1st And The Illuminati Secret Vienna
May 1st and the Illuminati
May 1st and the Illuminati Happy International Workers Day! 🎉 In case you haven’t seen our previous May 1st story, we wanted to make sure you aren’t missing out another…
Future Bus Tours Secret Vienna
Future Bus Tours- A new way to experience Vienna’s highlights
When visiting Vienna, one of the best things you can do (Beside joining our secret walking tours of course…) is to take a bus tour and see Vienna’s highlights quickly…
Moritz Gottlieb Saphir Vienna
Austrian satirical writer and journalist- Moritz Gottlieb Saphir
Moritz Gottlieb Saphir, writer, journalist and somewhat of a joker. Nowadays, comedy and satire writers are quite popular and are especially famous by those who aren’t the target of their…
The Coronation Of Napoleon
The Coronation of Napoleon
Napoleon - a very special kind of emperor. The magnificent church of Notre Dame in Paris was particularly full on the 2nd of December, 1804. Although it was a Sunday,…
The Success Of Madame Tussaud
The success of Madame Tussaud- Part II
Part two of our Madame Tussaud story Some days ago, we told you about the childhood and early career of Marie Grosholtz. She is famous as Madame Tussaud. While her…
Madame Tussaud Vienna
Happy birthday Madame Tussaud- Part I
Madame Tussaud - the perfect place for a Vienna visit Have you visited the Madame Tussaud’s museum in Vienna already? Well, in any case, after reading this story you can…
Happy Birthday Hedy Lamarr
Happy Birthday Hedy Lamarr
Happy Birthday Hedy Lamarr! She was one of Hollywood’s most beautiful actresses of her time. So beautiful in fact, that people couldn’t believe she was also an inventor who made…
The Congress Of Carnuntum
The congress of Carnuntum
Carnuntum, a must visit place for all lovers of ancient history! The Roman legionary camp of Carnuntum, located right between Vienna and Bratislava, had a great significance. Once one of…
The Battle Of Dürnstein
The battle of Dürnstein
The long forgotten battle of Dürnstein When we think of a peaceful town where one can enjoy history, relax and disconnect from reality without getting too far from Vienna, we…
Count Richard Von Coudenhove Kalergi The Man Who Envisioned Europe United
Count Richard von Coudenhove-Kalergi
Count Richard von Coudenhove-Kalergi- The man who envisioned Europe United Have you heard of Aoyama Eijiro? No? Well if you are interested in European politics, you might recognize his Austrian…
Leopold Mozart Secre Vienna
Leopold Mozart- Wolfgang’s creator and tormentor
Leopold Mozart, the man who made his son famous? Few days ago, on the 14th of November, we celebrated the birthday of Mozart! No, it wasn’t the birthday Wolfgang Amadeus…
Grand Duke Leopold Abolishes The Death Penalty
Grand Duke Leopold II. abolishes the death penalty
Leopold II. a man almost as famous as his mother Maria Theresia Leopold II, the third son of Maria Theresa and the brother of emperor Joseph II, was undoubtedly an…
“liebe War Es Nie” Film Review
“Liebe war es nie”- film review
Liebe war es nie, a movie for all of those interested in historic settings. “Love, it was not” (Liebe war es nie), a new film directed by Maya Sarfaty, caught…
Schwerelos A Floating Center For Your Body And Mind
Schwerelos- A floating center for your body and mind
Schwerelos, floating, relaxing, calming down In our modern, hectic world, it’s become quite difficult to simply stop and relax. It’s ironic how easy it is to be in constant motion…
Die Wilde Wanda Und Andere Gefährliche Frauen The Story Of 22 Female Criminals
Die Wilde Wanda und andere gefährliche Frauen
22 female criminals and the Wilde Wanda There’s nothing better than a good crime book, especially one based on real stories. We have the privilege of having the author Sabine…
Vesturo Exclusive Made To Measure Men’s Fashion
Vesturo: Exclusive made-to-measure men’s fashion
Vesturo - made for men The bright vitrines of the shopping streets in large cities usually make an impression that the existing options let us buy anything we are searching…
A History Of Quarantine
A History of Quarantine
Quarantine - a modern phenomenon? Although we are all familiar with the concept, most of us have never experienced the kind of widespread quarantine measures that are currently sweeping across…
The Plague Islands Of Venice
The Plague Islands of Venice
Sickness, quarantines and death - The Plague Islands of Venice. We recently told you about where the word quarantine comes from. Since this is a topic we are all currently…
Maria Antonia And The Diamond Necklace
Maria Antoinette and the Diamond Necklace
Marie Antoinette's fascinating diamond necklace Marie Antoinette is usually thought quintessentially French. Tied to the French Revolution, and famous for her “let them eat cake!” proclamation. Which she most likely…
The Lengths And Depths Of Viennese Escalators
The lengths and depths of Viennese escalators
Vienna's escalators - lengths and depths Everyday the residents of Vienna take the public transportation to work or to school. A large share of these commutes are taking place on…
The Swedish Nightingale In Vienna
Jenny Lind
Jenny Lind - also known as the Swedish Nightingale The ‘Swedish nightingale’, famed for her extraordinary voice. Jenny Lind was a Swedish opera singer who would find massive success touring…
The Highs And Lows Of The Historical Sophiensäle Vienna
The Highs and Lows of the Historical Sophiensäle
If you want to visit a place full of history, you have to visit the Sophiensäle! Large-scale fires are always shocking when they happen. Unfortunately every major city has an…
The story of Christian Brandstätter
Christian Brandstätter - an icon of Austria's history In his “Memoirs”, Chancellor Metternich wrote “The men who create history have not time to write it – I at least had…
The Life And Times Of Luzi Wuzi
The Life and Times of Luzi-Wuzi
Luzi-Wuzi the quick-witted Archduke There are many scandals, secrets, and stories about the Habsburgs – some hearsay, some confirmed. One member of the Habsburg family was known as Archduke Ludwig…
Grandchildren And Heirs W. Neuber’s Enkel & Carl Geyling’s Erben
Grandchildren and heirs: W. Neuber’s Enkel & Carl Geyling’s Erben
There aren’t many traditional druggists left in Vienna, but the few that remain have storied histories and a faithful clientele. One of these is W. Neuber’s Enkel. It has stood…
The Story Of E. Braun & Co.
