In Austria we celebrate Christmas this very night: Traditionally we set up the Christmas tree and light it for the first time, gather around the tree, may sing some Christmas carols, unwrap the presents, have Christmas dinner and maybe go to the Midnight Mass. In case you are interested in my programme: I will start the day with a brunch at my aunt's and spend the evening with my parents. I hope you a merry Christmas! Frohe Weihnachten!
The shopping arcade of Palais Ferstel is still decorated with several small Christmas trees...
The Café Central, opened in 1876, was a key meeting place of the Viennese intellectual scene in the late 19th century. Adolf Loos, Theodor Herzl and Sigmund Freud were amongst the regulars. Today there are often lines of tourists who want to soak up the historic surroundings at the entrance of the café.
The shopping arcade of Palais Ferstel on Sunday when all shops are closed...
The famous Café Central in the city center is decorated with rather restrained lights.
When I recently was at the Palais Ferstel I sneaked into an open door and discovered this beautiful staircase.
The Palais Ferstel in the city center was created by Heinrich von Ferstel in the late 1850s. At the time of its opening, it was considered as Vienna's "most up-to date" building. The palace briefly housed the Vienna Stock Exchange and the Austro-Hungarian National Bank. Nowadays there's a small, but very beautiful shopping arcade.
The Palais Ferstel, created by Austrian architect Heinrich von Ferstel between 1856 and 1860, nowadays houses a very elegant
shopping arcade.
Okay, I have to admit that the chairs in this photo don´t belong to a café but to a French bistro at Palais Ferstel, but you can find these kind of chairs (and tables) in a lot of Viennese cafés.
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Last week we had temperatures around 30° C, this week we are freezing at 10° C... If you still want to eat in an outdoor area, I recommend the small French bistro at Palais Ferstel, where you can sit outside the restaurant but inside the palace and enjoy the beautiful arcades. Fore more images of the bistro please click here and here.
Having been very busy in the last weeks I managed only yesterday to take a picture of a Christmas tree. It´s located at Palais Ferstel in the city center.
Some days ago I read about the opening of a new french bistro at Ferstel Palace in the city center. Being a very francophone person, I decided to go there as soon as possible. So, when I recently had a day off, I went there for lunch with a friend of mine. The tiny restaurant is very charming, it offers only a small, but very french selection of dishes. It is also an "épicerie fine", offering french cheese, herbs, honey, jams, teas, sparkling wines and sweets.
I will definitely be back!
Yesterday I passed once again by "Xocolat", the chocolate shop I mentioned already here. Unfortunately it was closed, so I could just gaze at the window display...
I have good news for all lovers of the famous Parisian Ladurée macaroons: you can get them even in Vienna, at "Xocolat" in Palais Ferstel. I didn´t try them yet, but the other day I bought there some very delicious pralines.
You can enter the shopping arcade also by a side entrance from this small courtyard.
Above the shops there are beautiful caryatid and atlantid figures.
Even this 6m high "Danube mermaid fountain", made of marble and bronze, was designed by Heinrich von Ferstel.
Don´t forget to have a look at the ceiling of the arcade.
I have good news for all lovers of the famous Parisian Ladurée macaroons: you can get them even in Vienna, at "Xocolat" in Palais Ferstel. I didn´t try them yet, but the other day I bought there some very delicious pralines.
You can enter the shopping arcade also by a side entrance from this small courtyard.
Even this 6m high "Danube mermaid fountain", made of marble and bronze, was designed by Heinrich von Ferstel.
