Vienna Museum Karlsplatz – What To Expect From New Museum
Since the Wien Museum (Vienna Museum Karlsplatz) spectacularly transformed and almost doubled in size in 2023 it’s bound to become a new cultural magnet in town. Across three floors and 3,300 square meters, the permanent exhibition shows approximately 1,700 objects – each of which has been restored. Above the freely accessible terrace and the Trude […]
Vienna Flak Tower Guide: Why See Our Ugliest Buildings
With six Vienna flak towers darkening the cityscape the monstrous concrete blocks still weigh heavily on Vienna’s past. While precious palaces and fine museums fill cultural space, the up to 47 meter high concrete cylinders fill historical space much needed for understanding Wien’s past. Many local historians believe the Viennese government doesn’t adequately deal with […]
Austria After World War I: The First Republic
Austria after World War I. What happened during Austria’s First Republic in Vienna? How did Vienna adapt after the Habsburg Empire broke up? Most dramatically, Austria shrank in size and importance from an Imperial capital to a small republic. To orientate yourself when visiting Vienna, read this 5 minute overview of the making of the […]
Vienna Tourism Guide Review: Which Is The Best Guidebook For Wien?
Do you want to dig deep or wide when searching for the best travel tips in Austria’s capital? Picking the right Vienna Tourism Guide is essential if you’d like a complementary print guide, too. Ideally, it provides an overview, then details the most rewarding places to see. If you want a ‘second voice’ to Vienna Unwrapped, buy a good […]
The French Wars – Napoleon In Austria
For the Austrian Empire the French Wars, or Napoleonic Wars, had devastating effects. Before you visit the Austrian capital, get the story about Napoleon Bonaparte in Vienna, and where to trace him. Why Did France Declare War On Austria? Soon after Emperor Franz I had formed the Third Coalition with Russia, Britain and other nations to […]
Siege of Vienna 1529: Why It Mattered In European History
What is the Siege of Vienna? With the Siege of Vienna, the Ottoman Empire attempted to crown its first major territorial expansion to Central Europe. Initially, Ottoman commander-in-chief Sultan Suleiman (Süleyman) I The Magnificent aimed at gaining control of Hungary, a Habsburg territory. After defeating the Hungarian Habsburgs in the Battle of Mohacs, Suleiman decided to […]
Vienna Sausage: What It Is and How to Enjoy It
The Vienna sausage may seem like a simple snack, but there is actually a lot of confusion surrounding it. First of all, the term “sausage Vienna” (or Wiener Wurst) actually refers to a different type of sausage in Austria’s capital city. If you find yourself in Vienna, you’ll discover a wide variety of delicious sausages […]
Austria’s Capital: Useful Facts And Must Knows
Austria Capital. To get an in depth view of Vienna beyond tourism highlights I’m going to present you with facts and perspectives of Wien, my home city. At the end of this post you will have an exact idea where Wien is in Europe, about the Vienna population, Vienna’s history and districts and what Wien […]
Jewish Vienna Walk: My Review Of A Jewish Vienna Group Tour
Jewish Vienna Walk. Certainly there isn’t much left of the Jewish Vienna you or your ancestors may have known. But what is left, together with the recent ‘renaissance’ of the local community, fascinates. Since I wanted to get to the bottom of Jewish culture in Wien I joined a Jewish Vienna tour. Here is what to expect from […]
Richard Lionheart: His story in Vienna and Dürnstein
Famously, the story of Richard Lionheart, King of Crusaders, reaches from England to the Middle East. This page recalls his time in Austria and provides travel tips for Dürnstein in Wachau Valley. Richard’s Austrian Adventure Richard Lionheart. In December 1192, Richard returned to England from his Third Crusade. He was exhausted from a long power struggle with his […]