The story of E. Braun & Co.
E. Braun & Co. - a traditional company dating back to the 1800s When walking along the Graben, you have most likely seen the famous clothing company H&M. And perhaps…
The Story Of Helmut Portele
The story of Helmut Portele
Helmut Portele - a special kind of collector Perhaps some of our readers collect things. Some people collect items such as stamps, books, coins etc. and these items would fit…
Vienna’s Famous Kaiserbründl Sauna
Vienna’s famous Kaiserbründl sauna
Kaiserbründl sauna - a place full of history Some weeks ago we told you about the Vienna Central Bath. Which is located in the heart of the first district. Known…
The Story Of The Christian Brandstätter Verlag
The story of the Christian Brandstätter Verlag
Christian Brandstätter - more than just a lover of Vienna If you are interested in “Vienna 1900” or Jugendstil, chances are you have come across books published by the Christian…
Riding The ‘bim’, Vienna Style Tram
Riding the ‘bim’, Vienna style
Vienna's bim Have you ever heard the Viennese refer to the tram, or Strassenbahn, as a “bim” and wondered what they were on about? Why call a tram a bim,…
The Story Of The “widmertor”
The story of the Widmertor
Remains of the old city walls - the Widmertor Walking around the city, perhaps we miss little details that have a lot of history. You can find one of these…
Vienna Freyung Market
The Yearly Markets of Old
Vienna's Yearly Markets Did you visit the Christmas markets in the past weeks? Vienna is of course well-known for them. People come from all over the world to visit them.…
Where The Elites Bathed Vienna’s Central Bath
Where the Elites Bathed: Vienna’s Central Bath
Where the Elites Bathed - Vienna’s Central Bath Public pools and saunas are an indelible part of the Viennese cultural landscape. Be it summer or winter, the Viennese love a…
The Story Of The Hosenträgerhaus
The story of the Hosenträgerhaus
Vienna's Hosenträgerhaus, a house full of history At the corner of the Universitätsstrasse and the Garnisongasse there is a house with a peculiar name. Hosenträgerhaus (literally the “suspenders haus”). The…
The Story Of Friedrich Iii’s Tomb
The story of Friedrich III’s tomb
Friedrich III and his very special memorial If you have visited the Stephansdom, chances are that you have seen Emperor Friedrich III (Frederick III). Well, not him personally, but his…
Crocodiles In The Donaukanal
Crocodiles in the Donaukanal
Crocodiles in the Donaukanal - who would have thought There are any number of things one might expect to fish out of the Donaukanal, but crocodiles in the Donaukanal? What…
Aeiou Isnt Just A String Of Vowels
AEIOU isnt just a string of vowels
Have you ever wondered about the meaning of AEIOU? Looking through historical records, or a close inspection of certain buildings in Austria such as the Burg Wiener Neustadt, may cause…
The Story Of The Pestsäule
The Story of the Pestsäule
The Pestsäule - a landmark full of history Most people have seen the Pestsäule (The Plague Column) on the Graben. This column dates back to the 17th century and was…
The Story Of The Ottakringer Brauwerk Brewery
The story of the Ottakringer Brauwerk brewery
The Ottakringer Brauwerk - the perfect spot for Craft Beer lovers It is likely that our readers have had a craft beer already. But if you live in Vienna perhaps,…
The Story Of The Ceiling Painting In The National Library
Ceiling painting in the National Library
Have you ever paid attention to ceilings? What about the one in the National Library? If you have visited the former imperial royal library at the Josefplatz, it is likely…
The Heights Of The Höhenstrasse
The heights of the Höhenstrasse
Vienna's Höhenstrasse - a one of a kind street Driving into or from Vienna might take you over the Höhenstrasse. A long and winding road that connects Neustift am Walde…
Imperial Riding School Renaissance Vienna Hotel
Imperial Riding School Renaissance Vienna Hotel After the fall of the Habsburg empire, many buildings were left without an empire to serve. Most of them, however, found a new life.…
The “Pferdebändiger”
Who was Vienna`s Pferdebändiger? Perhaps you know that Emperor Franz Josef suffered an assassination attempt. That was in 1853. The men who saved his life were rewarded. Maximilian Karl Lamoral…
The Story Of The “heumühle”
The story of the “Heumühle”
Heumühle - a place full of history A bit hidden in the district of Vienna’s fourth district between the well-known Kettenbrückengasse and the perhaps less-known Heumühlgasse, you will find a…
Bahá’í Center Austria
Bahá’í Center Austria
Bahá’í Center Austria Out in the 14th district is a rather unassuming house that has quite a history. Since 2010 it has housed the Bahá’í Center Austria. This is the…
The Wiener Schnitzel, By Way Of Constantinople, Paris, And Milan
The Wiener Schnitzel
If you love Wiener Schnitzel, this post is for you! Where does the Wiener Schnitzel come from? The name of course ties it to Vienna. Many say that it actually…
The Arena in Vienna
