"Windy city" a Vienna Travel Page by Zo72

I had problems trying to find appropriate title that describes Vienna, but I don't think it is possible because there are too many things that can be said about it and some things connected with its past sound not only pretentious but also untrue. So it is windy city in my travellogue because it is really windy, wind is there almost all the time bringing fresh air. Althought it is quite large city (2 million inhabitants, but subjectivley it seems larger) there is no polution you might expect. Air is always fresh, especially near Danube, and some places create impression almost as if you were in wilderness.

History of Vienna is stunning. Since 1278 it has been home for one of the most successful European dynasties, Habsburgs. Hungarian king Matthias Corvinus held city 1485-1490. In 1529 Turks under Suleiman Magnificent sieged Vienna for 18 days, but were unable to continue because of the early winter. Turks returned in 1683 under Kara Mustapha wth 140000 men and held Vienna under siege for 2 months. Vienna was saved in the last moment (on the same day when Turks exploded mines under city walls which gave them access to th city) by coallition of Polish, German and Austrian armies under command of Polish king Jan 3. Sobieski. Two important reformer emperors lived in Vienna in 18th century, Maria Theresa and Joseph 2nd. They established Austria as modern state and the leading power within this part of Europe and German states. But soon decline was to come. Napoleon defeated Austrians and captured city in early years of 19th century. After Napoleon's defeat congress was held in Vienna, where Austria managed to remain strongest power between German states, but after disastrous defeat in 1866 against Prussia it had to admit precedence to Prussia. Still Vienna flourished until 1918 when catastrophy came - Austrian empire that lasted over 650 years seised to exist. Vienna, once capital of country of abotu 60 million people with 2 millions inhabitants (which was comparable to Paris or Berlin at that time) was left as a capital of country of 5 million, which led to decrease of city population. In 1938 Austria was annexed by Germany and city has been bombed heavily since 1943 until April 1945 when Russians took over Vienna after heavy fighting that ruined the very centre of the city (i.e. I have seen photo of main city church, Stephansdom without roof from that time). Austia was devided into 4 occupation zones as well as city of Vienna, but there was free movement between each of them. Foreign forces left Austria in 1955 and after that Vienna proved to be a good place for international activity. Presidents of superpowers met there twice and there are many international institutions there also, i.e. International Atomic Energy Agency, OPEC and UN. After fall of iron curtain international significance of the city diminished, but it seems that new situation establishes Vienna as main focal point of this part of central Europe.

I don't live far from Vienna, actually there are only 4 hours by car from Ljubljana, but still I visited Vienna "by accident" as a result of bussiness trip only in 2001. The trip was scheduled to last about 3 months, but due to prolongations I have spent about 1 year there. I had awful prejudices thinking that it is city of old buildings living on stories about past fame. But that is not true at all, Vienna is much more than that, city with great past but also city with great present.

When it comes to visiting Vienna and how much time to spend there then my suggestion is: if you decide to visit it spend at least 2 nights there. If you don't have that much time even a day will do, because by using excellent public transport and having a good plan you can see much (but be aware that author of this text sometimes walks 20-30 km a day ;) ). But if you really want to get to know the city then a year might not do.