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Vienna :: Vienna_Biocenter :: Vienna_Township :: Vienna_Circle
 

State Coat of Arms
General Information
State Capital: Vienna
AT: AT-9
Vehicle Registration: W
Community Identification Number: 90101 - 92301
Postal code: 1010 - 1239, 1400, 1450
Area code: 01
Homepage: www.wien.gv.at
State Flag of Vienna
Map: Vienna in Austria
Politics
Mayor and governor Michael Häupl (SPÖ)
Governing Party SPÖ
Seats in the Municipal Council
(100 seats): 		SPÖ 55
ÖVP 18
Greens 14
FPÖ 13
Last Election: 23 October 2005
Next Election: October 2010
Population
Population: 1,631,082 (2005)
2,165,357 metro area
Population density: 3,931.3/km²
Geography
Area: 414.90 km²
- percent land: 395.51 km² (95,33%)
- percent water: 19.39 km² (4,67%)
Location:
Dimensions: North-South: 22.4 km
East-West: 29.2 km
Highest Point: 543 m
(Hermannskogel)
Lowest Point: 151 m
(Lobau)
Administrative Structure
Districts: 1 Statutarstadt
23 Bezirke
Map: Districts of Vienna
Vienna (German: Wien ; Bosnian, Croatian, and Serbian: Beč, Czech: Vídeň, Hungarian: Bécs, Greek: Βιέννη, Romanian: Viena, Romani: Bech or Vidnya, Russian: Вена, Slovak: Viedeň, Slovenian: Dunaj, Dutch: Wenen) is the capital of Austria, and also one of the nine States of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primate city; with a population of about 1.6 million (2.2 million within the metro area), Vienna is by far the largest city in Austria as well as its cultural, economic and political centre.

Situated on both sides of the River Danube, and only 60 kilometers off Austria's Eastern border, Vienna lies in the South East corner of Central Europe and is close to the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary.

Vienna is the seat of a number of United Nations offices and various international institutions and companies, including the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE). Furthermore, the 1980 Diplomatic Conference was held in Vienna that led to the adoption of the United Nations Convention of Contracts for the International Sale of Goods. Additionally, Vienna is the seat of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law's secreteriat (UNCITRAL).

History

Main article: History of Vienna

Founded around 500 BC, Vienna was originally a Celtic settlement.

In 15 BC, Vienna became a Roman frontier city ("Vindobona") guarding the Roman Empire against German tribes to the north. During the Middle Ages, Vienna was home of the Babenberg Dynasty and in 1440 became residence city of the Habsburg Dynasties from where Vienna eventually grew to become the secret capital of the Holy Roman Empire and a cultural centre for arts and science, music and fine cuisine. The Ottoman-Turkish invasions of Europe in the 16th and 17th centuries were stopped twice just outside Vienna. See the Siege of Vienna (1529) and the Battle of Vienna (1683).

In 1804 Vienna became capital of the Austrian Empire - the later Austro-Hungarian Empire, both played a major role in European and World politics. (See Congress of Vienna, 1815)

In 1918 after World War I Vienna became capital of the First Austrian Republic. After 1945 Vienna and neutral Austria was a hotbed for international espionage between the Western and Eastern blocs (Cold War). Since the end of the Cold War the city of Vienna is actively rebuilding ties with its Eastern neighbours.

Historical population

Due to the industrialization and immigration from other parts of the Empire, the population of Vienna increased sharply during its time as capital of Austria-Hungary (1867-1918). However, after World War I, many Czechs and Hungarians returned to their ancestral countries, which resulted in a decline in the population. Following the immigration at that time, about one third of the population of Vienna were of Slavic or Hungarian descent.

Inhabitants according to official census figures:

1800: 231,900
1830: 338,700
1850: 446,400
1880: 724,800
1900: 1,769,137
1910: 2,083,630
1923: 1,918,720
1934: 1,935,881
1939: 1,770,938
1951: 1,616,125
1961: 1,627,566
1971: 1,619,885
1981: 1,531,346
1991: 1,539,848
2001: 1,550,123
2005: 1,631,082

Districts

Main article: Districts of Vienna

The city itself is composed of 23 districts (Bezirke), which, although they all have their own names, are numbered for the sake of convenience. Legally, they are not districts in the sense of administrative bodies with explicit powers (such as the districts in the other Austrian states), but mere subdivisions of the city administration. However, there are elections on the district level, which gives the representatives of the districts some political clout (e.g. in matters of planning, traffic etc.).

1.Innere Stadt (city centre) 2.Leopoldstadt 3. Landstraße 4. Wieden 5. Margareten 6. Mariahilf 7. Neubau 8. Josefstadt 9. Alsergrund 10. Favoriten 11. Simmering 12. Meidling 13.Hietzing 14. Penzing 15. Rudolfsheim-Fünfhaus 16. Ottakring 17. Hernals 18. Währing 19. Döbling 20. Brigittenau 21. Floridsdorf 22. Donaustadt 23. Liesing

The heart and historical city of Vienna, the Innere Stadt (Inner City), was once surrounded by walls and open fields (in order to deny cover to potential attackers). The walls were razed in 1857, making it possible for the actual city to expand and eventually merge with the surrounding villages. In their place, a broad boulevard called the Ringstraße was built. Along the Ringstraße were imposing public and private buildings, monuments, and parks. These buildings include the Rathaus (town hall), the Burgtheater, the University, the Parliament, and the State Opera, which was burned in 1945 and reopened in 1955. It is also the location of the Hofburg, the former imperial palace. The mainly Gothic Saint Stephen's Cathedral is located in the centre of the 1st district. Beyond the Ringstraße was another wall called the Linienwall, which was torn down in the second part of the 19th century to make room for expanding suburbs. It is now a street called Gürtel (belt). Industries are located mostly in the southern and eastern districts. The Innere Stadt is not situated at the Danube, but at the Donaukanal (Danube Canal). Vienna's second and twentieth districts are located in between the canal and the Danube River. Across the Danube are the newest districts, which include the location of the International Center.

Vienna is famous for its many parks. Many of these parks include monuments, such as the Stadtpark and Belvedere Park with its baroque-style castle where the State Treaty was signed. The principal park of Vienna is the Prater, which is situated on an island formed by the Danube River and the canal. Schönbrunn, the beautiful Imperial Summer Palace, includes an 18th century park and the world's oldest zoo (1752).

Vienna's postal codes can be determined by the district where a given address is located; 1XXA - 1 denotes Vienna, XX the district number (if it is a single digit then with a leading zero), A is the number of the post office (irrelevant in this case, usually zero). Example: 1070 for Neubau. Exceptions of that are 1300 for the Vienna International Airport located in Lower Austria near Schwechat, 1400 for the UN Complex, 1450 for the Austria Center, and 1500 for the Austrian UN-Forces.

Religions

Vienna is the seat of the Viennese Roman Catholic archdiocese, and its acting Archbishop is Cardinal Christoph Schönborn. The religions of the Viennese resident population is divided according to the 2001 census as follows:

Roman Catholic 49.2%
No religion 25.6%
Muslim 7.8%
Orthodox 6.0%
Protestant (mostly Lutheran) 4.7%
Jewish 0.4%
Other or none indicated 6.3%

Culture

Music, theatre and opera

Translated from Wien#Theater .26 Oper

Art and culture have a long tradition in Vienna, in the areas of theatre, opera, classical music and fine arts. Apart from the Burgtheater which, together with its branch, the Akademietheater, is considered one of the best theatres in the German-speaking world, the Volkstheater Wien and the Theater in der Josefstadt also offer high-quality theatre entertainment. There is also a multitude of smaller theatres, often equal in quality to their larger counterparts and in many cases devoted to less mainstream forms of performing arts such as modern, experimental plays or cabaret.