On June 27, 1976 a group of activists, referring to themselves as the Arenauten, occupied the abandoned area of the St. Marx slaughterhouse to protest the lack of alternative culture…
The Story Of The Stefaniewarte
The Stefaniewarte
The Stefaniewarte - a must visit spot Perhaps visitors to Vienna notice that part of the city is surrounded by hills. If you walk, for example, east from the Stephansdom…
Espionage And Intrigue The Third Man
The Third Man
The Third Man - the perfect movie for all espionage lovers! This year is the 70th anniversary of the film The Third Man. It is one of the greatest British…
Mural at the Lazarist’s Chapel in Vienna
If you are into murals, this one is for you! As we have told you in the past, there is no shortage of churches in Vienna. Some are better and…
The Story of the Opernpassage
The Opernpassage, a true monument! We all know that Vienna is very well connected. And not only because of its great public transport system, but also because it has a…
Hans Makart
The story of Hans Makart
If you have lived in Vienna long enough or you are just interested in art or architecture, it is likely that you have come across the names Wagner, Klimt, Schiele,…
The Cafe Schönbergers
If you love history and coffee, the Cafe Schönbergers is the perfect spot! There are many places to drink coffee in Vienna. Some have impressive interior designs and others are…
The Story Of The Habig Hof
The story of the Habig-Hof
The Habig-Hof Perhaps some of our readers entered a coffee house one day and they were impressed. Some days ago, we felt that way. But let us start from the…
Bridge Over The River Danube
Bridge over the River Danube
Let's cross the bridge over the River Danube! Bridges have long been important features of Vienna. They have functioned as connections between the various parts of the city located alongside…
The story of the Billrothhaus
The Billrothhaus The Frankgasse in Alsergrund may not be a household name unless you live in the area. But on this street there is an organization with a long history…
The story of the Otto Wagner Pavilion Karlsplatz
Otto Wagner - his spirit fills every corner of the city. We have told you a bit about Otto Wagner and his influence on Viennese architecture and design. Perhaps his…
The story of the Hermesvilla
It is quite impressive how some buildings in Vienna have survived the last centuries facing. One of such places is the Hermesvilla. Built in 1882-1886, at the request of the…
Prater Stars And Stations
Prater Stars and Stations
Although you may not have ever given it any actual thought, the name Pratersten is not random or accidental. It is in fact next to the Prater. The spot takes…
Viennese Criminal Museum
The story of the Viennese Criminal Museum
Vienna's Criminal Museum - the spot to be for true crime lovers! Vienna’s second district features a lot of the city’s history. It was at the mercy of the Danube…
The Story Of The Vienna Tramwaymuseum
The story of the Vienna Tramwaymuseum
Vienna's Tramwaymuseum the spot to be for technology lovers Together with excellent tap water, fresh air, urban silence and Mahlzeit, Vienna’s trams are part and parcel of the list of…
Evangelische Kreuzkirche Hietzing
Evangelische Kreuzkirche Hietzing
The Kreuzkirche Hietzing - more than just a regular church There is no shortage of churches in Vienna. Some are better and some lesser known. One of the probably lesser-known…
Viennese Cappuccinos And Italian Schnitzel
Viennese cappuccinos and Italian Schnitzel
Viennese Cappuccinos It is popularly said that, contrary to all expectations, cappuccinos originate from Vienna. And the Schnitzel comes from Italy. Is this true, or where does this notion come…
Jewish Cemetery In Währing
The story of the Jewish cemetery in Währing
.The Jewish cemetery in Währing Perhaps you know that in the very old days it was customary for churches to be surrounded by a cemetery. This was for example the…
Banker On The Edge Getriedemarkt
Banker on the Edge
The Banker on the Edge - a sculpture one may find concerning Walking along Getreidemarkt, just before reaching Babenbergerstrasse, you may happen to glance up towards the sky. You will…
The Story Of Franz Matzinger
The Story of Franz Matzinger
The importance of Franz Matzinger We have told you many stories about the Ringstraße and its buildings and architects. There are, of course, many other players that made the construction…
Discovering The Nestroyhof
Discovering the Nestroyhof
Nestroy is a name that comes up frequently in Vienna. If you are traveling along the U1 where you will eventually come across Nestroyplatz. But who was the eponymous Nestroy?…
The Story Of Old Walls At The Hofburg
The story of old walls at the Hofburg
Vienna's Hofburg The Hofburg in Vienna is an interesting place. One can literally tell the history of the Habsburg empire by walking through it. Starting with the Babenberger family and…
Neues Institute Gebäude
The Neues Institut Gebäude
The university of Vienna has a long history. Established in the 14th century with its 19th century main building located in the Schottentor area. This main building was too small…
Answering The Call Of Nature — Literally.
