Vienna, Austria
Leichtenstein Garden Palace
A day in Vienna is a journey through time and culture, where the charm of imperial history meets the vibrancy of modern life. Start your morning with a walk through the city center, where grand buildings like the Hofburg Palace and St. Stephen’s Cathedral greet you. Enjoy a cup of coffee and a piece of Sachertorte at a cozy café while watching the city wake up. Spend the day visiting museums or taking a peaceful walk along the Danube River. As evening falls, the city comes alive with music, offering you the chance to enjoy a concert or opera, ending your day on a high note.
Our short visit to Vienna started with a private concert in the 17th century Liechtenstein Garden Palace. This palace, owned by the princely family of Liechtenstein, is currently rented out for events, and houses magnificent art and sculptures of the Liechtenstein dynasty. The collection includes art by Rubens, Raffael and Rembrandt spanning from the early Renaissance to the High Baroque. In the foyer is one of the best kept French ceremonial “Golden Carriage”, from 1738. It is truly breathtaking and together with the art, painted ceilings, fabulous music and entertainment, it made for an unforgettable night.
Classical concert in Liechtenstein Garden Palace
St. Stephen's Cathedral
Construction on St. Stephen’s Cathedral started in the 12th century and over the following centuries, it has become a symbol of Vienna’s rich history and cultural heritage. The cathedral is the heart of Vienna and a masterpiece of Gothic architecture, with its towering spire dominating the city skyline. The unique coloured roof is just a taste of the grandeur that continues inside, with soaring vaulted ceiling, stunning stained glass windows, and the magnificent altar, it creates an atmosphere of awe and reverence. Housed in the South Tower, the Pummerin bell only rings to mark important moments in the city’s life. Taking a walk up the tower, leads to amazing views over Vienna.
Vienna's architectural delights
There are so many beautiful buildings to see in Vienna, starting with Regensburger Hof. Originally built in the 14th century, renovated in the 18th century and brought into the 21st century by Hans and Thomas Figlmuller as they renovated it into a gorgeous, traditional Austrian restaurant, Lugeck. Regensburger Hof was originally a place of shelter and trade for the merchants from Regensburger and is now a popular photo stop in Vienna.
Another favoured photo location, is Hofburg Palace near the city centre. Built in the 13th century, this was the primary residence of the Habsburg dynasty. Expanded several times, this palace served as their winter residence with Schonbrunn Palace, 5km away, as their beautiful summer residence.
Other notable city centre sights
After a day spent exploring Vienna’s rich history and after sampling various cultural dishes, we were sad to leave but hope to return one day to spend more time viewing the grand palaces and architectural wonders such as St. Stephen’s Cathedral. As they say in Austria “auf Wiedershen”, farewell, see you again.
