There are a lot of signs in Graz mentioning the string A.E.I.O.U. Habsburg Emperor Frederick III used these vocals to mark his buildings while staying in Graz. The meaning of this string is still unsolved. [German]
Tag: Austria
Porta principalis dextra in Vienna
This mosaic at a building in Vienna reminds pedestrians of an ancient gate (porta principalis dextra) that stood here in the 1st century. It was part of the Roman fort Vindobona, the nucleus of modern Vienna.
Karmel Mayerling in Alland
The estate in the Vienna Woods was first mentioned in the 13th century. In 1887, the Austrian Crown Prince Rudolf converted the facility into a hunting lodge (Mayerling Castle). On January 30, 1889, Rudolf and his mistress Baroness Mary Vetsera died here under circumstances that were not completely solved. [German]
Sundial in Neunkirchen
You find this sundial on the facade of a 16th-century building located at the main square of Neunkirchen. The city is the capital of the district of Neunkirchen in the Austrian state of Lower Austria.
Kunsthaus Wien
There is a splash of colour in the grey streets of the 3rd district of Vienna: the Kunsthaus Wien. The former furniture factory for Thonet chairs now houses a museum for Friedensreich Hundertwasser and shows photo exhibitions that attract attention.
Templar museum
The Templar Museum at Lockenhaus Castle (Austria) presents the history of the Knights Templar. Besides that, it tells about Austrian places related to this military order.
Michaelertor in Vienna
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. [German]
Silent Night Museum in Hallein
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).
Lower Belvedere Palace
Lower Belvedere Palace (Unteres Belvedere) and Upper Belvedere Palace (Oberes Belvedere) constitute an ensemble near Vienna Central Station (Hauptbahnhof). In the beginning, the Lower Belvedere Palace served as the home of Prince Eugene of Savoy.
Franciscan Church in Graz
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.
Sundial in Tamsweg
This sundial on the parish church of Tamsweg was created in 1741. It shows James, son of Zebedee (Jakobus, Sohn des Zebedäus) The saint is also known as James the Great (Jakobus, der Ältere). The depiction of this structure refers to the fact that James is the patron of the church. [German]
Sundial in Maria Saal
Sundial fans find this piece on an outer wall of St Mary’s Church in Maria Saal. The church is also known as Propstei- und Wallfahrtskirche Mariae Himmelfahrt or Maria Saaler Dom. [German]