MuseumsQuartier - Fischer von Erlach Wing

The MuseumsQuartier Wien is the eighth largest cultural area in the world and offers space for modern and contemporary art and culture. It combines independent new architecture and revitalized buildings from the 18th and 19th centuries. In imperial times the Baroque Fischer von Erlach Wing housed the horse stables on the ground floor and the residences of employees of the royal court on the upper floor.

At The Window

Looking at artworks can be exhausting sometimes, a window that offers a beautiful view over the roofs is the perfect "excuse" to take a break... This photo was taken in the current pop art exhibition at the MUMOK.

The Photographer

At the MUMOK it is allowed to take photographs (without flash, of course) - one of the reasons I love this museum ;-) I caught this young man photographing a sculpture by Duane Hanson in the exhibition "Ludwig Goes Pop".

Pop Art Lover

A young man looking at a work by Roy Lichtenstein in the current exhibition "Ludwig Goes Pop" (a presentation of the pop art collection of the German industrialists Peter and Irene Ludwig) at the MUMOK (Museum Moderner Kunst Stiftung Ludwig Wien). I love how his hoody matches the blue of the artwork.

Getting Some Fresh Air

Last Saturday the weather was very beautiful and the temperature was rather mild, it seemed like spring was just around the corner. The city center was crowded with people shopping, taking a walk, sitting in the sun...

Sunday Flowers #141

 

"Happiness held is the seed;

Happiness shared is the flower." - John Harrigan

Public Scale

The first public scale was erected at the trade fair in 1888 on the occasion of Emperor Franz Joseph's 40th throne anniversary and was one of the first coin-operated machines. People were fascinated by this new invention and curious to know their body weight in this simple and cheap way. Even today you can find these small monuments and curious landmarks in the cityscape.

Winter Tree

I'm so fed up with winter, I can't wait that the trees and shrubs sprout leaves...

Look Who's Watching

A face on one of the vases in front of Palais Alserbach, and in the background the Liechtenstein Garden Palace.

Enjoying The Winter Sun

In winter Vienna is frequently covered with high fog, so you have to take advantage of the rare sunrays. Last Saturday I saw this lady soaking up the sun in the Botanical Garden. She stood there for quite a while...

Carnival Sweets

Today is Shrove Tuesday, the last day of the carnival and the last day before Lent. In other words: the last possibility to indulge in some carnival sweets...

Winterly Vineyard

731 hectares of vineyards are located within Vienna's city limit. A better part of them is located on Kahlenberg that I "climbed" yesterday. Down in the "valley" you can vaguely discern the town.

Sunday Flowers #140

"I like to think a flower opens itself to outgrow its plantedness. That it yearns to be carried away." - Author Unknown

Sweets For my Sweet

If your partner has a sweet tooth, you could present her/him with these sweets for today's Valentine's Day.

City Skyliner

The City Skyliner is a temporary attraction (until March 8) in front of the City Hall: A 60 persons accomodating observation capsule goes up to 72m and then rotates pleasantly through 360-degrees. The view must be gorgeous!

Getting Ready...

Tonight is the highlight of the carnival and ball season: The Vienna Opera Ball takes place at the Vienna State Opera. I guess, before waltzing at the Opera House, the ladies will go through a special beauty programme.

Shall we Dance?

Tomorrow night the Vienna Opera Ball will be held at the Vienna State Opera. The ball is THE highlight of the carnival season and a top-calibre social event, attracting celebrities and artists from around the world. This year's poster was designed by German illustrator Kera Till.

Winter Trees

Last Sunday the weather was rather varied  - clouds and snowfall alternated with sunshine, only the chilly wind lasted the whole day through. I took a short walk to enjoy the last sunrays of the day and to take this picture in Volksgarten.

Sunny Day

Last Saturday we were blessed with sunshine and blue sky, so I took a short walk before running errands. I passed by my favourite part of Praterstraße in the second district. The statue in front of this building with the beautiful chic window shutters shows Austrian opera singer, actor and playwright Johann Nestroy.

Sunday Flowers #139

"We cannot stop the winter or the summer from coming.

We cannot stop the spring or the fall or make them other than they are.

They are gifts from the universe that we cannot refuse.

But we can choose what we will contribute to life when each arrives." - Gary Zukav

Strudlhofstiege

The outdooir staircase "Strudlhofstiege", an important Jugendstil (Art Nouveau) work, was opened in November 1910. It is named after the sculptor and painter Peter Strudel who owned property on the street above the staircase. In 1951 the Austrian author Heimito von Doderer published a famous novel named after the staircase: "Die Strudlhofstiege oder Melzer und die Tiefe der Jahre" (The Strudlhof Steps or Melzer and the Depth of the Years).

Façade Detail #37

The head office of the National Bank of Austria in Vienna was designed by architects Ferdinand Glaser and Rudolf Eisler in the style of late classicism and inaugurated in 1925. On top of the main entrance you can see these beautiful decorations.

