ST PETER’S CHURCH
This is a lovely small Church on 1, Petersplatz just
off Graben. It is the second oldest Church in the
City. The pews curve around and it is a very intimate
Church.
GRABEN
Graben runs at right angles from Kohlmarkt up to
St Stephen’s Square. It continues the fashionable
shops and coffeehouses of Kohlmarkt and is a lovely
pedestrian area. On the Graben, you’ll find
the strange “Pillar of the Plague”. Below
the Graben are ancient “conveniences”
(W.C.’s) which are worth a visit!
THE TOWN HALL RATHAUSPLATZ
The Town Hall or Rathaus stands on the Inner Ring
facing the Burgtheater (National Theatre). It is a
most graceful building with Neo-Gothic and Renaissance
features.
LIECHTENSTEIN PALACE
This Baroque Palace has recently been restored and
has reopened again as the Modern Art Museum –
A Palace of Baroque Pleasures. The world’s most
important private art collection of Prince Hans Adam
II von und zu Liectenstein is on show here.
DANUBE CANAL AND RIVER VIENNA
The Danube was re-routed many years ago to take it
away from central Vienna and so the first strip of
water as you move north of the Innere Stadt or Ring
is the Danube Canal (it forms the northern boundary
of the Ring). Way out beyond this is the Danube River
itself now in three channels.
On the “island” in the Danube River is
the UNO complex of buildings and many more commercial
edifices (many of them built in the last few years).
This island also serves as a recreational area.
The Vienna United Nations Buildings are used for
international conferences and meetings, the third
United Nations headquarters after New York and Geneva
KARLSKIRKE, THE CHURCH OF SAINT CHARLES
Karskirke is a huge Baroque church dedicated to St
Charles Borromeo built by Emperor Karl VI. It has
a massive solid dome and there are two 47 meter high
Doric columns at the front of the Church.
St Charles Church is just a step away from Karlsplatz.
The space at Karlsplatz is sometimes used for outdoor
concerts. The entrances to Karlsplatz Underground
Station were designed by Otto Wagner in the Modernist
style in cream and green, with yellow sunflower motifs.
