"Inside the centre of Vienna" a Vienna Travel Page by PetraofVancouver

This beautiful and imposing cathedral is a famous landmark of Vienna. With its decorative coloured glazed tiles on its roof, it has stood there for over 800 years. Additions have been added to its romanesque structure over the years until what remains of it is the Giants Doorway and Heathen Towers. The gothic spire of the North Tower rises 137 m (450 ft) into the air. The bell that hangs here, called the Pummerin (or Boomer) is the second addition since the original crashed down through the roof when fire swept through the cathedral during the second world war. It was cast using the old remains. Inside the cathedral contains urns of some of the Habsburgs in a vault underneath the main altar. Here you will also find masterpieces of gothic sculpture and woodwork, etc. This cathedral is definitely worth a visit. Just keep in mind that church services are still being held throughout the week.

The Graben is found in central Vienna in the Hofburg Quarter near the Stephansdom Cathedral and Hofburg complex. There are many shops, like Julius Meinl supermarket, hotels, pensions, and banks along this pedestrianized street. I stayed at a hotel just off on one of the sidestreets, Doroteergasse. I was close to everything. Several large waterfountains can be found here on Graben, including the baroque Pestsaule or Plague Column (right hand of the picture). This was built to commemorate Vienna's eventual deliverance from the plague of 1679. Emperor Leopold I commissioned Matthias Rauchmiller, Lodovico Burnacini and Johann BernhardFischer von Erlach to build it. The column depicts a saintly figure and angel watching over the destruction of an ugly creature representing the plague.

What began as a fortress over the centuries became a sprawling palace in the heart of Vienna, from gothic to late 19th century. It stopped expanding during the fall of the Habsburgs dynasty in 1918. This palace complex today is comprised of vast landscaped gardens like the Volksgarten and Burggarten where you can find the Mozart memorial; museums; churches; art galleries; the Austrian National Library, the Winter Riding School (Lipizzaner stallions); and the President of Austria's offices.