The Ringstrasse, Austria's majestic contribution to urban planning, was born exactly 150 years ago on May 1.
View from City Hall —
The Ringstrasse, Austria's majestic contribution to urban planning, was born exactly 150 years ago on May 1.
WienTourismus / Manfred Horvath
The Burgtheater, or Court Theater, was built with special side entrances so that Austria's royalty didn't have to mix with commoners. A young Gustav Klimt worked on their ceiling decorations and marked one with the only self-portrait he ever painted.
Burgtheater —
The Burgtheater, or Court Theater, was built with special side entrances so that Austria's royalty didn't have to mix with commoners. A young Gustav Klimt worked on their ceiling decorations and marked one with the only self-portrait he ever painted.
JOE KLAMAR/AFP/Getty Images
Opened in 1873, Cafe Landtmann was frequented by Sigmund Freud.
Cafe Landtmann —
Opened in 1873, Cafe Landtmann was frequented by Sigmund Freud.
JOE KLAMAR/AFP/Getty Images
The Ringstrasse was originally inaugurated by Austria's Emperor Franz Josef. The street was a source of royal intrigue -- Franz Josef housed his concubine close by.
Imperial Opera House —
The Ringstrasse was originally inaugurated by Austria's Emperor Franz Josef. The street was a source of royal intrigue -- Franz Josef housed his concubine close by.
Topical Press Agency/Getty Images
Today the Hofburg houses a string of minor museums and the offices of the Austrian president.
Hofburg Palace, Heldenplatz —
Today the Hofburg houses a string of minor museums and the offices of the Austrian president.
Courtesy WienTourismus / MAXUM
The Rathaus (Vienna's City Hall) features a neo-Gothic Cinderella exterior that's almost Disneyland in appearance.
Rathaus —
The Rathaus (Vienna's City Hall) features a neo-Gothic Cinderella exterior that's almost Disneyland in appearance.
WienTourismus / Karl Thomas
The neoclassical Parliament building was completed in 1883. It may have been mostly a talking shop for the peoples of the Empire, but it wasn't completely toothless. It eventually forced the country's Habsburg rulers to resign.
Parliament —
The neoclassical Parliament building was completed in 1883. It may have been mostly a talking shop for the peoples of the Empire, but it wasn't completely toothless. It eventually forced the country's Habsburg rulers to resign.
Courtesy WienTourismus/Christian Stemper
The Ringstrasse was also home to Archduke Ludwig Victor, youngest brother of Franz Josef. He was "Luzi Wuzi" to his friends in the demi-monde which he frequented cross-dressing in drag. After several public scandals he was dispatched to Salzburg.
Royal scandal —
The Ringstrasse was also home to Archduke Ludwig Victor, youngest brother of Franz Josef. He was "Luzi Wuzi" to his friends in the demi-monde which he frequented cross-dressing in drag. After several public scandals he was dispatched to Salzburg.
Courtesy WienTourismus / Christian Stemper
Once a palace and now a luxury hotel, the Palais Coburg sits on top of a still-intact section of the old city walls.
Palais Coburg —
Once a palace and now a luxury hotel, the Palais Coburg sits on top of a still-intact section of the old city walls.
Courtesy Palais Coburg Hotel Residence
The Palais Coburg claims the largest Chateau Rothschild wine collection outside France. Visitors can book a wine tour in its cellar, rated as one of the Top 10 in Europe.
Great rack —
The Palais Coburg claims the largest Chateau Rothschild wine collection outside France. Visitors can book a wine tour in its cellar, rated as one of the Top 10 in Europe.
Courtesy Palais Coburg Hotel Residence
The Volksgarten, or People's Garden, once stood in the grounds of the Epstein Palais. It's the perfect spot to appreciate the Ringstrasse's mishmash of architectural styles.
Volksgarten —
The Volksgarten, or People's Garden, once stood in the grounds of the Epstein Palais. It's the perfect spot to appreciate the Ringstrasse's mishmash of architectural styles.
WienTourismus / Christian Stemper