Vienna for your holidays

The city of Vienna, steeped in history, has skilfully managed to combine its long tradition as a historic capital with its role as a large, modern city. There are numerous sights from various epochs waiting in store for guests visiting the Austrian capital. A great many musicians such as Johann Strauss (father and son), Schubert, Beethoven or Mozart and also artists such as Gustav Klimt or Egon Schiele lived in Vienna. The following are particularly well-known sights in the city of Vienna:

Vienna Ringstrasse

The Ringstrasse, together with the Franz-Josefs-Kai, runs right around the Old Town of Vienna and marks what were once the city walls. Along a route of about 5 km, numerous well-known sights and buildings of the Austrian Federal Capital can be admired.

You can reach the Vienna Ringstrasse in only five minutes on foot from the Bleckmann.

Vienna Town Hall

The Town Hall of the city of Vienna, like many other well-known buildings along the Ringstrasse, was erected at the end of the 19th century. The building is an outstanding example of Neo-Gothic architecture. The floor plan of the Town Hall comprises in total seven courtyards which gives it the feeling of a palace. The Town Hall, and also the large Town Hall Square on the side facing the Ringstrasse, are used all year round for the most varied events such as open air concerts, the Life Ball, the film festival in summer, the Advent Market, the Silvesterpfad [New Year’s Eve Festival] or a huge skating rink in winter.

Guests at the Hotel-Pension Bleckmann can stroll to the Town Hall in a mere 10 minutes.

 Schönbrunn Palace

What is nowadays a baroque palace was constructed in its original form as early as the 17th century. Empress Maria Theresa had the Palace extended to include a park and gave it the design it has today. At that time the Palace was used as the Habsburgs’ summer residence. Today the Palace grounds complete with park, zoo, maze and palm house are an attraction both for visitors to Vienna and the Viennese themselves and very well-loved for their beautiful gravel paths.

In earlier days it lay in a suburb of Vienna; nowadays, thanks to the Underground railway, it can be reached conveniently in about 15 minutes from the Bleckmann.

Ferris wheel and Prater public park

The Ferris wheel is one of Vienna’s hallmarks and for a long time was the largest Ferris wheel in the world. This famous sight was opened as long ago as 1897 and is situated in the Prater. Less well-known is the fact that the Viennese Prater consists of a broad river meadow landscape and not only of the well-known amusement park situated at the westernmost end of the grounds. Furthermore, here too is the Prater Stadium for football and concert fans, as well as the start and finish of many running events such as the “DM Women’s Run” and “the Red Nose Run”.

The Prater can be reached directly from the Bleckmann with the U2 line in 10 minutes.

Staatsoper [Opera]

The Viennese State Opera is the principal opera house in the city of Vienna. Besides a rich cultural programme, this is where  each year the Viennese Opera Ball is held. The historical opera house was opened in 1869 with the premiere of Mozart’s “Don Juan”. Along an impressive route through the beautiful, historic Old Town of Vienna, it only takes 20 minutes on foot to reach the Viennese State Opera from the Bleckmann. The nearby tram and Underground make a visit to the Opera quick and convenient.

St. Stephen’s Cathedral

This world-famous hallmark of the city of Vienna is situated on the Stephansplatz [St Stephen’s Square]. The mother church of the Archdiocese of Vienna is one of the most important gothic constructions in Austria. The south tower houses the Pummerin, Europe’s second-largest, free-swinging church bell, which every year faithfully rings in the New Year for visitors to the Silvesterpfad [New Year’s Eve Festival].

St. Stephen’s Cathedral is only a 15-minute walk away from the Bleckmann.

Viennese Secession

The Viennese Secession [Union of Austrian Artists] building on the Karlsplatz adorns among other things Austria’s 50 Euro Cent coin. Since it was built, the building has served as an exhibition centre for contemporary art. Today the building is considered to be one of the most representative examples of Austrian art nouveau. A sightseeing trip to the Secession is an excellent opportunity to visit the multicultural Naschmarkt (fruit, vegetables and delicatessen market) or the weekly flea market along the most lovely of Viennese art nouveau streets.

You can get to the Secession directly from the Bleckmann with the Underground in less than 10 minutes. Get off at the Karlsplatz station.

Many other equally interesting sights worth visiting are just around the corner, thanks to the Bleckmann’s central location. Here is a short sample list of other renowned sights: