The magnificent Mausoleum of Emperor Ferdinand II is undoubtedly Graz's most unusual building. It gracefully combines Mannerist Austrian Baroque with the theatrical splendour of Rome's great churches. The initial work of the Italian Pietro de Pomis ..

The wrought-iron well made by local craftsman Hans Prasser in 1626 is considered to be the finest example of this art in Styria. The forged section, on a stone base, particularly the canopy with delightful Renaissance motifs, was produced in an out..

The Benedictine Admont Abbey has been one of Christendom's great cultural centres since its foundation in the 11C. It remains so today, with a library that boasts some 1 400 manuscripts and 150 000 volumes. It is a splendid Rococo building, worthy ..

If the façade, where a Gothic porch-belfry is flanked by two onion-capped Baroque towers, surprises visitors to the popular pilgrimage church of Mariazell, then they will be amazed by the dazzling interior. Apart from the glittering Chapel of Mercy ..

Built for Johann Ulrich Eggenberg between 1625 and 1635 on the site of a medieval castle, this building’s uniqueness lies in its Universe-inspired allegorical design: 4 towers represent the compass points, it has 365 windows and 24 state rooms, the..

This summit overlooking Bregenz offers an impressive view of part of the Alpine range and leads to the entrance of the Alpenwildpark . There, visitors can discover the great wildlife of the region, via a circuit of about 30 mn which crosses throug..

With over 1 million engravings and 60 000 drawings and watercolours, the Albertina Graphic Arts Collection is undoubtedly one of the largest in the world. Housed in the former Tarouca family palace since 1795, it owes its name to its founder, Duke ..

Already virtually complete in the 16C, this collection in the imperial palace accords antique musical instruments the status of artworks, giving them a unique historical context. Among the rarest pieces are a rebec (Venice, 15C), a harpsichord (V..

This rich collection of arms and armour was begun in the early 15C by the Archdukes Ernest of Styria (1377-1424) and Ferdinand of Tyrol (1527-1595), and capped by the inclusion of the Imperial Court’s arms in 1806. The ingenious filigree decoration o..

Since 1895, teams of Austrian archeologists have been excavating the site of Ephesos in Asia Minor, one of the most important ancient cities. Their finds are impressive. The Parthian monument frieze and the Ephesian Athlete , are the two major wor..

Glancing at the discreet façade of the Kapuzinerkirche , the Church of the Capuchins on Neuer Markt, you would not think that the embalmed bodies of 138 members of the Imperial family of the Habsburgs are buried here, including 12 emperors and 17 em..

Leaving the narrow streets of the Old town, the appearance of Vienna changes radically as you reach the Ring , the ring of boulevards around the city. The city's old fortifications became the site of the most extensive urban development programme ev..

The neo-Renaissance façade of the Academy of Fine Arts stands slightly back from the ring on the Schillerplatz . This little-known museum, with its succession of unattractive rooms, contains some veritable masterpieces. The Renaissance period is p..

The MAK or Museum of Applied and Decorative Arts , occupies a building along the Ring. The pre-eminence of its collections reflects Vienna's passion for decorative arts and modern design. The arrangement of certain of its displays has been enturuste..

Inaugurated in 1869, the fine Renaissance façade of the Staatsoper (State Opera House) proudly overlooks the Ring. Of worldwide renown, the greatest conductors and international stars, past and present, have or will pass through its portals. It is ..

The small Stephansplatz or St Stephen's Square forms a contrast with the proportions of the cathedral whose arches are now reflected in the glass walls of the modern Haas-Haus . The two main pedestrian thoroughfares of the old town converge in the..

Vienna owes Belvedere not to an Emperor but a general, Eugène of Savoy , one of the most inspired of the time. Returning to more princely activities after his victorious campaigns against the Turks and Louis XIV, he commissioned the finest Baroque e..

Prince Eugène's apartments provide a rich setting for the Museum of Baroque Art . The works are classified by theme giving visitors an idea of the spirit and taste of 18C painting and sculpture. Three sections are of particular interest: the Marble ..

The collections of the Gallery of 19 and 20C Art are in the Upper Belvedere. On the first floor the collections range from the « Historicist , Realist and Impressionist » movements to « Art of the early years of the 20C». The second floor contai..

To the north of Vienna lie the lower slopes of the Viennese Forest which meet the Danube here. The Döbling district is composed of old wine-growing villages such as Grinzing . There is a lower urbanised sector and an upper residential quarter reachi..