Vienna’s public toilets
Vienna’s public toilets aren’t just toilets – no, they are experiences! Although you may be quite skeptical of what kind of ‘experience’ that might be, its less shady gas station…
The story of the Michaelerplatz
Any visitor to Vienna will have stood for a brief moment on Michaelerplatz. You have to marvel at some of the city’s architectural wonders. Even in Roman times, the square…
Sisi The Royal Horse Whisperer
Sisi the royal horse whisperer
Empress Elisabeth of Austria, known as Sisi, is often depicted astride a horse in portraits, and for good reason. She was an excellent horsewoman and rider who had a particular…
The Story Of Friedrich Schmidt
The Story of Friedrich Schmidt
We have told you stories about some of the architects of the Baroque Vienna as well as of the Ringstraße period. Some architects are, of course, more famous than others.…
Revitalizing The Donauplatte
Revitalizing the Donauplatte
Renewing the Donauplatte Vienna is a city with lots of tradition. Simultaneously it's also a city that is constantly renewing itself. One part of the city that is experiencing a…
The Story Of Gerstner And The Opera
The Story of Gerstner and the Opera
Cake and music a perfect pairing Some weeks ago, we told you that the Opera celebrated its 150th anniversary. And for this occasion, many activities are put together and many…
On The Tabor
On the Tabor
Have you ever wandered through the 2nd district and found yourself wondering what “Am Tabor” means? If you are well-versed in battle and defense terminology from the Middle Ages, the…
Japanese Pagodas On The Danube
Japanese Pagodas on the Danube
Now that the days are getting longer and warmer, its the perfect weather to go for a run or cycle along the Danube. One of the nicest places for this…
The Story Of The Schottentor
The Story of the Schottentor
It is likely that everyone in Vienna has heard about the „Schottentor“. A famous spot for Vienna’s transport system, which brings together several tram lines and the metro U2. The…
A Summer Night, A Famous Orchestra, And A Beautiful Palace
The Sommernachtskonzert
The Vienna Philharmonic is considered to be one of the finest orchestras in the world. It is made up of world-class musicians who have proved their mettle by playing in…
The Story Of Egon Schiele
The Story of Egon Schiele
For many people Egon Schiele is a household name. In particular, if you spend a lot of time at the Museum Quartier in Vienna, it is very hard to miss…
Kronprinzessin Stephanie Spital
Kronprinzessin Stepanie Spital
Vienna is a center for medicine. A history of medical studies that stretches back over 600 years. In some ways, Vienna and its medical faculty are the cradle of modern…
The Story Of The Palais Königswarter
The Story of the Palais Königswarter
Palais Königswarter - a palais full of history In case you have wondered which one is the oldest building on the Ringstraße, it is very likely that it is one…
The Story Of Niklas Meldeman’s Map
The story of Niklas Meldeman’s map
In some of our stories we have made references to the Ottoman sieges of Vienna. The first siege took place in 1529 and the second in 1683. There is information…
The Downsizing Of The Imperial Waters
The Downsizing of the Danube
The Danube and the Kaiserwasser The Danube is a favorite location for locals in the summer. It proves some much needed relief in the hot summer months. While we enjoy…
The Story Of The “porta Decumana”.
The story of the “Porta Decumana”
The Porta Decumana - a piece of Vindobona Perhaps you have noticed that the Rotenturmstraße in the city center is a construction site. It has made some headlines in the…
The Queen in Vienna
By now is it probable that you already heard the news: Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor was born on May 6. And this happy occasion has coincided with a royal event that…
Galopprennbahn Vienna
A racetrack fit for a king
Imperial racetracks Did you know that Vienna historically had two separate horse racetracks? One for trotting (Trabrennbahn) and one for galloping (Galopprennbahn). The Galopprennbahn is the older of the two,…
Augarten, Or The Joys Of Floodplain Park
Augarten, or the joys of Floodplain Park
There are many great parks in Vienna. Surely one of the most loved and most visited is the Augarten. Located in the heart of the 2nd district, this green oasis…
The Story Of Mozart And The Organ
The Story of Mozart and the Organ
If you live in Vienna perhaps you are familiar with the online platform “Willhaben” where you can buy and sell all sorts of things. In the very old days, there…
The Misunderstood Location Of The Johannes Of Nepomuk Chapel
Johannes of Nepomuk Chapel
Johannes of Nepomuk Chapel - a chapel one needs to visit If you take tram line no. 2 or 5 to the station ‘Am Tabor’, you may notice a small…
The Story Of Frederic Morton
The Story of Frederic Morton
It is time to tell you about Frederic Morton. He was born in Vienna in October 1924 as Fritz Mandelbaum. His family escaped Vienna in June 1939 when he was…
A Trot And A Run The Trabrennbahn
A trot and a run: the Trabrennbahn
We recently told you the history of the Galopprennbahn in Vienna. As we mentioned in that story, there has historically been another horse track in the city. The Trabrennbahn. A…
Livercheese Vienna
Leberkäse: neither liver nor cheese
It may not be the most glamorous food, nor the healthiest, but sometimes it really hits the spot. I’m talking, of course, about the humble Leberkäse. But where does this…
The Global Gardens Of Schönbrunn
The Global Gardens of Schönbrunn
Nowadays it may seem completely natural to have easy access to products from all over the world. But the past it was considered a great luxury to procure certain goods…
Fire At The Hofburg Vienna
Fire at the Hofburg
November 27, 1992. A security guard raises the alarm after discovering flames in the Redouten ballrooms at the Hofburg. What followed was the largest and most dramatic firefighting operation in…
The Story Of The Starhembergs
The Story of the Starhembergs
Perhaps you are familiar with the name “Starhemberg“. This is an ancient noble family whose origins can be traced back to Upper Austria and apparently before they served the Habsburgs,…
The Story Of The Kettenbrückengasse
The story of the Kettenbrückengasse
Perhaps many of you are familiar with the Kettenbrückengasse metro station. This is the one that stops right next to the famous Naschmarkt. And most likely, many also know the…
Czech Beer At The Swiss House
Czech Beer at the Schweizerhaus
A Viennese institution with a storied history. There is no shortage of such places in this city. One of the more popular ones amongst a diverse population of local residents…
Käsekrainer Vienna
Käsekrainer: whats in a name?
