Vienna is well known to generations of Bulgarians
Imperial capital, city of music, architecture, and refined urban life. But do we really know it?
Journalist and traveler Elena Gelovska takes us off the beaten tourist track. Among unusual buildings, urban stories, hidden sights, and small human gestures, she reveals a different Vienna – calm, accessible, and surprisingly close.
The photos were taken by a team of friends at an unusual time – between a pandemic, quarantine, and a terrorist attack in the Austrian capital.
Enjoy a different perspective of the city of waltzes
The unknown Vienna beyond the tourist routes
After the terrorist's shots echoed through the center of Vienna on the evening of November 2nd, and authorities ordered patrons of bars, concert halls, and theaters to remain inside while the neutralization operation was underway, the city showed its character.
The musicians continued their performance to calm the audience, and the management of the five-star hotel
„Sacher“ spontaneously offered its guests and employees an overnight stay on site.
I believe that it is precisely because of this humanity, shown in all circumstances, that the Austrian capital has been ranked as one of the best cities to live in the world for years.
The imperial city, the city of the Secession, of Mozart, Beethoven, and Strauss, is also one of the most welcoming places for tourists.
Even on a limited budget, a person can always find something to do – outdoor concerts, festivals, screenings, beaches
the banks of the old Danube, the endless Vienna Woods, and the small wineries among the vineyards.
Vienna is among the most visited European capitals by Bulgarians. Therefore, I would like to share some lesser-known details about its friendliness and accessibility, discovered during my aimless strolls through its streets and squares.
How to make a Viennese cake
You can watch the confectioners work in the kitchen of the legendary Demel pastry shop completely free of charge.
It is located meters from the Hofburg Palace, on one of the oldest streets in the city – Kohlmarkt.
According to legend, Franz Sacher apprenticed here in the 1830s.
Later, long court battles were waged between Demel and Sacher over the famous cake, but today the two confectioneries coexist peacefully.
Every visitor can freely approach the glass partition of the kitchen and observe the work of the confectioners as much as they want.
as long as they want.
Express elevator in Vienna City Hall
Few tourists find the time to enter the Vienna City Hall (Rathaus), even though they pass by it daily.
There is located one of the most curious elevators in Europe – without doors and without stops. The two cabins move continuously in opposite directions, and their speed allows for easy boarding and disembarking while in motion.
In addition, free guided tours are organized every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.
Another country on the tourist's list
Just a few minutes from the entrance to Prater is one of Vienna's strangest attractions - the Republic of Kugelmugel.
The orange spherical structure was declared an independent state in the 1970s by a local eccentric who had a long battle with the authorities over his right to build.
Today, the „state“ is a popular stop for curious tourists.
22 divided by 7 equals approximately 3.142857.
The underpass at Karlsplatz square hides an unusual work of art.
Since 2006, the digits after the decimal point of the number Pi have been continuously written on a mirrored wall.
The installation is part of the „Factoid“ project by Canadian artist Ken Bloom. Through mathematical models, he presents various social, cultural, and scientific facts about the world and Vienna.
This is just one of many examples of how art in the Austrian capital is all around us.
The smallest house in Vienna
At the corner of Burggasse and Breitegasse streets is Vienna's smallest house.
Its area is only 14 square meters, spread over two floors.
Built in 1872, it still functions today as the Schmolgruber family's watchmaking workshop.
And the biggest
Vienna is also home to one of the longest residential buildings in Europe – the „Karl-Marx-Hof“.
Built between 1927 and 1930, the building is 1100 meters long.
To get from one end to the other, a few tram stops are needed.
The complex is a symbol of the city's social housing policy and continues to impress with its scale and maintenance.
Apartment in a gas tank
One of the most successful transformations of industrial heritage in Vienna are the Gasometers.
The four immense gas storage facilities from the late 19th century today house residences, shops, restaurants, cinemas, and cultural spaces.
They are connected by glazed passages and are an example of how old industrial facilities can be given new life.
People, houses, empires
The title of this text is a loanword from Aleko Konstantinov's immortal „Bay Ganyo“.
And really, with these three words, it feels like everything has been said about Vienna.
First are the people – those who stayed together and remained calm on the night of the attack.
Next are the houses – buildings that do not fall under the onslaught of time, but receive new life and new meaning.
And finally, there are the splendors – the palaces, parks, and architectural details that lend style, charm, and dignity to this most human of cities.
See more Author Elena Gelovska here
