Central Europe Tour: Vienna, Austria

We arrived in Vienna and after checking into our hotel it was time for a Viennese Concert performance of the masterpieces of Mozart and Strauss.

We had some of the best seats in the house, front row center. Photos weren't allowed during the performance. The lion fountain on the entrance staircase.

Schonbrunn Palace

Schonbrunn Palace is the 1,441-room Baroque former imperial summer residence. In 1548 land where Schonbrunn Palace is located started out as a recreational hunting ground. From 1638 to 1643, a palace was added. The Schonbrunn Palace in its present form was built and remodelled in 1740—50s during the reign of empress Maria Theresa who received the estate as a wedding gift.

One of the fountains at the entrance.

The floors in the main entrance look like ceramic tiles but are oak blocks standing on end. (Once we pass this point photos were not allowed, too bad)

Behind the palace building is the Great Parterre. Panoramic view of the Great Parterre (Click to enlarge view)

The Great Parterre is lined with 32 sculptures, which represent deities and virtues.

The Neptune Fountain is located at the far end of the Great Parterre.

Vienna City Tour

Majolika Haus designed by Otto Wagner at the turn of the 20th century

The Secession Building is an exhibition hall built in 1897. Its golden dome of laurel leaves is nicknamed "golden cabbage".

Known as either Albrecht Fountain or Danubius Fountain it stands in front of the Albertina Museum. The Albertina Museum houses one of the largest and most important print rooms in the world with approximately 65,000 drawings and approximately 1 million old master prints, as well as more modern graphic works, photographs and architectural drawings. The name Albertina refers to Duke Albert of Saxe-Teschen, who founded the museum collection

Steps to the entrance of the Albertina Museum. The steps are updated to advertise the collections and special exhibitions.

Austrian National Library entrance at Josefsplatz.

Atlas holding a golden globe on his shoulders on the roof of the Austrian National Library.

Palais Pallavicini museum entrance at Josefsplatz.

The Lipizzaner Museum, famous for the white stallions of the Spanische Hofreitschule (Spanish Riding School). The Lipizzaner were first imported from Spain (hence ‘Spanish’) by Maximilian II in 1562

"Mastery of the Land" Fountain at Michaelerplatz

Hofburg Palace, the former imperial palace, the official residence and workplace of the President of Austria. Built in the 13th century the palace housed monarchs of the Habsburg dynasty and rulers of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. It was the principal imperial winter residence, as Schönbrunn Palace was their summer residence.

The Kaiserappartements (Imperial Apartments), once the official living quarters of Franz Josef I and Empress Elisabeth.

Heroes Square (Heldenplatz) and the Austrian National Library entrance at Heldenplatz

Lion statue at the Royal Palace, Hofburg and a faucet on a watering trough.

More views from the streets and the Donnerbrunnen fountain in the Neuer Markt square.

St. Stephen's Cathedral is the mother church of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Vienna and the seat of the Archbishop of Vienna.

Inside St. Stephen's Cathedral (click on image to enlarge view).

Stephansplatz (square) in front of St. Stephen's Cathedral and the start of Kärntner Straße (Carinthian Street) the most famous shopping street in central Vienna.