Vienna also offers a great many opportunities for opera lovers: The Staatsoper and the Volksoper offer something for everyone, the latter being especially devoted to the typical Viennese operetta. Concerts of classical music are performed, among others, in the well known Wiener Musikverein, home of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, and in the Wiener Konzerthaus. In addition, various concert venues offer concerts aimed at visitors, featuring the best known highlights of Viennese music (particularly the works of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Johann Strauss).

In recent years, the Theater an der Wien has become widely known for hosting premieres of musicals, although it has recently devoted itself to the opera again. The most successful by far was "Elisabeth" which was afterwards translated into several foreign languages and performed all over the world. With the opening of the Haus der Musik in 2000, Vienna also has a "Museum of Sound" for all ages now.

Finally, many Roman Catholic churches in central Vienna feature performances of religious or other music, including masses sung with classical music and organ.

See also: Vienna Philharmonic, Vienna State Opera, Vienna State Opera Ballet

Museums

To be translated from Wien#Museen In the Hofburg, the Schatzkammer (treasury) holds the imperial jewels. The Sisi Museum allows visitors to see the Imperial apartments as well as the silver cabinet. Directly opposite the Hofburg is the Kunsthistorisches Museum (opposite the Natural History Museum) that houses multiple paintings by the old masters.

The group is completed by the Museumsquartier, the former Imperial Stalls which were converted into a complex of museums in the 1990s. This houses the Museum of Modern Art (Ludwig Foundation), the Leopold Museum (which primarily displays works of the Viennese Secession, Viennese Modernism and Austrian Expressionism), and additional halls with changing exhibitions as well as the Tanzquartier. The Liechtenstein Palace presents one of the world's largest private art collections. Additionally there are a multitude of other museums, from the Military History Museum to the Technical Museum, from the Vienna Clock Museum to the Burial Museum. The museums of Vienna's districts are not to be missed as they offer a view into the history of their respective districts.

Architecture

To be translated from Wien#Architektur

There are buildings of all architectural styles in Vienna, from the Romanesque Ruprechtskirche to the Baroque Karlskirche, and classicist buildings all the way through to modern architecture. Likewise, Art Nouveau left many architectural traces in Vienna. The Secession, Karlsplatz Metropolitan Railway Station, and the Kirche am Steinhof by Otto Wagner rank among the best known examples of Art Nouveau in the world.

Other culture

Between Michaelerplatz and Josefsplatz is the Spanish Riding School. It is a famous equestrian school.

Other famous Viennese features include the Lipizzaner stallions of the Spanish Riding School, the Vienna Boys' Choir (Wiener Sängerknaben), Wiener Schnitzel, Sachertorte, and various pastries, including the bagel. Viennese cafes claim to have invented the process of filtering coffee from the captured baggage after the second Turkish siege in 1683.

In terms of folk dancing, the Viennese Kathreintanz is the best known.

Education

Vienna is also Austria's main centre of education and home to many universities, professional colleges and gymnasiums.

Universities

International schools

Transportation

12 Danube bridges connect the city, which is divided by the Danube and the New Danube (Neue Donau).

Public transportation

Vienna has a large public transportation network.

Vienna has an extensive tram and bus network - the tram network being third largest in the world. In the most populated areas of Vienna, transportation systems are run so frequently (even during off-peak hours), that any familiarity with departure timetables is virtually unnecessary. The convenience and flexibility of the public transport is therefore reflected through its popularity. During night hours, public transportation is continued by the Nightline buses operating on the more important routes, most of them every thirty minutes. They're increasingly utilized by younger night-owls vitalizing the atmosphere, most of whom mingle with the many workplace commuters and fatigued shopping tourers at daytimes.

Within the town's boundaries, prices, except for pre-defined short-distance hops, are independent of the ride's length (including commutation tickets, varying between 24h and a year, valid also for Nightline). In (approximately) one direction, with a single ticket you may change as often as necessary but must not interrupt remarkably. With a commutation ticket (incl. those for one day's shopping * rides, or for certain events - 2 hour before to 6 hours after), you may ride anytime anywhere, long as its specific validity lasts. And there are more combinated offers, for tourists as well as for residents.

