We were spending a night in Vienna before flying home. I wanted to make the most of this visit but wasn’t too interested in the crowded tourist sites. Instead, I decided to take a stroll around the city and visit some of the architecture landmarks that I had been looking forward to seeing for a while.
Our first stop was Hundertwasser House (Hundertwasserhaus), a building designed by one of my favorite architect Friedensreich Hundertwasser. It is famous for its vibrant colors, uneven floors, and irregular shapes, as well as large trees growing inside the rooms, with branches extending out of the windows.
We then walked through the park to Vienna University of Economics and Business.
I spent some time on the university campus admiring the many modern buildings there.
Then we turned back, once again walking through the beautiful park.
We followed the Donaukanal (a former branch of the Danube River) for a while.
And briefly visited some of the historical landmarks in the city center.
St. Stephen’s Cathedral is one of the city’s most iconic landmarks. Mozart was married here in 1782, and his funeral was held in the cathedral after his death in 1791.
St. Peter’s Church (Peterskirche) is one of the finest examples of Baroque architecture in Vienna, featuring a blend of Rococo and Baroque styles.
Then Graben, a busy pedestrian street filled with shops, restaurants, and historical buildings, and a key part of the city’s vibrant downtown area.
Hofburg Palace.
Cafe Central is one of Vienna’s most famous and historic coffeehouses, dating back to 1876. It was frequented by many notable figures including Sigmund Freud and Trotsky and served as a meeting place for writers, philosophers and many other influential individuals.
Cafe Central is also known for it’s stunning architecture with vaulted ceilings and marble columns.
My sister insisted on having some pastries here to “experience the culture”.
Kaiserschmarrn (meaning “Emperor’s Mess”) is a shreded pancake with stewed plums. This is a popular Austrian dish that is said to represent a piece of Austrian heritage.
We concluded our short day in Vienna as we left Cafe Central and the sun began to set.