Käserkrainer - an Austrian meal one has to try The standard late night snack after a few drinks in Vienna has to be a Käsekrainer. Something one will get at…
Loos Haus Vienna
The story of the other Loos Haus
We have told you about Adolf Loos. He was not only an architect, but also an interior designer. Do you know of the Loos Haus? Loos was born in 1870…
Hermann Strandbar Donaukanal
The Donaukanal: from abandoned to beloved
Over the years, the Donaukanal has become one of the most popular summer hang-outs in the city. But before 2010, this part of Vienna was almost entirely devoid of any…
The Story Of May 1st
The story of May First
May First - a uniting day The story of the celebrations for May First dates back to the 19th century. It starts in the United States. The conditions for factory workers were…
Hernals Museum Wien
Visiting Vienna’s Bezirksmuseen
Vienna's Bezirksmuseen - museums full of Viennese history On Sunday March 17, the Bezirksmuseen (district museums) of Vienna will be open to the public from 10 am until 4 pm.…
The Story Of The Börsendorfersaal
The story of the Bösendorfersaal
It is likely that most of our readers have passed by the Hochhaus Herrengasse. Perhaps you did not make it to the lobby of the building. There, you will find…
The Story Of Jungmann & Neffe
The story of Jungmann & Neffe
In several of our stories we have told you about businesses that have survived the 20th century. The mere fact that these businesses made it through this period must be…
Praterstrasse 27 Wien
Zum grünen Jäger
Walking along Praterstrasse, you might come along a rather ordinary building by Viennese standards. The house in question is located at Praterstrasse 27. The cherubim reliefs lead you to believe…
The Story Of The Setagayapark
The story of the Setagayapark
The time of the cherry blossom is one of the highlights in the Japanese calendar and marks the beginning of spring. To celebrate this special time of the year, we…
The Story Of The Neue Burg
The story of the Neue Burg
Vienna's Neue Burg - a landmark you can not miss on your explorings! The Neue Burg… it does not matter from which direction you come to the Heldenplatz, the Neue…
Reichsbruecke Wien Secret Vienna
The crash of the Reichsbrücke
As spring arrives, people start heading out towards the Danube and other leisure areas in the city. They traveling by car across one of the many bridges spanning the land…
Vienna’s Earthly Angel Fountain
Vienna’s Engelbrunnen
Not long ago we showed you the Schutzengelbrunnen (Guardian Angel Fountain). Not far from it is a second fountain with a very similar name, Engelbrunnen. Engel means Angel in German.…
The Story Of Theophil Hansen In Vienna
The story of Theophil Hansen in Vienna
Many famous architects have left their mark in Vienna. Fischer von Erlach (father and son), the inseparable duo August Sicard von Sicardsburg & Eduard van der Nüll. Or Otto Wagner,…
Wagner’s House Of Muses
Otto Wagner the House of Muses
Over the past weeks we have told you about the Majolikahaus and Klöstergasse 3. Two of the three Houses of the Wienzeile designed by Otto Wagner. Today it’s time to…
The Story Of Knize Vienna Secret Vienna
The story of Knize
Some time ago we told you the story of the famous Viennese shoemaker Scheer. Now we turn our sartorial curiosity towards Knize. Vienna’s arguably most renowned men outfitter. Kniže was…
Theater Kabarett Simplicissimus
Wiener schmäh
It’s well-known that the Viennese have a particular and biting sense of humor. Elevating a sarcastic wit to a coffeehouse art form known as ‘wiener schmäh’. Alongside this Vienna has…
The Story Of The Burgtheater
The story of the Burgtheater
The actor Terrence Mann once famously said that “movies make you famous; television makes you rich; but theatre will make you good”. And if you are an actor in Vienna…
Burgplatz Hofburg Vienna Secret Vienna
Live like a king in the Hofburg
Did you know that you can live in the Hofburg or Schönbrunn? These are some of the most famous addresses in Vienna, but they are not only for the royals…
A. E. Köchert Vienna Secret Vienna
The story of the Jewelry A. E. Köchert
Hoher Markt 15. Perhaps not everyone has noticed this address as the house next to it, the Pâtisserie Oberlaa, is the famous one. It was the year 1814 when the…
The Difficult Life Of Countess Sophie Chotek
The difficult life of Countess Sophie Chotek
Many people are familiar with the story of the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand. He had been heir to the Habsburg throne. But perhaps sometimes it is forgotten that he…
Don’t Fall In Love At The Copa, Copa Cagrana
Don’t fall in love at the Copa, Copa Cagrana
As winter wears on, many of us may start to dream of the blue waters. Maybe about white sand beaches of less land-locked countries than Austria. Vienna has its own…
The Secrets Of Katharina Schratt
The secrets of Katharina Schratt
We don’t know how many women were important in the life of the Emperor Franz Joseph. But there are at least two ladies to highlight. His wife Elisabeth and Katharina…
Fuchs Villa Villa Wagner
An Artistic Villa- Fuchs Villa
Driving into or out of Vienna in the direction of Hütteldorf, you may come across an impressive aquamarine-accented villa. It stands in relative isolation at the edges of the Vienna…
The Adventures Of Alexander Girardi
The adventures of Alexander Girardi
Some days ago, we told you the story of Katharina Schratt and her relationship with the emperor Franz Joseph. There is an interesting story told by Hellmut Andics. It involves…
On The Line, And Other Euphemisms For Prostitution In Vienna
On the line, and other euphemisms for prostitution in Vienna
They say its the oldest profession in the world, and in Vienna it has quite a history. On the whole, prostitution has been widely tolerated if not always embraced in…
Nymphs Of The Night Vienna’s Grabennymphe
Nymphs of the Night: Vienna’s Grabennymphe
A few days ago we gave you a brief overview of prostitution in Vienna. Some of the many euphemisms that have sprung up around a profession that has often been…
The Brunnnenmarkt
The Brunnnenmarkt
In the 16th district of Vienna – between Thaliastraße and Ottakringerstraße – you will find the longest street market in Vienna. It is at the same time one of the…
Viennese Cafe In North Korea
Vienna, Coffee, and …North Korea?
