We'll be in Vienna December 10 and 11 before beginning a 5 day cruise on the Danube emphasizing the Christmas markets. I've heard so much about "old Vienna" and all it beauty. However, I understand it suffered extensive damage during WWII. How much remains of the original buildings and how much has been restored since the war?

If I remember correctly, there are pictures in St. Stephens of some of the extensive damage done during the war. However, it has obviously been lovingly repaired because the buildings in old Vienna are beautiful.

Hi TP,

Vienna looks almost exactly as it did before the recent unpleasantness.

Don't mention the war!

you wouldnt tell it had ever been raided.it is packed full of historical buildings.there is hardly 1 modern building in the central area.maybe from the rooftop of the cathedral you might make out some patches of different colored roofwork in the surrounding buildings.however i did read that the suburbs and railyards were bombed with thousands of casualties.

schonbrun palace was heavily bombed during the war as german barracks were situated in its gardens.however i wouldnt have noticed that if the guide hadnt mentioned it.

the 461st bomber squadron has its vienna sorties listed with photos taken by the bombardier at the site below.

this photo is of the 178th mission.to the right you can see the smoke plumes .

http://www.461st.org/images/Mission%20178.jpg

Hi
Ira, I beg to deffer with you, it was a War, NOT a recent unpleasantness. Acid indigestion is unpleasant, not a War.

Watch "Third Man" for good views of the condition Vienna was in after the war.

It's a beautiful city. So many wonderful buildings. I alsoagree with the suggestion that you watch "The Third Man." Good movie, if you like black and white. I do, and it's a favorite of mine.

Hey A,

Don't mention the War.

Many buildings were completely destroyed or very badly damaged.

A prior poster mentions Stephensdom and the pictures of the damage.

The State Opera was almost destroyed also.
It was carefully rebuilt after the war to its prior splendor and reopened in 1955.
Many other buildings were also rebuilt and you would not notice it today as they were also carefully restored.
Thus most all major tourist sites retain their former appearance.

Numerous areas were just rebuilt in a modern style- example some places along the Danube Canal.
If one looks closely , you will often see a series of old buidings that survived next to a series of 1950-70 style buildings rebuilt on the soites of destroyed properties.

Most of the bombing did not occur until very late in the war- a time when the outcome was not in doubt.

If one knew Vienna before the War, it does not today " Look almost exactly as it did before " using the words of a prior poster.

Look at the square, just across the street from the Albertina. Hundreds died in the basement of a buiding that formerly stood there during an air raid.
Today, only a memorial remains.

i can understand how the opera got hit.below is a photo of one vienna mission (#191) done in ten-tenths cloud cover.

http://www.461st.org/images/Mission%20191.jpg