Home of the eponymous musical classicism, Austria's capital boasts a historic centre, the Innere Stadt, which is a World Heritage Site. Running in Vienna evokes both the splendours of the Habsburg era and medieval Austria, in a renovated city offering an unrivalled quality of life.
‘It's no coincidence that the music of the soul comes from Austria. It is no coincidence that Mozart was born in Salzburg and Schubert in Vienna. It is the organic expression of these cities, which are not petrified but have remained Austrian landscapes,’ wrote Ernst Lothar in his book “Melody of Vienna”.
Crossed by the Danube, Vienna stands proudly in the east of Austria, close to the borders with Slovakia and Hungary. Nicknamed the ‘City of Dreams’ after Sigmund Freud, it is also known as the ‘City of Music’.
From Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart to Franz Liszt, Ludwig van Beethoven and Franz Schubert, Viennese classicism (re)defined European musical art and continues to shine, centuries later. As you stroll or run through Vienna, you'll come across the sublime State Opera House, built in the 19th century to honour the Austrian capital's famous artists.
The Innere Stadt, in the heart of intimate Vienna
In the heart of the city, in the Innere Stadt, you can step right into the splendours of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The Hofburg imperial palace and its outbuildings occupy a large part of the first district. Within the Hofburg, if you feel like it, you will discover the museum of Sissi, the empress whose youth was the subject of a series of romantic works. There are also the Emperor's flats and the Court Silver Treasure Room, where the crown of the Holy Roman Empire is on display along with other regalia.
Just a few steps away, you can quickly lose yourself in the museum district. This is home to an imposing complex built in the former imperial stables. The nearby Albertina Palace, which was also one of the residences of the Habsburg dynasty, was built in 1801 to house the works of art collected by Duke Albert of Saxe-Teschen. Today, the museum houses one of the richest collections in the world, with almost a million prints and more than 65,000 master drawings! A true paradise for art lovers.
The Town Hall or the Austrian Parliament, as well as St Stephen's Cathedral, are other places well worth a visit and which you will have the opportunity to see on your trip to Vienna. Once you've had your fill of architecture, don't hesitate to turn back towards the Hofburg, then head for the Volksgarten!
This ‘People's Garden’, located around the Hofburg Palace, was built on the old city fortifications that were destroyed by Napoleon in 1809. It's a popular spot for runners and walkers alike, and you'll love the tranquillity of this sleek park in the heart of the capital!
From Wieden to Fasanviertel
Around the centre of Vienna is the Ringstrasse, a ring boulevard built on the line of the old city walls, which encircles the Innere Stadt. It is dotted with important monuments from the Austrian imperial era and is one of the capital's most beautiful boulevards. On the other side of the Ring, there are a number of equally attractive districts. Wieden, Vienna's fourth district, is located in the Gürtel, which was built in place of the old city wall. Originally one of Vienna's oldest suburbs - its name first appears in written form in 1137 - its main street, Wiedner Hauptstraße, is thought to predate it. It runs south from Karlsplatz and the pleasant Resselpark.
Not far from here, you'll find one of Austria's most important religious buildings, the Church of St Charles Borromeo, built at the end of the 18th century on the orders of Emperor Charles VI, from which the name Karlsplatz (Charles's Square) derives. In fact, this church stood on the axis between the Hofburg and the Neue Favorita, a palace further down Wieden that also belonged to the royal family. If you happen to pass it on your run, you should know that since it was sold by Maria Theresa of Austria, it has become a school, now the Theresianum Gymnasium, which also houses the Austrian Diplomatic Academy.
As you head towards Fasanviertel, you will undoubtedly come across the immense Belvederegarten, home to the eponymous palace, one of the city's largest Baroque palaces.
Built in the early 18th century, it now houses a museum, one of the highlights of which is the Gustav Klimt collection. Don't hesitate to wander through its wonderful ‘Swiss garden’, which surrounds the Belvedere 21 museum of modern art, or the adjoining botanical garden of the University of Vienna.
Schönbrunn or Donauturm ?
From one end of the Viennese conurbation to the other, the walk is over 10 km as the crow flies. So you might not want to go round all the attractions the city has to offer!
Outside the city centre, however, there are a number of major sights to visit. These include, of course, Schönbrunn Palace. A landmark of Austrian culture, it is one of Vienna's most popular tourist attractions, and has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1996. It stands in Hietzing, to the west of the Innere Stadt, and was home to a number of major buildings before the construction of the current castle at the turn of the 18th century, which has since undergone numerous modifications. Napoleon II, Bonaparte's son, known as the ‘King of Rome’, lived here and died after the fall of his father.
Schönbrunn is surrounded by immense French-style gardens, featuring a magnificent gazebo and faux Roman ruins, as well as an orangery.
Diametrically opposite the castle from the city centre, the Danube and its unspoilt banks also beckon. The Danube Tower, which stands near the Donaupark on an island nestling in the river, is one of the highlights. At a height of 150 metres, its platform allows you to admire the view over the city, while enjoying a coffee or even a meal! You can even go bungee jumping... or take part in a sporting event called the Donauturm-Lauf, organised every year in November. This involves running up the 775 steps of the tower's staircase. The current record is 3 minutes and 23.58 seconds!
On the long Donauinsel, the artificial island that stretches for more than 21 kilometres between the Danube and the Neue Donau canal, you can also take a stroll and enjoy the immense leisure space it offers its visitors. From ‘Copa Cagrana’, named after the neighbouring district of Kagran, to the south of the island where there are numerous nudist beaches, the Donauinsel is mainly a place to relax. In June, the Donauinselfest, a major music festival, attracts several million visitors every year!
Run, walk or cycle with JOOKS from the Innere Stadt to the Donauinsel!
Find the routes in the city of Vienna and over 1400 others on the JOOKS application.
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