Vienna's Ringstraße
Vienna's „grand boulevard“ Ringstraße surrounds the historical city centre and is located on the site of the former medieval city fortifications. Towards the end of the 19th century the old city walls were torn down and replaced by what is now the most representative group of monuments of “Imperial Vienna”: imposing buildings, imperial palaces, fine museums, Austria's parliament, Vienna's famous Opera house, the cities splendid town hall, private palaces and many more, all built in lavishly elegant and impressive architecture.
It was to become Austro-Hungary's most emblematic urban project as well as being the showcase of the power and importance of its residents, from the Emperor and his family to the influential newly rich. This “Lord of the ring roads” also demonstrats the self-confidence of its citizens at a turning point when Vienna was suddenly “catapulted” from a small city to a metropolis.
On our tour we will become familiar with some of the magnificent buildings along the Ringstraße, the stories of their residents – some glorious, others tragic -, the famous architects and the traces they left, the workers that took part in its construction and Vienna as the centre of an Empire.
This walking tour can be combined with short tramway-rides (on request).
Duration: ca. 2 h
An extended (and longer) walking-tour can also include:
- Kunsthistorisches Museum (Art History Museum)
- Museumsquartier
- Hofburg Palace – Sisi Museum & Imperial Apartments
- Hofburg Palace – Silberkammer
