History and Facts

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. As a matter of fact, many local historians believe the Viennese government doesn’t adequately deal with …

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 republic of Austria. Since my …

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 city guide. I have researched …

Each of the 23 Vienna districts and their neighborhoods (Grätzels) displays a distinctive character. Hence, to get a grip on real Wien and connect with local lifestyles, venture beyond Ringstrasse boulevard. But where to go and what to do? In fact, some Grätzels perfectly emulate quaint village life, with locals taking their melange at postcard church squares and chatting with their …

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 combat Napoleon in 1804, the …

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 head further west. By that …

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 available at local stands. To …

Where do Lipizzaner stallions come from, why are the foals black, and where can you see the white dancing horses in Austria? Whether you want to watch these horses, buy them or simply know more about them, exploit this short guide below. Where Do Lipizzaner Stallions Come From? To begin with, the name Lipizzaner comes from the original stud in …

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 is famous for, its current …

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 father Henry II and from …