T
he Habsburg Dynasty may
no longer rule, but one of
Europe’s most important
families left an indelible mark
on Vienna, most notably in
the architecture and treasures the
city holds. Austria’s capital is one of
my favorite cities, and with each
visit, I discover more to love.
Much of the Habsburg legacy
is seen within the Ringstraße, a
5.3-kilometer road that encircles
the cultural heart of Vienna. Lined
with palaces built at the urging of
Emperor Franz Joseph I, the
Ringstraße celebrates its 150th
anniversary in 2015. Once the
location of the city’s walls, the grand
boulevard is now a smattering of
architectural styles—New Baroque,
Neo-Renaissance, Art Nouveau,
Flemish Gothic—which are all
exquisite in their own right.
Vienna is a regal and distinguished
city, where a simple city stroll takes
you back to the time when Franz
Joseph ruled. Fortunately, today you
don’t have to be from the Habsburg
Dynasty in order to get royal
treatment. There are plenty of
opportunities in Vienna that will
leave you feeling like Empress Sisi.
residence of the Imperial family,
Schönbrunn Palace is a mammoth
baroque complex, filled with a palace,
carriage museum, stunning gardens,
a hedge maze, zoo and a few
restaurants. Exploring the Palace
Museum gives visitors insight
into what life must have been
like for the Imperial family, but
it’s certainly is no substitute
for actually living in the
palace. That opportunity is
now available, thanks to the
Schloß Schönbrunn Suite.
Located in the eastern
wing of the
Schönbrunn Palace,
the Schloß
Schönbrunn Suite is
the first of its kind
in Europe. At nearly 1,800
square feet, the suite
features two bedrooms, a
living room, two bathrooms,
a kitchenette and a
salon--because
what selfrespecting royal
doesn’t need a
salon? Views
of the
Gloriette,
Schlosspark, Neptune Fountain and
Crown Prince Garden round out this
regal experience. Packages range
from $1,100-$6,700 per night.
If the Schloß Schönbrunn Suite is
booked, and you’re still looking for
something opulent, many of the
historical palaces along the
Ringstraße have been transformed
into luxury hotels. RitzCarlton, located on the
Schubertring portion of the
ring, is actually four
historical nineteenth
century palaces combined
to make one luxury hotel.
Also located on Vienna’s
Ringstraße, Palais Hansen
Kempinski was originally
built in 1873 as a hotel
for the World Exhibition.
Both properties are
stunningly beautiful
and filled with rich
furnishings, as well as
the latest in technology.
Surely, Emperor Joseph
would approve.
No trip to Vienna
is complete
without perusing
through its
museums,
many of
which are
Also located in the Hofburg is the
Natural History Museum. Not only
does it have a massive collection
of gems, fossils, artifacts, dinosaurs
and meteorites, but the museum
also offers one of the best views
of Vienna. Each Sunday, there is an
English cultural-history walking tour
through the museum, ending at the
rooftop terrace.
Near the Imperial Palace is the
Kunsthistorisches Museum. Meaning art
history museum, the Kunsthistorisches
was built near the Imperial Palace in
1891, in order to hold the immense art
collection of the Imperial family. With
works by the world’s greatest artists,
Kunsthistorisches is one of the most
prominent museums, not only in Europe,
ALL PHOTOS BY LEAH WALKER
Step outside of the Ringstraße and
you’ll find one of Vienna’s most
popular attractions. Once the summer
filled with treasures collected
throughout the Habsburg Dynasty.
Located inside Vienna’s Ringstraße,
the Hofburg was the epicenter of the
Habsburg Empire and served as their
winter home. Today, the Hofburg is
not only the official office of the
Austrian president, but it’s also
where some of the most notable
spots in the city are found. The
Spanish Riding School, Sisi Museum,
Imperial Apartments, Imperial Silver
Collection, Albertina, Globe and
Esperanto Museum, Papyrus Museum
and Collection of Arms and Armor
are all worthy of exploration.
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