On your walks through the historic district, you will almost inevitably pass through it: the Michaelertor in Vienna. The baroque portal frames the shortest path from the Heldenplatz to the expensive shopping streets near the Wiener Graben.
It is not visible from the Wiener Ringstraße. Only those who enter the public park named Volksgarten suddenly find themselves facing a piece of Greek antiquity. Of course, it isn’t ancient. The Theseus Temple is a classicistic building from the years 1819/23.
The Wild Man Fountain (Wilder-Mann-Brunnen) has existed since the beginning of the 17th century on different fish markets in Salzburg. Its water basins helped to keep the fish fresh. The fountain got its name from the statue on top of it. The sculpture symbolizes male power and the bond with nature.
A hike over the Semmering Pass regularly ends for me in front of the railcar ÖBB 5144. This piece dating from 1951 stands on a museum track next to the building of the Semmering station. Unfortunately, it is inaccessible. So you can only enjoy the interior by a peek through its windows.
In August 2006, I went to the Silent Night Museum (Stille-Nacht-Museum) in Hallein. It primarily deals with Franz Xaver Gruber who is considered the composer of the famous Christmas carol Silent Night (Stille Nacht, Heilige Nacht).
Piber Castle (Schloss Piber) is a palace in the Austrian state of Styria. It is located next to the Federal Stud Piber which is known for breeding the famous Lipizzan stallions who are performing at the Spanish Riding School in Vienna.
Mirabell Palace (Schloss Mirabell) on the left side is especially known for its marble hall as wedding location. By the way Mirabell Gardens was also a set in the movie “Sound of Music”. On the picture above one can see the hindquarters of the Winged Horse (Pegasus) where Maria and the children danced around.
Lower Belvedere Palace (Unteres Belvedere) and Upper Belvedere Palace (Oberes Belvedere) constitute an ensemble near Vienna Main Railway Station (Hauptbahnhof). Both palaces are venues of a museum and gallery named Belvedere. Next to the Lower Belvedere one also can visit art exhibitions in the former Orangery and the Palace Stables of the ensemble.
Looking at the sculptures decorating the courtyard of Schallaburg Castle (Schloss Schallaburg), you may discover the ‘Hundefräulein‘. This is a sculpture showing a lady with a dog’s head. Schallaburg Castle is a Renaissance castle located in Lower Austria and houses notable exhibitions every year.
Two beauties of Graz: The landmark of Graz named Uhrturm in the background and the Franciscan Church (Franziskanerkirche) in the foreground. The church is part of the oldest monastery in the city. Sometimes I walk through the hidden cloister for relaxing from the hurly-burly of the shopping streets in Graz.
This Baroque abbey still offers the remains of a medieval monastery in its basement, one can reach by an elevator. The complex also includes a theme garden dedicated to the different world religions located not far away from the monastery.
The monument to the Austrian writer Franz Grillparzer (1791-1872) was built in 1889 and displays scenes from his works. It is located in a public park of Vienna named Volksgarten, which is worth a visit, especially during the heyday of roses.