Sweet Shop

A visit to the K. u. K. Court Confectionary Bakery Demel is a must for every tourist. For those who don't want to consume on site or need sweet souvenirs, there's a beautiful shop with a lot of tempting products.

Let's Dance

The current window decoration of  the K. und K. (Imperial and Royal) Court Confectionary Bakery "Demel" is inspired by the ongoing ball season. The sugarfigures and flowers are all handcrafted, and they are rotating around their axis.

Palais Alserbach

Palais Alserbach was disegned by Heinrich von Ferstel and built for Prince Johann II of Liechtenstein, who used it as his summer residence. Today it serves as office building.

Skating in The City

The square and the park in front of the City Hall have been transformed into a 7.000 sqm ice rink. As you can see, the ice path through the park has to be used in one direction... For more information about the "Vienna Ice World" please click here.

February Theme Day: What Would You Miss?

There are a lot of things that I would miss if I had to leave Vienna forever, but I think there's one activity that I would miss most: my evening bicyle tours on Danube Island and along the Old Danube during the warm season. I'm already looking forward to the first ride in 2015!
Click here to view thumbnails of all participants in the theme day.

Palais Trautson

The Baroque Palais Trautson was built in 1712 and owned by the noble Trautson family. Since 1963 it has housed the headquarter of the Ministry of Justice.

Bread Automat

This is Vienna's first bread vending machine, launched in October 2014. The idea is to reduce food waste: The automat works only at night and provides baking goods of a bakery nearby that have not been sold during the day. A very good idea!

Sweet Girl

"Süsses Mädel" (Sweet Girl) is the name of this children's fashion store in the city center. The business was founded in 1900 and has been run since then as a family business. I love the old-fashioned storefront characters.

Girl With Long Hair

Some weeks ago I discovered this female figure by Greek street artist Sonke on the backside of a bathing hut on the banks of the Old Danube.

The Gloriette

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.

Schönbrunn Palm House

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.

Sunday Flowers #138

"Winter is on my head, but eternal spring is in my heart." - Victor Hugo

Your Smile

A nice compliment on the façade of an apartment house in the 7th district.

Bar Love

I just stumbled upon this photo, taken some months ago in a furniture shop. I really like these letters with light bulbs. Too bad that I'm living only in a small apartment with no appropriate walls...

Music in The Street #2

Last Friday I was a little angry because I left the office later than intended, but then I saw this band who was playing soft music, stopped and listened for some minutes... and my mood changed... By the way, it was not the first time that I saw this band, they seem to be regulars in Kärntnerstraße, as you can see here.

Futuristic Elegance

The current installation in the window of the Swarovski store was created by the internationally renowned art director and set designer Simon Costin and shows his idea of futuristic elegance.

Winter Sky

A beautiful winter sky...

Vienna is Still Charlie

There are still a lot of signs of solidarity with the victims of the attack on French satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo in front of the French Embassy...

Upper Belvedere at Night

The Upper Belvedere at night - a beautiful view...

Sphinx at Night

 One of the sphinxes located in the gardens between the Upper and the Lower Belvedere

Moonstruck

The almost full moon and the spire of St. Stephen's Cathedral on Sunday before last.

Sitting by the Water

On the recent public holiday everybody enjoyed the beautiful weather. These two girls had a chat sitting on the banks of the Old Danube.

January Sunset

Even in January the sunsets are beautiful...

The Countdown has Begun

Last year in May, Austria's contestant Conchita Wurst has won the 59th annual Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) in Copenhagen, Denmark - a major event as Austria has won the contest only once, in 1966. According to the guidelines, the winning country has to host the contest the next year. So in 2015 the ESC will be broadcast from Vienna. The very first sign of this big event appeared last week in form of an 8m tall countdown clock covered in LEDs, installed at the Vienna City Hall Square. On Sunday the countdown showed 132 days until the grand final. Please click here for Conchita Wurst's winner song, if you are not afraid of a young men dressed like a woman.

Vienna is Charlie

After the Islamic attack on French satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo in Paris on January 7, Vienna's City government had a "Je suis Charlie" poster hung on the frontwall of the city hall as sign of solidarity. I took this photo yesterday at 3 p.m. when the march of unity in Paris started. An hour later there was a solidarity rally in Vienna, attended by 12.000 people.

Albertina - The Billard Room

The palace residents and their guests would gather in the "Billard" Room for after-dinner entertainment. Duke Albert of Saxe-Teschen preferred a game of billiards over cards...

Albertina - Hall of the Muses #2

A detail of one of the candelabras in the Hall of the Muses.

Albertina - Hall of the Muses #1

The Hall of the Muses forms the centrepiece of the Habsburg Staterooms. It was used as a dining room and as a glamorous venue for soirées and balls. The hall derives its name from the life-sized sculptures of Apollo and the nine Muses.