The Viennese public transport services are incorporated into a larger, widely concentrical structured system of travel zones, the VOR (Verkehrsverbund Ostregion = eastern region traffic association). It includes railway and bus lines operating 50 kilometers into the surrounding countryside, ticket prices resulting from the number of zones you pass. Here, commuting tickets so far pay off mainly for residents and (very-)long-run-guests.

Vienna uses an "honor system." There are no turnstile gates or ticket checks when boarding transit lines, yet onboard you may be checked unexpectedly by undercover employees. If you are caught "Schwarzfahren" (dodging the fare), you could incur a hefty citation or, at the very least, be forced to leave at the next stop. At any rate, it's undesirable to get "controlled". Hint: a ticket, also from a station's automat, like stampable pre-paid ones, must then be inserted into a stamper (on bus & tram vehicles, but for subways - don't miss before entering a station - on entrance zones' open gate bars). Onboard automat tickets come out stamped.

There are also two railways which run through parks: the Liliputbahn Prater in the Wiener Prater and the Donauparkbahn in Danube Park.

Railways

Historically, all traffic facilities were oriented towards the main capitals and residential cities of the Austro-Hungarian monarchy consequently, Vienna has several train stations that form the beginning of several train lines:

as well as several through train stations:

  • Vienna Hütteldorf on the West Railway
  • Vienna Heiligenstadt on the Franz Josefs Railway
  • Vienna North (Viennese lines: Praterstern) on the North Railway. The convenient North Station was destroyed in World War II and was not built again after the decay of the Danube monarchy, especially when the Iron Curtain closed almost all passenger traffic to the north. Since World War II a smaller station called "Vienna North" has served as a transit station between S-Bahns, the U1 U-Bahn line, trams, and buses. In 2004 it was essentially completely torn down and is being rebuilt. In 2008 the extended U2 will also stop here.
  • Vienna Meidling (Philadelphia bridge) - South Railway. This is Vienna most frequented transit station.
  • Vienna Central (Landstraße)

Between these, there are still many smaller stations that are particularly important for local passenger traffic. Since the mid 1990s, the West and South stations have handled all long-distance travel. Many trains stop at Hütteldorf or Meidling, especially when inbound.

In order to bundle all long-distance traffic it has become necessary to build a tunnel, colloquially known as the Wildschweintunnel ("boar tunnel"), underneath Lainzer Tiergarten linking the West Railway to the South Railway. The new bundled train line will connect to a new train station called Vienna-Central Europe that will be constructed somewhat to the south of today's South Station. This new station will give Vienna a main train station for the first time.

Road traffic

To be translated from Wien#Straßenverkehr
Like the train lines, Bundesstraßen leave the city in a star shaped pattern. Some are designated after their historical final destination (Prager Straße -- to Prague, Linzer Straße - to Linz, Triester Straße - to Trieste and Brünner Straße - to Brno). Bundesstraßen can be compared to Federal Highways in the United States, being two-lane in rural areas and multi-lane in urban areas.

Three national autobahns leave Vienna in the westerly (A1), southernly (A2), and easterly directions (A4). Similar to the rail lines, they are commonly referred to after their exit direction (Westautobahn, Südautobahn, and Ostautobahn). In addition, several spur and branch autobahns circle around the southern and eastern areas of the city. The western and northern areas were left mostly untouched because of the Wienerwald protected forest.

Air traffic

Southeast of Vienna is Vienna International Airport. In 2005, there were over 230,900 separate flights departing or arriving, and the airport was used by 15.86 million passengers.

Water transportation

To be translated from Wien#Schifffahrt
Vienna is connected to water by the Rhine-Main-Danube Canal via the port in Rotterdam and its nearby German Industrial areas, as well as Eastern European countries up to the Black Sea. The planned Danube-Oder canal remains unfinished.

