Thursday, March 6, 2014

Visiting Vienna [Part 1/6]: Museum Quarter and Hofburg Palace

Here it is, the first part of images from my recent trip to Vienna. I have visited this wonderful city two times before, but I was particularly keen on visiting again with my 6D, and capturing the city from new angles. I visited with a group of friends, but ended up sightseeing with my sister and her boyfriend. The various locations hadn't changed at all, but the images still turned out different then before.

This is a multi part travel series. Other parts include
Part One: Museum Quarter and Hofburg Palace 
Part Two: Inner City and Horse carriages
Part Three: Graben, Stepahnsplatz and Metro
Part Four: Alpine Gardens
Part Five: Belvedere Castle
Part Six: Schönbrunn Palace

click on the images for a bigger view


The Mariahilfer Street is one of two prominent shopping streets in Vienna. Upon exiting it, you will reach the Museum Quarter of Vienna, which houses multiple museums and many statues.





This is the Natural History Museum in Vienna. The museum's earliest collections of artifacts start over 250 years ago. Their main fields of research cover a wide range of topics from the origins of our Solar system and the evolution of animals and plants to human evolution, as well as prehistoric traditions and customs. It is quite a sight up close.


Another view of the museum from the beautifully planted and kept bushes in front of it.


In front of the museum you will find the Maria-Theresien square. Facing each other from the sides of the square are two near identical buildings, the Natural History Museum and the Art History Museum on the other side.


The Maria Theresa Monument is a huge memorial in the center of the square. This is probably the most important monument from the Habsburger. The over 19 m high and approx. 44 tons heavy monument pictures the empress Maria Theresa in a 6 m large bronze statue. She greets the people with her right hand and in the left hand she holds a document roll of the -Pragmatische Sanktion- and a scepter.


The Art History Museum on the other side of the square.




Taking pictures, looking up information... :)



We leave the Museum Quarter and go to the Hofburg Palace.


The main entrance are huge stone gates, through which you enter and come in front of the Hofburg Palace and a big open space.



Dog's are playing in the far distance as the Rathouse (town hall) is peaking through the trees on the other side of the street.



Hofburg Palace is a palace located in Vienna, Austria, that has housed some of the most powerful people in European and Austrian history, including the Habsburg dynasty, rulers of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. It currently serves as the official residence of the President of Austria. It was the Habsburgs' principal winter residence, as the Schönbrunn Palace (which you will see in part six) was their preferred summer residence.





Thanks for coming along with me on this trip, and I hope you will enjoy the other parts that will follow.

43 comments:

  1. Very interesting to see Vienna through your eyes!

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    1. I am always very curious to see what visitors to Vienna enjoy and notice. It's so different if one has lived in a city for a few years (I have friends who were born in Rome, but have never visited the Vatican, "because it's will always be there").

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    2. A fresh set of eyes can discover many new things, or just view ordinary things from different angles. Happens to me too, when I see tourist images of Mostar.

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  2. A beautiful series of photographs, Mersad. The rich green in the Maria Theresa monument really pops!

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    1. And it really is that green. No color correction there! :)

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  3. I am loving this. I have always enjoyed seeing Merisi's photos so I know I will enjoy seeing yours too. Impressed that you have planned a series. You are very organised :).

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    1. Merisi is of course the Vienna resident and expert. I'm merely providing a tourist point of view. :)

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  4. I love how the green pops out at you in a lot of those photos especially the statues.

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  5. The architecture in the museums and the palace is totally amazing to me. We have nothing like that in the United States. So beautiful. Great photographs.

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    1. It's a whole different world. I was in the USA before, and the architecture was beautiful but very different.

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  6. Wonderful photos! Thanks for such an interesting tour. Looking forward to seeing more.

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  7. Such a beautiful, historic city and your captures are superb as always, Mersad, they're the next best thing to being there myself!! I do love the architecture, the incredible museums and the palace! Superb! Hope you and your family have a wonderful weekend!!

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  8. impressive architecture and statuary.

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  9. HI Mersad What a wonderful tour this is and it is only started for us. Wonderful architecture and magnificent statues. It looks a very beautiful city. Looking forward to the horse drawn carriages tomorrow.

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  10. important things first. tell your sister I love her boots with all the buckles.
    that monument with the horses and statues is gorgeous. i could stare and stare at it for all that detail. a lovely city and i don't think i have even seen photos of Vienna before...as always your photos are wonderful..

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    1. I will let her now that. :) So glad you enjoyed these.

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  11. Stunning architecture. I'm looking forward to the rest of your visit.

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  12. Very impressive statues and the architecture of the buildings is just amazing. As always, I really enjoyed seeing through your camera lens all your beautiful photos.

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  13. I was in Wien just once but I fall in love of this wonderful city, thanks to remember me this great place with your beautiful shots
    Ciao
    Stefano

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  14. I love your images of Vienna.. looking forward to seeing the rest of the series.
    (Your series are always so enjoyable.)

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    1. Thank you so much Laura. I always try to divide the parts in interesting ways, and write some informations down as well. Glad you enjoy it!

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  15. That is indeed a beautiful city! The museum is extremely impressive! A gorgeous building!

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  16. Eine Stadt in der es immer wieder viel zu entdecken gibt. Ganz ganz tolle Fotos lieber Mersad. Danke dir fürs Zeigen und meine Erinnerung an Wien^^

    Liebe Grüssle

    Nova

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  17. I've really enjoyed the museum tour!!!

    The building and architecture [and history] is very impressive.

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  18. You and your camera brought out the atmosphere of Vienna very well. I am always surprised to see things that we have at home... in this case the H & M carrier bag.

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  19. Tolle Fotos, ich bin ganz verliebt in Wien. Ich war dort schon ganz oft und ich mag immer wieder. Ich habe in meinem Blog auch eine längere Serie über Wien. Ich warte gespannt auf die folgenden Teile. Liebe Grüße

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    1. Das werde ich herraussuchen und mir anschauen!

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  20. P.S.: You need to come back mid-April when all those lilac bushes on Heldenplatz and other places are in full blown! And then at Christmas, and .... ;-)

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    1. Full bloom, I meant to type.

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    2. I was in Vienna before, when it was in full bloom, and I agree, It can't be compared, whole different city.

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  21. Wonderful...what a beautiful city.

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  22. Tu as du apprécier cette magnifique visite!
    Très bon week-end à toi

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  23. I visited Vienna once, many years ago, and didn't stay nearly long enough to explore the beautiful city thoroughly.

    Karen

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    1. It really does take a couple of days (a full week maybe) to discover and see most of it. I think this is a city where you can leisurely walk through it the whole day and be filled with joy and feel relaxed.

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  24. Such a wonderful series, so far, Mersad. You look very good in photos as well!

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    1. I know I don't often show up, since I'm the one taking the pictures. Thanks Linda.

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  25. I love those majestic buildings!

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  26. amazing architecture, do u have to pay?

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  27. I barely made it to visit before it's time to post again for this week's FSO topic. What a beautiful, historic city and you showcase it so well as always. I love the architecture, the museums and the palace! All so beautiful!

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  28. Thanks for sharing your Experience of Vienna .... It makes me want to visit Barcelona right away! Thanks for sharing this post.
    Package Tours Austria | Hotels In Vienna

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  29. Exquisitely beautiful photos of Vienna's gorgeous architecture, illustrating its rich history, and stately elegance. Love the pics of the palace!

    Poppy

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