Before the Second
World War, Vienna stood side by side with Paris
and London in importance, beauty, and power,
thanks to its status as a major transit point
between Western and Eastern Europe. The rich and
elite of Europe vacationed here while the poor
viewed it as an opportunity to escape their
miseries. Here, artists and composers sought
inspiration and revolutionaries ironed out their
plans and theories.
Vienna, however, has not always been
considered such a romantic destination. The city
found itself just a few miles from the Iron
Curtain during the Cold War. Hence, trade ceased
with the East, and foreigners found little
reason to visit a war-torn city. However, with
the sudden popularity and growth of the Eastern
Jewels (Budapest, Prague, and Kraków), Vienna
rediscovered its role as a gateway. In-transit
tourists, as well, have rediscovered Vienna's
old-world charm, often making an unexpected
extended stay. There is no better time than now
to visit this magnificent city.
People traveling to Vienna looking for
fin-de-siècle architecture and a relaxed
atmosphere will not be disappointed. Imagine a
city shaped by artists and composers 150 years
ago. Huge palaces seem to appear on every major
street corner, and the sky is pierced with
towering church steeples. The buildings along
the Ringstrasse seem to offer a bit of every
European building style, from the medieval
Rathaus, Gothic Stephensdom, to the Greco-Roman
parliament building.
Visitors quickly embrace the old-world style
of Vienna. The streets are lined with quaint
shops, cafés, and bakeries. Men are still
gentlemen, while women still dress themselves up
before strolling around town. The locals are
generally conservative, well educated, and well
mannered. They will notice you looking at a map
or deciphering a sign, but are too polite to
bother you. However, if you ask them, then you
will find that most Viennese speak a bit of
English and are happy to help a traveler.
