The Jubiläumswarte, an observation tower on top of Wilhelminenberg, was erected in 1956 and replaced an older steel construction that had been erected in 1899 in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of emperor Franz Joseph I's ascendancy to the Austrian throne. Therefore, the present tower is still colloquially known as "Jubiläumswarte" (jubilee tower).
The Academy of Fine Arts Vienna was founded in 1692 as a private academy by the court-painter Peter Strudel. With his death in 1714, the academy temporarily closed. In 1726 the academy was reestablished as Imperial and Royal Court Academy of painters, sculptors and architecture, a public Institution. In 1772 the organisational structure was reformed and all existing art schools were integrated into the Imperial and Royal Unified Academy of Fine Arts. In 1872 Emperor Franz Joseph I approved a statute making the academy the supreme government authority for the arts. A new building, designed by Theophil Hansen, was constructed in the course of the layout of the Ringstraße boulevard. On 3 April 1877, the present-day building on Schillerplatz in the city center was inaugurated.
The observation tower on top of Wilhelminenberg was erected in 1956, replacing an older steel construction that had been erected in 1899 in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of emperor Franz Joseph I's ascendancy to the Austrian throne. Therefore, the present tower is still colloquially known as "Jubiläumswarte" (jubilee tower).
Last Sunday I took advantage of the rather sunny (but chilly) weather and went for a walk in Türkenschanzpark in the 19th district where these trees and the bench caught my eyes. The park's name derives from the Turkish entrenchments at the site during the Second Turkish siege of Vienna (1683). Türkenschanzpark was built by local citizens together with the neighbouring "Wiener Cottage" settlement under the supervision of a city gardener and was only later taken over by the City of Vienna. Emperor Franz Joseph I inaugurated the park on September 30, 1888.
The Gloriette was built in 1775 according to the plans of Austrian imperial architect Johann Ferdinand Hetzendorf von Hohenberg as a "temple of renown" to serve as both a focal point and a lookout point for the garden of Schönbrunn Palace. It was used as a dining hall and festival hall as well as a breakfast room for emperor Franz Joseph I. The dining hall, which was used up until the end of the monarchy, today houses a café, and on the roof an observation platform overlooks Vienna.
Emperor Franz Joseph I commissioned the construction of the Palm House in 1882. With a length of 113m, a 28m high central pavilion and two lateral pavilions, it is the largest Palm House on the European continent. I took this photo more than two weeks ago when Vienna was under a thin blanket of snow.
The Giant Ferris Wheel (Wiener Riesenrad) is located at the entrance of the Prater amusement park in the 2nd district. It was constructed in 1897 to celebrate the Golden Jubilee of Emperor Franz Joseph I. In 1916 a demolition permit was issued, but (fortunately) the Ferris Wheel was saved from destruction due to a lack of money.
The Wiener Riesenrad is a 64,75m/212ft tall Ferris wheel at the entrance of the Prater amusement park in the 2nd district. It was constructed in 1897 by the English engineer Lieutenant Walter Bassett Bassett to celebrate the Golden Jubilee of Emperor Franz Joseph I. In 1916 a demolition permit was issued, but (fortunately) the Ferris Wheel was saved from destruction by a lack of money.
The Urania is located on the banks of the Danube Canal. It was designed by Max Fabiani (a student of Otto Wagner) and opened in 1910 by Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria as educational facility with a public observatory. Its name derives from the muse Urania which represents astronomy. Today, the Urania houses also a cinema that screens the annual Viennale movie festival, a puppet theater and a restaurant.
Schönbrunn Palace is the former summer residence of the imperial family. The Habsburgs resided here the better part of the year, Emperor Franz Joseph I was born here in 1830 and he spent his last years entirely in this palace. Only two years after his death (1916) the palace became property of the new Republic of Austria. Today it is part of UNESCO´s cultural heritage and one of Vienna´s most visited sights (In 2009 it was visited by 2,5 million tourists).
In 1909 the Jewish banker Leopold Goldstein commissioned the Austrian architect Adolf Loos (1870-1933) to construct a commercial building on Michaelerplatz (right next to the Imperial Palace, in the city center) for his enterprise. The building was opened in 1911 and caused a great scandal because of its, at that time, unusual plain facade without shutters, mantle stones or other ornaments. The general public demanded the demolition of the so-called "house without eyebrows" and Emperor Franz Joseph I refused to enter the Imperial Palace from Michaelerplatz ever again. In 1947 the Loos Haus was declared a historic monument. Since 1987 it is in possession of the Raiffeisen bank. (I took this photo two weeks ago when there was still Indian summer...)
Some 680 museums and galleries across Austria will welcome visitors for tonight´s 11th "Long Night of the Museums" between 6 p.m. and 1 a.m. In Vienna you have the choice between 105 museums, which offer a varied programme of lectures, art talks and special guided tours. One of the participating museums is Kunsthistorisches Museum (Museum of Fine Arts). It was commissioned by Emperor Franz Joseph I in order to house the extensive art collection of the imperial family under one roof and to make it accessible to the general public. With its vast array of eminent works and the largest Bruegel collection in the world, it is considered one of the most important museums in the world.
Schönbrunn Palace is the former summer residence of the imperial family. The Habsburgs resided here the better part of the year, Emperor Franz Joseph I was born here in 1830 and he spent his last years entirely in this palace. Only two years after his death (1916) the palace became property of the new Republic of Austria. Today it is part of UNESCO´s cultural heritage and one of Vienna´s most visited sights (In 2009 it was visited by 2,5 million tourists).
In 1909 the Jewish banker Leopold Goldstein commissioned the Austrian architect Adolf Loos (1870-1933) to construct a commercial building on Michaelerplatz (right next to the Imperial Palace, in the city center) for his enterprise. The building was opened in 1911 and caused a great scandal because of its, at that time, unusual plain facade without shutters, mantle stones or other ornaments. The general public demanded the demolition of the so-called "house without eyebrows" and Emperor Franz Joseph I refused to enter the Imperial Palace from Michaelerplatz ever again. In 1947 the Loos Haus was declared a historic monument. Since 1987 it is in possession of the Raiffeisen bank. (I took this photo two weeks ago when there was still Indian summer...)
Some 680 museums and galleries across Austria will welcome visitors for tonight´s 11th "Long Night of the Museums" between 6 p.m. and 1 a.m. In Vienna you have the choice between 105 museums, which offer a varied programme of lectures, art talks and special guided tours. 
Well, and here is "Sisis" husband, Emperor Franz Joseph I. This bust is situated at the Fine Arts Museum (Kunsthistorisches Museum) which was built on his behest to house the extensive collections of the imperial family.
