Vienna. A modern city. Architectural landmarks

Vienna, Austria's capital city lies in the northeastern part of the country on the south bank of the Danube River. The city's location at the intersection of a number of trade routes helped its growth. The Habsburgs made Vienna their capital in 1273, and the city's economic and political importance grew rapidly thereafter. Vienna was badly damaged during World War II, but the Viennese rebuilt almost all of the city's landmarks, and the city regained much of its former spirit and wealth.

Vienna, above, covers about 160 square miles (415 square kilometers). Many of the city's most famous landmarks stand in its central section—the Inner City. The Schonbrunn Palace, with its gardens and zoo, and the Vienna Woods lie near the outskirts of the city.

A modern city. Today, Vienna is Austria's chief industrial city. Its industries manufacture chemicals, clothing, leatherware, medicine, and radio and television products. The city also hosts several international agencies, including a United Nations (UN) center that serves as a conference site and provides office space for some UN agencies.

Vienna is also considered one of the leading cultural centers in Europe. During the 1700's and 1800's, the city was a renowned center of literature, music, and science. A number of famous composers, scientists, and writers made their home in the city, among them Ludwig van Beethoven, Sigmund Freud, and Hugo von Hofmannsthal.

Today, tourists come from around the world to enjoy the city's cultural attractions. Vienna has one of the greatest collections of art treasures in Europe, showcased in such museums and art galleries as the Albertina and the Museum of Art History. Viennese opera houses, such as the State Opera House, and major theaters, such as the Burgtheater, all have worldwide reputations. The city's orchestras, including the Vienna Symphony Orchestra and the Vienna Philharmonic, have also won international fame. Throughout the summer, the city offers ballet and opera performances, concerts, and musical festivals.

Architectural landmarks.Vienna has also preserved most of its architectural treasures. Many of the city's historic buildings and landmarks as well as its most fashionable shopping districts are in the old "Inner City" section in central Vienna.

The south tower of St. Stephen's Cathedral is one of the highest church towers in the world at 446 feet (136 meters). Visitors can climb 312 steps to a chamber at the top of the tower and enjoy a magnificent view of Vienna's cobbled streets, churches, and palaces

St. Stephen's Cathedral, with its High-Church tower, stands at the heart of the Inner City. Several blocks west is the Hofburg, a palace that combines the modern with the medieval. The royal apartments of the Hofburg, occupied by Austria's rulers for more than 600 years, are now the official residence of the president of Austria. Other buildings in the Hofburg include the Imperial Library, several museums, and the Spanish Riding School where the famous Lipizzan horses are trained. Nearby are two of Vienna's most beautiful parks— the Burggarten and the Volksgarten, which is well known for its roses.

Lipizzan horses learn to perform graceful jumping and dancing feats at the Spanish Riding School in the Hofburg. These beautiful show horses have been trained at the Viennese school for more than 400 years.

A band of streets called the Ringstrassen encircles the Inner City. Some of Vienna's most impressive public buildings line these streets, including the Museum of Art History, the City Hall, the Opera House, the Parliament Building, and the Stock Exchange. These buildings date from the second half of the 1800's.

Several important buildings, such as the Karlskirche (Church of St. Charles) and the Belvedere Palace, lie outside the Ringstrassen in the older suburban districts of the city. These structures rank among the finest existing examples of baroque architecture, a highly decorative style of the 1600's and 1700's.

The Schonbrunn Palace, another splendid baroque building, stands at the southwestern edge of the city. The Schonbrunn Zoo, in the palace grounds was built in 1752 and ranks as the world's oldest zoo. A long park called the Prater lies north of the Danube. In the Prater is an amusement park with a famous Ferris wheel. Instead of seats for two people, the rim of the Ferris has large enclosed cabins, each of which can carry dozens of people. The Vienna Woods line the western edge of the city.

Cakes and pastries tempt customers in a Konditorei, or Viennese pastry shop. Many people enjoy gathering at sidewalk cafes in the Inner City to drink coffee, eat cake, and watch the world go by.