The Vienna State Opera is one of the most prestigious operas in the world. The 1.709-seat venue was built between 1861 and 1869 and was inaugurated in the presence of Emperor Franz Joseph I and Empress Elisabeth of Austria. The Vienna Opera has been conducted by major musicians as Gustav Mahler or Herbert von Karajan.  Even today, the ambiance and… Read more

Where does the Easter bunny come from? The most prominent secular Easter symbol supposedly comes from German Lutheran traditions, although the Bible makes no mention of a long-eared, short-tailed creature who delivers decorated eggs to well-behaved children.  The exact origins of this habit are unclear, but rabbits and eggs are traditional symbols of fertility and… Read more

The Hofburg is the former imperial palace of the Habsburg dynasty. It is located in the centre of Vienna and it was built in the 13th century. It also served as the imperial winter residence, as Schönbrunn Palace was the summer residence.  Since 1946, it is the official residence and workplace of the president of… Read more

Palais Schönborn-Batthyány is a Baroque palace in the heart of Vienna, Austria. It was built between 1699 and 1706 for count Adam Batthyány whose family had very close links with the Hungarian history. In 1740, the residence was sold to the noble Schönborn family. After this transfer, the interior of the palace was redecorated, an… Read more

The Hohensalzburg Fortress is a large medieval fortress in the city of Salzburg, Austria. It is 250 meter long and 150 meter wide, which makes it one of the largest medieval castles in Europe.  It is a real eye-catcher, high above the Baroque towers of the city and remains a visible landmark of the region.… Read more