We all know and love the coffee culture in Vienna. Turns out, so does Pyongyang! Though the country is notoriously tight-lipped about activities within its borders, apparently a Viennese coffee…
Schubert And The Three Girls’ House
Schubert and the Dreimäderlhaus
The Dreimäderlhaus Standing small and resolute next to its towering neighbor on the Mölker Bastei, the Dreimäderlhaus (3 Girls’ House) is a gem from the waning days of Josephine Classicism.…
The Palmenhaus Schönbrunn
The Palmenhaus Schönbrunn
When the Palmenhaus Schönbrunn opened its’ doors in 1882 it was one of a kind. Being the largest in the world. Today it remains in the top three worldwide while…
The Story Of Franz Wertheim
The story of Franz Wertheim
Have you ever heard of Franz Wertheim? Perhaps a name that few people are familiar with but he was famous a long time ago. Born in Krems in 1814, he…
The First Christmas Tree In Vienna
Fanny Arnstein
Fanny Arnstein and the first Christmas Tree in Vienna It is December and, as part of the tradition, presents are waiting under the Christmas tree. Do you know how the…
Stefaniritte Wien
St. Stephen and his horses
The 26th of December is known as Stefanitag (St. Stephen’s Day) in Austria, and is a national holiday. This is the same St. Stephen after whom the Stephansdom is named.…
Franz Joseph’s Christmas Present
Franz Joseph’s Christmas present
Today is Christmas day. Following the tradition, perhaps most of you have received and given presents to friends, relatives, and many others. But on this day in 1857, one man…
Ferstel Passage Secret Vienna
The Ferstel Passage
The Palais Ferstel is one among many in Vienna that is rather unassuming. You may have walked past the Ferstel Passage many times without recognizing that it is there. That’s…
Amalienburg Hofburg Wien Secret Vienna
Amalienburg in the Hofburg
The Hofburg has a long history. Every building that is part of it has a particular story. One of the buildings that is part of what we call the Hofburg…
Kahlenberg Vienna Secret Vienna
Hand-me-down Kahlenberg
Rising gently to the north of the city, neither the Kahlenberg nor the Leopoldsberg can really be called mountains. Despite the presence of the word ‘berg’ in their names. Perhaps…
Opera Toilet Vienna
The “Opera Toilet”
As a local or visitor, it is likely you have seen it (or heard it). It is located at one of the busiest pedestrian underpasses of the city. Next to…
The Minoritenkirche Vienna
The Mismatched Harmony of the Minoritenkirche
The Minoritenkirche - a spot one shouldn't miss out on If you look up while walking the streets of Vienna, there are many wonders and oddities to discover. On nearly…
The Houses Of “generali” Vienna
The Houses of “Generali”
Generali - more than just a company name It is likely that many people have heard about the Italian insurance company Generali. The company was established in Trieste in 1831…
Nike At The Austrian Parliament
Nike at the Austrian Parliament
The Renovation of the Austrian Parliament Built in 1874-1883 by the architect Teophil Hansen, the Austrian parliament is being refurbished. This project is expected to last until 2021. During this…
Café Weidinger Vienna
Café Weidinger Vienna
There are dozens of classic coffee houses in Vienna, which are worth a visit. Probably, the most shabby, but at the same time the most charming among them, is for…
Financing The Livestock Market
Financing the livestock market – St. Marx
Some weeks ago we told you about the animal market at St. Marx. Such a large market naturally also meant that quite large sums of money regularly changed hands as…
Winter time in the Albertina museum
Albertina Exhibitions to take in When we went to visit Albertina a couple of days ago, we expected to have a relaxing, quiet museum visit with no major surprises. But…
Handelsakademie Wien
The story of the Treumanntheater
The Treumanntheater - a long lost reminder of old times Have you ever wondered which building was the first one ever built after the removal of Vienna’s city walls? In…
Vienna’s Silent Jewel The Breitenseer Lichtspiele
Vienna’s Silent Jewel: The Breitenseer Lichtspiele
For cinephiles and lovers of tradition, Vienna has lots to offer. One of its most underrated cinematic jewels has to be the Breitenseer Lichtspiele. Billed as the world’s oldest continuously…
The Brick 5 Vienna
The Brick 5 in Vienna
The Brick 5 is famous as an urban space with a cool café and hip events. What not many people know is that the space has a long history of…
Vlad Dracul Dracula Vienna Secret Vienna
The story of Vlad Dracul
Vlad Dracul - the real Dracula? Count Dracula fired so strongly people’s imagination that for many it is difficult now to separate him from Vlad Dracul. He was the ruler…
The Story Of The Virgilkapelle Vienna
The story of the Virgilkapelle
In many cities one can find some places that were forgotten or lost for a long time only to be found again at some point. One such example in Vienna…
The Imperial And Royal Library In Vienna
The Imperial and Royal Library of Vienna
The Imperial and Royal Library at the Josefplatz is a well-known museum. Not only because it is located in a well frequented street, but also because of its beautiful interior.…
The Story Of The Wuk Vienna
The story of the WUK
From bike flea markets and repair stations to concerts and general nightlife. The WUK has become a much-loved and indelible part of the Viennese landscape. Sadly, it wasn’t always so,…
Donnerbrunnen Vienna
The journeys of the Donnerbrunnen
Some time ago, we told you the story of the Donnerbrunnen: The fountain located in the Neuer Markt that features a partially nude reclining statue of Providentia surrounded by allegorical…
