Q's for Austria - Salzburg, Vienna, Melk?
Aug 7th, 2003, 06:31 PM
#22
Join Date: Jan 2003
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Expatmommy, while I absolutely love Vienna (lived there for 2 years in the early 80's) many of the buildings on the Ringstrasse were built during Franz Josef's reign in the last half of the 19th century. Also fairly new by European standards. That said, there are some buildings that are much older (many of the churches such as St. Stephan's, the Greek Church and Maria am Gestade) with very interesting architecture. Also, a lot of the buildings were ravaged during the war and have been "rebuilt". I am not trying to discourage you from visiting Vienna. On the contrary, I think you could certainly spend a week there as another poster pointed out and never get bored. I just want you to have realistic expectations.
I also agree with the suggestion that you overnight in Durnstein. A lovely town and great for "meandering".
I also agree with the suggestion that you overnight in Durnstein. A lovely town and great for "meandering".
Aug 8th, 2003, 07:47 AM
#24
Join Date: Apr 2003
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expatmommy,
Both Schonbrunn and the Belvedere are worthy Vienna destinations, but choose one on this trip - otherwise you will experience palace fatigue. Yes, the Kiss is at the Belvedere, along with many other Klimt portraits and some of his lesser-known landscapes and farmhouse scenes. Seeing these paintings with the background of the Belvedere's gardens was wonderful.
At the Hofburg armoury, my favorite thing was the gallery where there are life-sized, fully battle-ready models of horses and riders posed as if they were charging each other. Oh, and also the custom-made suit of armour for one VERY rotund warrior (you'll know it when you see it)!
I liked Salzburg a lot, but I stayed two nights - long enough to take my excursions and walks at times of day when it wasn't so crowded, and I stayed across the river from the Old Town, which I found unbearably cute and congested.
A long weekend will just wet your whistle for more !
Both Schonbrunn and the Belvedere are worthy Vienna destinations, but choose one on this trip - otherwise you will experience palace fatigue. Yes, the Kiss is at the Belvedere, along with many other Klimt portraits and some of his lesser-known landscapes and farmhouse scenes. Seeing these paintings with the background of the Belvedere's gardens was wonderful.
At the Hofburg armoury, my favorite thing was the gallery where there are life-sized, fully battle-ready models of horses and riders posed as if they were charging each other. Oh, and also the custom-made suit of armour for one VERY rotund warrior (you'll know it when you see it)!
I liked Salzburg a lot, but I stayed two nights - long enough to take my excursions and walks at times of day when it wasn't so crowded, and I stayed across the river from the Old Town, which I found unbearably cute and congested.
A long weekend will just wet your whistle for more !
