The name of this square in the city center derives from the Franciscan Church (in this photo on the left) that was built here in the 17th century. In the center of the square lies the Moses Fountain. In summer you can enjoy the quiet square in the outdoor areas of a café and a restaurant.
The Kursalon Hübner is located in Stadtpark and was intended to increase the recreational value of the park by offering curative waters to drink, but after its completion in 1867, it soon experienced a change of use: In 1868 the first concert featuring compositions by Johann Strauss took place. The Kursalon rapidly became the meeting place for Viennese society and celebrated the cult of the waltz and joie de vivre. Today it is an event location with two ballrooms, hosts Mozart and Strauss concerts and also houses a restaurant.
A closer look at the ducks and seagulls in Stadtpark. Due to the past days' low temperature the pond is partly frozen.
Until some days ago winter was rather mild, but now it's freezing cold, and on Sunday evening it started even to snow. Yesterday I had the day off and took a walk in Stadtpark where - as usual - some people were feeding the ducks.
In the course of the Diesel reboot campaign people were asked to submit their artwork to the Diesel Tumblr.
Now the stores all over the world present selected artworks in their windows. In Vienna the featured artist is Nicolas Boillot.
"The flowers of late winter and early spring
occupy places in our hearts well out of proportion to their size." - Gertrude S. Wister
Last summer I developed a certain obsession for sunsets (see here, here, here and here). Recently I happened to a see the sun setting over the city center when I crossed the Danube Canal and couldn't help taking a photograph. Admittedly, the sky was much brighter in reality...
I just can't get enough of atlantes ;-) Here we have two impressive exemplars on the façade of Palais Sturany in Ringstrasse.
In the afternoon of Sunday before last young and old had a lot of fun chasing soap bubbles... I've seen several soap bubble makers during the past few years and I have to say that this lady did a very good job.
Yesterday I read in the newspaper that Vienna's 7th district is suffering from graffiti sprayers who excessively daub house walls, front doors and even the works of street artists. So far it has been an unwritten law that street art is not oversprayed. I stumbled upon this spoiled work of some street artist some months ago.
"The sun does not shine for a few trees and flowers, but for the wide world's joy." - Henry Ward Beecher
These putti in Burggarten seem to enjoy the winter sun... Well, who doesn't? For more photos of the putti please click here and here.
The University of Vienna, a public university, was founded by Duke Rudolph IV in 1365 and is the oldest university in the German-speaking world and the third oldest university in Central Europe. Currently about 92.000 students are enrolled at the University of Vienna, they can select from 187 degree programmes. The University of Vienna does not have one joint campus, the academic facilities occupy more than sixty locations throughout the city. The main building (in this photo) in Ringstrasse constitutes the university's centre. It was designed by Austrian architect Heinrich von Ferstel and opened in 1884.
An atlas on the façade of a building in the city center.
I love flower kiosks and shops in general, but on a grey winter day (and we have plenty of them in Vienna) they are a special delight for the eyes.
The white edifice of the Urania is a real eyecatcher at night. On Sunday I was lucky enough to take this photograph with the moon in the sky.
Yesterday afternoon in Volksgarten: a man enjoying some winterly sunrays while reading a book and a musician with a horse mask playing accordion...
The monument to Andreas Zelinka (1802- 1868) is located in Stadtpark. He served as the mayor of Vienna from 1861 to 1868 and spent his whole salary for charity and donations.
Here's another photo of the staircase at Prince Eugene of Savoy's Winter Palace. For a closer photo of the statue on the right please click here.
After extensive renovations the main rooms of Prince Eugene of Savoy's Winter Palace in the city center have become accessible to the public last November. I visited the palace on the open day, when there were so many people that I couldn't photograph the beautiful staircase. Some days ago I was lucky to find the staircase completely deserted and seized the opportunity.
During one of my recent walks in the city center, this bookcase and the chairs at a gallery caught my eyes. I would love to browse these books (I guess they are art catalogues)!
The UNIQA Tower is located in the 2nd district, on the banks of the Danube Canal, and houses the offices of an insurance group.
At night light installations bring the façade to life. For examples please click here and here.
The City of Vienna has established more than 500 Christmas collecting points all over the city where people can get rid of their de-decorated Christmas trees until 18 January. Nonethelesse you currently see here and there abandoned trees in the streets.
Two days ago I discovered this new graffito by the young "experimental painter" Manuel Morel on the banks of the Danube Canal. For another graffito of this artist (found exactly one year ago) please click here.
A nice way to start a Sunday: having brunch with friends.
I love to explore the inner city in search of photo subjects, but sometimes I need a quieter ambience. Hence yesterday I took a walk at the foot of Kahlenberg. If you look closely, you can see the Hotel Kahlenberg, the Modul University Vienna and the church St. Joseph on top of the mountain.
In Austria pigs symbolize good luck. I hope these sweet pigs, discovered in the window of a confectionary in the city center, bring good luck to my dear readers. I'm very much looking forward to sharing with you my view of Vienna for another year!
As I didn't take any spectacular photo last year, it was hard to choose the "photo of the year", but I finally opted for this sunset because it was one of the first of many sunset photos that I took last summer (I was literally obsessed with sunsets) and it reminds me of the bicycle tours that I use to take on summer evenings.
Click here to view thumbnails of all participants in the theme day.