The Dc Tower
The DC Tower- Vienna’s skyscraper
Vienna's DC Tower, towering over the city When walking around Vienna, it’s always a good idea to look up. To admire the beautiful building facades that are so easily overlooked.…
Caspar Zumbusch Statue Vienna
The story of the “Famous” Caspar Zumbusch
Caspar Zumbusch - an artist that helped shape the city Have you ever heard of Caspar Zumbusch? Not really a household name, but kind of a big deal. He was…
Artemisia Gentileschi
Artemisia Gentileschi
400 years ago, the Baroque painter Artemisia Gentileschi put everything at risk. She wrote history for being among the first women to express experiences with sexual violence through art. The…
Austria’s National Day Secret Vienna
Austria’s National Day
In order to find out more about the mood in Vienna at the end of 1955, this SV explorer searched the archives and found a long ‘Letter from Vienna’ sent…
Alte Feldapotheke
The top 5 oldest pharmacies in Vienna
Pharmacies. Nothing special about them until we need them. In 2017, the city had 326 of them and some of these pharmacies have beautiful interior and exterior designs, excellent service,…
Take A Stroll At The Reumannhof
Take a stroll at the Reumannhof
Gazing out the window on an afternoon ride on the #6 tram, depending on which side you are sitting on, you may slowly roll past a large and impressive social…
The Vorwärts House
The Vorwärts House
Vienna’s Wienzeile is not only dominated by the famous Otto Wagner but also by one of his pupils, Hubert Gessner, who was considered as the architect of trust of the…
Kugelmugel Vienna
The Republic of “Kugelmugel”
There are many reasons why one may choose to visit the Prater. Be it for a run, a walk, some adrenalin rush in the amusement park or, even better, to…
The Story Of The Palais Niederösterreich
The story of the Palais Niederösterreich
Vienna is full of history and it is hard to walk around the city center without passing by some building with an interesting story. One of those places is the…
The Anton Brenner Wohnungsmuseum
The Anton Brenner Wohnungsmuseum
As far as Austrian architects go, Anton Brenner may not be the most famous but he really shouldn’t be overlooked. Born in Vienna in 1896, he led a rather fascinating…
The Lost Home Of The Boulevard Theater
The lost home of the Boulevard Theater
The history of the building that houses the Kärtnerstrasse location of the Art & Style shop came as a surprise to this SV explorer, which is not a small thing…
The Story Of The Palais Fürstenberg
The story of the Palais Fürstenberg
The Palais Fürstenberg, located in the first district, is among Vienna’s most picturesque buildings that is usually closed to the public. It is not precisely documented when exactly and by…
The Story Of The Reaktor
The story of the REAKTOR
In February 2018, the former Grand Etablissement Gschwandner was reopened under the name “REAKTOR” as a new place of arts and culture. The Etablissement Gschwandner was an extension of the…
The Remains Of Vienna’s Central Livestock Market
The Remains of Vienna’s Central Livestock Market
Historically there were many different markets in Vienna, and many of today’s street names reflect this: Kohlmarkt, Heumarkt, Hoher Markt, and Bauernmarkt to name a few. Aside from the names…
The Story Of The Mölkerbastei
The story of the Mölkerbastei
In the past we have written stories about the Albertina and the Coburg Palais and have mentioned that these are two of the three elevated spots that are left from…
The Batthyánypalais Vienna
The story of the Batthyánypalais
Some days ago, your SV explorer came across a beautiful portal in the city center. This portal is part of the Batthyánypalais and is located at Bankgasse 2 (the Palais…
Markuslöwe
The story of the Markuslöwe
If you have been in Vienna long enough you will definitely remember the “Südbahnhof” (Vienna’s south train station). The original Südbahnhof was built in 1859-1873, was damaged in WWII, and…
Kärntnerstraße 16 Wien
The story of Kärntnerstraße 16
Walking along the Kärntnerstraße could be a difficult endeavor as it is usually very crowded. And because of this perhaps one does not have the chance to admire the nice…
The Story Of The Zacherlhaus
The story of the Zacherlhaus
The city center is home to several types of architecture and there are some buildings that are more visible than others either because of their beauty or their peculiar architecture.…
Franziskanerkirche
The Organ of the Franziskanerkirche
Franziskanerkirche (or Franciscan Church of Vienna) is one of the several hidden gems of Vienna’s first district. Located in a small, beautiful Italianesque square in the medieval core of the…
Patrick Leigh Fermor Secret Vienna
1930s Vienna through the eyes of a gifted traveller
Vienna has always been a city rich in visitors and many of them wrote down their memories in journals, letters or books. If one wants to get a feeling of…
The Rise And Demise Of The Zaha Hadid House
The rise and demise of the Zaha Hadid House
Zaha Hadid came to be one of the world’s most famous architects, but it took her many years to get a project built, let alone to receive acclaim and recognition…
Double Headed Eagle
The long history of the double-headed eagle
Eagles are common and popular symbols of power – considered the “kings of the sky”, ruling families have long appropriated the symbolism of the free and mighty eagle as a…
Schloss Neugebäude
The story of the Schloss Neugebäude
How old is old? Definitely age is relative. Why would you call something dating back centuries “new”? The name of the “Neuer Markt”, for example, dates back to the 13th…
Puber Vienna Secret Vienna
Who is Puber?