Nearly all of Vienna's drinking water is brought to the city via two large water pipelines, built in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and stretching 120km (75 miles) and 200km (124 miles), respectively, from the Alps to the city's Hietzing district. The Alpine sources are pristine enough that their water does not have to be treated.

Politics

Vienna is today considered the centre of social democracy in Austria. In memory of the First Republic (1918-1934), the name Red Vienna is also used. Since the end of World War I, the city has mostly been governed by a social democratic party with absolute majority. Current mayor of Vienna is Michael Häupl. Before the World Wars, Viennese politics were shaped by the Christian Social Party, in particular long-term mayor Karl Lueger. An example of the city’s many social democratic policies is its low-cost residential estates called Gemeindebauten.

Ever since Vienna obtained federal state (Bundesland) status of its own in 1921, the mayor has also had the role of the state governor (Landeshauptmann). The city hall accommodates the offices of the mayor and the state government (Landesregierung). The city is administered by a multitude of departments (Magistratsabteilungen).

Leisure activities

Nightlife

Vienna has a variety of nightlife options. Its low crime rate and extensive public transportation network make going out at night safe and convenient. Regular public transportation (subway, tram, and bus) runs until approximately 12:30. After this, nighttime bus lines provide service every half hour (fifteen minutes on some segments). Almost all night lines circle the inner city before heading outbound. Most lines are numerated the same as their corresponding daytime line. For example, if you take the 60 tramline followed by the U4 subway into the city, you can take the N60 bus directly from the city back out. At approximately 5 a.m. the daytime lines resume. Day and night lines now use the same tickets.

Starting in the 1980s, the pedestrian zone between the St. Ruprecht's Church (the oldest in Vienna) and the Fleischmarkt became populated with bars etc. and became known as the "Bermuda Triangle" (the name starting as a local joke that in this area there are so many bars that you can disappear there completely and reappear days later, remembering nothing). It is the one area of the inner city district where relatively loud music and noise are (grudgingly) tolerated. Many bars and small clubs are located in this neighborhood, but drinks tend to be more expensive than in the rest of the city.

Jazz lovers may go to "Jazzland", situated beneath the Ruprechtskirche.

The First District in general has an abundance of night life options for any budget. There are many Irish pubs with pint prices starting at €2. On the other side of the price-spectrum are bars such as Sky Bar and Do & Co., which are frequented by the Austrian elite. Opening hours vary essentially by neighborhood noise ordinance agreements. In the summer, bars' outdoor seating often has to be vacated by 11 p.m. Generally there is an abundance of establishments open until 4 a.m. or later, especially on the weekend.

Larger nightclubs are generally located further out. Popular ones include U4 Discolocated on the U4 subway line, two medium sized clubs in the wine-producing neighborhood of Grinzing, and an ever-increasing amount of large clubs on the eastern side of the Danube, often located in shopping malls and cinema complexes. One popular club located near the centre of the city is Flexdance music DJs. Another new nightclub is the Ost-klub*," target="_blank" >which features music from the former east bloc states and the balkan area. It is located at the Schwarzenbergplatz. There you find also the Russian monument behind a coloured fountain. Some sort of underground club may be Fluc[http://www.fluc.at// at the Praterstern.

In the summer, the eastern shore of the Danube is very popular. It is called Copa Cagrana, which is a word-play of Copacabana and Kagran, which is a sub-district nearby.

Starting in the late 1980s, the city undertook much effort to revitalize the area around the Westgürtel (Western Beltway), which had become a red-light district. Today, large portions of the Westgürtel have been modernized, with many restaurants, bars, and mini-clubs now located under the elevated tracks of the U6 subway line.

Recently the Freihausviertel, right outside the First District by Karlsplatz has also gained some popularity for its restaurants. It includes the Naschmarkt, the major market in Vienna.

Useful nightlife terminology
Austria, particularly Vienna, has unique terminology for drinks. Here is the terminology commonly used:

Beer sizes: These are either ordered by name or small/large for the 0.3/0.5 L sizes. The names are usually one used for draft beer, as it is dispensed into glasses of the same name.

