Otto Wagner Schützenhaus

Schützenhaus by Otto Wagner in Vienna, Austria

The Schützenhaus was built in 1904 – 1908 according to plans by Otto Wagner. The building was part of a planned weir. Schützenhaus refers to the control gates (Schütze) used in such weirs. Today, the building houses a restaurant called “Otto Wagner Schützenhaus”. [German]

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Crescent with a face in Graz

House sign with a moon showing a face

This house sign in Graz shows a bird standing on a combination of a star and a crescent. The combination of star and crescent was already known in the Hellenistic period (4th–1st centuries BCE). The crescent represents the moon, and the star represents the sun or the morning star. [German]

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Manhole cover in Graz

Manhole cover in Graz, Austria

The manhole covers in Graz show the city arms. It is a Panther with flames from all body openings. The depiction is similar to the Styrian coat of arms. However, the modern Styrian Panther has horns and only one flame from his mouth. [German]

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Luise Spannring in Salzburg

Stove tile at the Steingasse in Salzburg, Austria

This ceramic tile in the Steingasse is reminiscent of the ceramicist Luise Spannring (1894-1982). In Salzburg, she became known as the founder of a ceramic school. Her works are exhibited in numerous museums. In the Salzburg Museum, you see ceramic nativity scenes from her. [German]

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Weltmuseum in Vienna

Weltmuseum Wien

When I first visited the museum, it was known as the Museum für Völkerkunde (Museum of Ethnology). Today it is called Weltmuseum Wien (World Museum Vienna). The exhibits are the same. But the information is one facet richer: As a visitor, I learn a lot more about the circumstances under which the cultural objects came into the museum.

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Blaue Kreuz in Kittsee

The Blue Cross of Kittsee, Austria

The ‘Blaue Kreuz‘ (Blue Cross) is a colourful piety column in Kittsee, a small town in the Austrian state of Burgenland. The column is dated 1752 and shows a Pietà. Considering it is exposed to wind and weather, I was surprised by how bright-coloured this column looked.

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