If you were around in Vienna in 2013, you surely remember Puber – he wrote his name all over Vienna, spraying hundreds of tags onto just as many walls and…
A Very Special Fencing
A very special fencing
Summer time is construction, demolition, and refurbishment time. If you are in Vienna, you may have noticed that almost no stone remains unturned in summer, as it is the best…
Schemerlbrücke
The story of the “Schemerlbrücke”
Some days ago, your SV explorer went to look for the lions that appear on the cover of the catalogue, which has been prepared for the Otto Wagner exhibition that…
Sisi Loses A Star
Sisi loses a star
Empress Elisabeth from Austria, nicknamed Sisi and actually from Bavaria, was known for her impossibly thin waist, and incredibly long hair. One of the most famous depictions of her is…
Wiener Riesenrad Prater Vienna
Wiener Riesenrad – The story of a Viennese symbol
One story tells that sometime during World War II a German official took his wife and a couple of friends on a trip to Vienna. Pleasantly surprised by the relative…
The Story Of The Schweizerhof Vienna
The story of the Schweizerhof
The Hofburg. Most visitors and locals have walked along it and through it: the former Royal and Imperial Library, the “Leopoldinischer Trakt”, the “Michaelertrakt”, and the many other buildings and…
The Architects Of The Vienna Opera
The Architects of the Vienna Opera
We don’t have any statistical proof, but we believe that 99.9% of people that have visited Vienna have seen the building of the Vienna Opera. It is hard to miss…
Denzel – The First Austrian Car
Denzel – the first Austrian car
At the end of World War II, everything was gloom and doom in Vienna, as we wrote in a previous post. Or almost everything. Wolfgang W. Denzel, a racing driver…
The Story Of The “schrammeln”
The story of the “Schrammeln”
If you were to think about music stars from Austria it is likely that two names would come to your mind: Mozart and Falco. These artists are Austria’s most famous…
Habsburg Kronländer Wien
Servus and the long reach of Habsburg history
If you have lived in Vienna long enough, you may have noticed that there is not shortage of words or expressions that are used to say hello and goodbye. These…
Taborstrasse Vienna Secret Vienna
A walk down Praterstrasse
Praterstrasse, the large avenue connecting the Praterstern railway station to Vienna city center has many interesting stories to tell and experiences to offer both to the historically minded and to…
The Mannagetta Coat Of Arms
The Mannagetta Coat of Arms
Some weeks ago, your SV explorer saw a very nice coat of arms attached to a house in the Riemergasse 6 in the city center. Looking at it, it was…
Powidltascherln Dessert Vienna
A Story of Powidl and Prague
We recently told you about the history and transnational origin of the word “servus”, but there are many more examples to be found in the Viennese dialect that directly reflect…
The Story Of The Theresienkapelle
The story of the Theresienkapelle
Months ago, we told you the story of the Böhmische Hofkanzlei (“Bohemian Court Chancellery”) – located at the Judenplatz – and its long history: Roman past under its grounds, hit…
Magdalenenstrasse Wien
Serbs in Magdalenengrund
A cute and cozy street in Vienna that is worth a few minutes of exploration if you happen to find yourself in the 6th district is Magdalenenstrasse – which, despite the…
The Story Of The Josefsplatz
The story of the Josefsplatz
Have you ever wondered who is the gentleman sitting on the horse in front of the former Royal Library? That is Joseph II, son of Maria Theresia, and ruler of…
Philipphof Wien
The story of the Philipphof
Sometimes we tell you stories about buildings that one can see when walking around the city. And if you look carefully you may notice that some buildings seem a bit…
Herrnhuterhaus Wien Secret Vienna
The story of the Herrnhuterhaus
If you have lived in Vienna long enough you will remember the days that you had to hurry up to the supermarket because they would close very early. And this…
Palais Wittgenstein Wien Secret Vienna
The Lost Grandeur of the Palais Wittgenstein
We recently told you about the Phillipphof, which once stood prominently across from the Albertina, but was destroyed in 1945 and is today the site of the Monument Against War…
Michaelerplatz Vienna Altes Burgtheater
The story of the Altes Burgtheater
Yesterday we asked you to identify one building in a picture. It did not take long for someone to win the quiz! The building in question was the “Altes Burgtheater”.…
Russisch Orthodox Kirche Wien
Russian Orthodox Church and Tsar Alexander III
Vienna has so many churches that it can become hard to keep track, but a few stand out from the crowd. One of these is the Russian Orthodox church in…
Maximilian I Vienna Khm Museum
Maximilian I, 1459 – 1519 – another visit in Kunsthistorisches Museum
The Kunsthistorisches Museum Wien is among the best art museums in the world, hosting the 4th largest collection of paintings, the largest collection of Egyptian papyri, art objects from Greek,…
Radetzky Ringstrasse Wien
The story of Radetzky’s resting place
Some time ago, we told you the story of Marshall Radetzky, who at a young age was advised not to pursue a career in the army as his body was…
Vivian Maier, Street Photographer
Vivian Maier, Street Photographer
It’s Christmas again in Vienna for photography lovers. After the Polaroid exhibition and in parallel with the Man Ray and Elina Brotherus shows, Westlicht Gallery brings to town the works…
Urania Vienna Secret Vienna
Urania, a muse for the stars
The Donaukanal is one of the most popular places to hang out in Vienna once the weather starts getting warmer, and one of the most distinctive buildings on the canal…
Kapuzinergruft Wien
The story of the Kapuzinergruft
Last week we told you the story of Marhsall Radetzky and why he declined the emperor’s offer to be buried at the Kapuzinergruft (The Imperial Crypt). Well, perhaps one should…
Servitenkloster Wien
From Marshland to Cobblestoned Cafes: the Servitenviertel
It is the one of the most charming areas of Vienna today, but it would have been almost totally unrecognizable in the past. What we now call the Servitenviertel named…
Morzinplatz Wien Secret Vienna
Mark Twain and Satan have a conversation in Vienna
If death had a residence in Vienna, Morzinplatz could be just as good an address as any. And not because in Latin ‘mori’ means ‘to die’ and as a consequence…