  • "Ein Pfiff": 0.2 L (6 U.S. fl oz) (not always available) Meaning: "A whistle"
  • "Ein Seidl" or Ein kleines Bier: 0.3 L (10 U.S. fl oz). (common)
  • "Ein Krügerl" or Ein grosses Bier 0.5 L (17 U.S. fl oz). (common) Meanings: "A little crock" and "a big beer"
  • "Ein Maß" 1 liter (usually only available in microbreweries) This term originates from Bavaria, and essentially means "a measurement."

Wine sizes: These are ordered in fractions of a liter

  • "Ein Achtel" 1/8 L (4.2 U.S. fl oz)
  • "Ein Viertel" 1/4 L (8.4 U.S. fl oz)

It is also common to order a half-liter or a liter of wine with mineral water and then mix them to a desired concentration. The above mentioned quantities are also nearly always available pre-mixed with mineral water. This is called "G'spritzt" ("sprayed"). So to order wine one would say "Ein Achtel/Viertel Rot (red) / Weiß (white), followed by the word "G'spritzt" if one wants it diluted. The form "Ein weißer/roter Spritzer" is also used commonly.

Viennese coffeehouses

Translated from Wien#Wiener Kaffeehaus''

Viennese cafés have an extremely long and distinguished history that dates back centuries, and the caffeine addictions of some famous historical patrons of the oldest are something of a local legend. The traditional coffee preparations are mostly based on espresso of a lesser intensity than may be found in Italy, served with (Brauner or Wolf) or without (Schwarzer or Bär) milk, Kaffeeobers (thickened cream) or Schlagobers (or simply Schlag) (whipped cream). In traditional coffee houses, there is a whole range of varieties in size and preparation. Addition of various alcohols is less common, creating sweeter drinks, some of which may be given obviously recognisable Austrian names, e.g. Mozart Kaffee (mocha with Cherry Brandy and Schlagobers) or Maria Theresa (mocha with a shot of orange liquor). Traditionally, the coffee comes with a glass of water. Coffee is generally served along with lighter fare (although some desserts are not to be reckoned with lightly). Visitors to traditional cafés are welcome to take their time and enjoy the large selection of newspapers on offer. In Vienna, a coffee house is a place to pass the time, to think, to meet, to read or write papers, to smoke if one so desires, or, as a writer once put it, "to be away from home without being exposed to fresh air". In addition to the many modern chrome-brightened 'Espressi', a number of 'real' Vienna coffeehouses still exist to maintain the original charm of this institution.'' ''

Viennese parks and gardens

Vienna possesses many park facilities and is one of the greenest cities in the world. The most famous parks and green areas are the Stadtpark, the Burggarten and Volksgarten, which belong to the Hofburg, the Schloßpark of Castle Belvedere with the Vienna Botanic Gardens, the Donaupark, the Schönbrunner Schlosspark, the Prater, the Augarten, the Rathauspark, the Lainzer Tiergarten, the Dehnepark, the Resselpark, the Votivpark, the Kurpark Oberlaa, the Auer-Welsbach-Park and the Türkenschanzpark, Laaer-Berg with the Bohemian Prater and the foothills of the Wienerwald (Viennese Forest), which reaches into the outer areas of the city. Small parks, known by the Viennese as Beserlparks, are everywhere in the inner-city areas.

Sport

Vienna has become a popular host of many different sporting events including the Vienna City Marathon, which attracts more than 10,000 participants every year and normally takes place in May. In 2005 the Ice Hockey World Championships took place in Austria, the final was played in Vienna. After already being the stage of four Champions League (originally European Champion Clubs' Cup) finals (1964, 1987, 1990, 1995) the final of Euro 2008, the European Football Championships, will take place in Vienna's Ernst Happel Stadium.

Austria's capital is also the home of numerous sports teams. The best known of them are the local football clubs SK Rapid Wien (31 time Austrian national champions), FK Austria Wien (23 time Austrian national champions and record 25-time cup-winners) and though the oldest is First Vienna FC. Important other sport clubs are the Chrysler Vikings Vienna (American Football), who won the Eurobowl title as Europe's best American Football team in 2004, the Vienna Hot Volleys, one of Europe's premier Volleyball-organisations, and the Vienna Capitals (Ice Hockey). Vienna also had submitted a bid for the 1964 Olympic Games.

Culinary specialities

Food

In winter small stands on bustling street corners sell hot chestnuts and potato fritters. Sausages are also well loved and available almost everywhere. The sausage known in the USA and Germany as Wiener (German for "Viennese") is called a Frankfurter here. However other varieties are more popular at Vienna's sausage stands, such as Burenwurst, a coarse, usually boiled, beef and pork sausage or Käsekrainer, spicy pork with small chunks of cheese within it. Hot dogs are also very common, whereas due to regional food legislation the Bosner or Bosna as the Austrian equivalent of a hot dog (filled with a fried Bratwurst sausage, onions and spices) can seldomly be found at the typical viennese Würstelstand.

Vienna is also well known for Wiener schnitzel, a cutlet of veal that is pounded flat, coated in flour, egg and breadcrumbs and fried in lard. It is available in almost every eatery that serves viennese cuisine for about 14 Euros. Don't confuse it with pork schnitzel viennese style (Schweinsschnitzel Wiener-Art). Excellent, enormous and authentic Wiener Schnitzels are available at the Figlmüller restaurant (Bäckerstraße 6). Be aware that it is usually very full and noisy.

Other Viennese cuisine includes Tafelspitz, very lean boiled beef, often served with grated horseradish.

Vienna has a long tradition of cakes and desserts. These include Apfelstrudel (hot apple strudel), Palatschinken (sweet pancakes), and Knödel (dumplings) often filled with fruit such as apricots (Marillenknödel). Sachertorte, a chocolate cake from the Sacher Hotel, is world famous and available to take home from many shops in Vienna airport.

The Naschmarkt is a permanent market for fruit, vegetables, spices, fish, meat and much more. It is well worth a visit. The city centre has speciality food stores like Julius Meinl.

Vienna is a Vegetarian and Vegan-friendly city, with many modern restaurants featuring a vegetarian section in their menus. There are also many vegetarian restaurants operating in Vienna, with some highlights being Vegetasia (Taiwanese menu/buffet featuring many styles of mock-meat), Rupps (Austrian-style menu featuring traditional Austrian meals utilizing mock meats), Art of Life (Gourmet veggie/vegan menu plus fish specialties) and Hollerei (Gourmet veggie/vegan menu). A list of more restaurants catering to vegetarians and vegans can be found at Happy Cow (in English) or vegan.at (in German).

Drink

Vienna is the world's only capital city with its own vineyards. The wine is served in small viennese pubs known as Heuriger, that are especially numerous in the wine growing areas of Döbling (Grinzing, Neustift am Walde, Nußdorf, Salmannsdorf, Sievering) and Floridsdorf (Stammersdorf, Strebersdorf). The wine is often drunk as a spritzer "Gespritzter" with sparkling water.

Beer is next in importance to wine. Vienna has a single large brewery, Ottakringer, and more than ten microbreweries. A "Beisl" is a typical small Austrian pub, of which Vienna has large numbers.

Tourist attractions

Among the most important places of interest are:

Other tourist attractions:

Other attractions:

other remarkable objects (not accessible for tourists)

International organisations in Vienna

The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), as well as other United Nations Offices and many international institutions and companies, are located in Vienna.

UNO, IAEA, OPEC, OSCE, UNIDO, IUFRO...

Twin cities

Vienna is twinned with the following cities:

In addition, individual Viennese districts are twinned with Japanese cities/districts:

See also

External links

Coordinates:

Capitals in Europe | Cities and towns in Austria | Cities on the Danube | Eurovision host cities | NUTS 2 Statistical Regions of Europe | Roman legions' camps in Central Europe | Vienna | World Heritage Sites in Austria | 1st millennium BC establishments

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