Otto Wagner Church: A Must Visit In Vienna.

If you have enough time and are interested in nice architecture and beautiful parks, the Otto Wagner Church is an absolute must when visiting Vienna. Designed by Otto Wagner, it’s considered one of the most important Art Nouveau churches in the world. The copper-platted gold dome (which looks a bit like half a lemon) is visible from quite a distance.

The reason why this church was built on the highest point of a Psychiatric Hospital was because there were heavy protests back in 1904 when construction started due to it’s simplicity (the baroque style would have been much preferred by the Viennese, and even by the archduke Franz Ferdinand). It would have been impossible to built such a church anywhere else in the city, but since the Steinhof Psychiatric Hospital was the largest and most modern of its kind when it opened in 1907, a modern church was an obvious choice.

Why Visit The Steinhof Grounds?

Well, apart from the Otto Wagner Church, the Steinhof Grounds are a really beautiful and soothing spot in Vienna. Soothing might not be the word that comes into mind when thinking of a park that involves passing a Psychiatric Hospital, but it’s a fact. The Grounds consist of 42.000 square metres of greenery and have long been a popular recreation area among the Viennese.

How To Get To The Otto Wagner Church:

• Address: Baumgartner Höhe 1 , 1140 Wien
• Option 1: Metro Line U4 until Unter St. Veit and then Bus 47A until Psychiatrisches Zentrum
• Option 2: Metro Line U3 until Ottakring (last stop) and then Bus 48A (also starts from the bus station Dr. Karl Renner Ring) until Psychiatrisches Zentrum
  

If you have enough time and are interested in nice architecture, the Otto Wagner Church is an absolute must when visiting Vienna.

The church dedicated to Saint Leopold was built between 1903 and 1907 by the architect Otto Wagner, with mosaics and stained glass by Koloman Moser, and sculptural angels by Othmar Schimkowitz. The great majority of the other smaller details are the work of Otto Wagner himself.

The golden, lemon like, dome of the Otto Wagner Church can be seen almost from any higher spot in Vienna.

The Steinhof Psychiatric Hospital lies in the 14th district of Vienna, Penzing, and was built according to the plans of architect Otto Wagner and opened in 1907.

The Steinhof grounds are a popular excursion spot for Viennese on a lazy Sunday afternoon.

Some of the building of the Steinhof Psychiatric Hospital look quite creepy, and if you know the history, it doesn’t get that much better. There is a Holocaust memorial site for the “children of the Spiegelgrund”, since the Steinhof Hospital was a major site of Nazi-euthanasia.

The list of my 10 favourite coffeehouses in Vienna is in no particular order. I like all of them equality – it just depends where I am or what mood I’m in.

1. phil

The phil was the first one of its kind in Vienna. Today there are several coffee shops that offer food, drinks, shopping and culture all in one. The phil served as a role model and has become a real institution. Almost everything can be bought and most of the books and magazines here have been put together by the customers themselves. It’s a great place to sit for hours while listening to some great tunes.

• Address: Grumpendorferstrasse 10-12, 1060 Vienna
• Opening Hours: Monday 5.00pm – 1.00am & Tuesday – Sunday 9.00am – 1.00am
• Website

The inside of the phil is a mixture between a café, book shop and vintage furniture shopping. © stadtbekannt

Vintage furniture inside the phil in Vienna. © stadtbekannt

In summer you can also sit outside the phil.

2. burg.ring1

The shabby-chic look of the burg.ring1 might remind you of a coffeehouse in Berlin or London – or even one of the similar looking coffee houses in the 7th district of Vienna, yet the difference is the noble address and the spaciousness. It feels like an extended living room with a house bar. A real feel-good place with yummy breakfast and the best home-made lemonade.

• Address: Burgring 1, 1010 Vienna
• Opening Hours: Monday – Thursday 11.00am – 1.00am, Friday 11.00am – 2.00 am, Saturday 9.00am – 2.00am & Sunday 9.00am – 6.00pm
• Website

A cozy atmosphere inside the burg.ring1 in Vienna.

A cozy atmosphere inside the burg.ring1 in Vienna.

3. Kleines Café

Built by the famous Viennese architect Hermann Czech, the Kleines Café is a primary rock of the culture scene. It’s very popular, therefore overcrowded most of the time. But the wait is well worth it because the charm of this tiny café is beguiling. In summer, sit down at the Fransiskanerplatz, which is one of the most picturesque places of the inner city.

• Address: Franziskanerplatz 3, 1010 Vienna
• Opening Hours: Monday – Sunday 10.00am – 2.00am & Sunday 1.00pm – 2.00am

Kleines Café in Vienna. © stadtbekannt

Kleines Café on the Franziskanerplatz in Vienna. © stadtbekannt

4. Café Drechsler

The Drechsler has always been an institution in Vienna. In 2007, it was completely refurbish by the British star designer Sir Terence Coran. It’s still one of the most important meeting points in the scene, especially for a great breakfast after a hard night out in the town. Located right next to the Naschmarkt, this café is located in the hot spot of Vienna.

• Address: Linke Wienzeile 22, 1060 Vienna
• Opening Hours: Monday – Thursday 8.00am – Midnight, Friday & Saturday 8.00am – 2.00am, Sunday 8.00am – Midnight
• Website

Inside the Café Drechsler in Vienna.

Inside the Café Drechsler in Vienna. © stadtbekannt

Outside the Café Drechsler in Vienna.

5. Halle

One of the two undisputed centrepiece of the Museumsquartier (apart from Café Leopold), the Halle offers lots of seating spaces, high ceilings and designer furniture. But even with all the available room, this place is packed most of the times, so be sure to make a reservation – especially on weekends. In summer, there are approx. 200 additional seats outside in the centre of the MQ.

• Address: MQ, Museumsplatz 1, 1070 Vienna
• Opening Hours: Monday – Sunday 10.00am – 2.00am
• Website

The Halle at the MQ in Vienna. © stadtbekannt

The Halle at the MQ in Vienna. © stadtbekannt

The Halle at the MQ in Vienna.

6. Le Bol

French living and dining right here in Vienna? It’s possible! There are a couple of French restaurant in Vienna and the Le Bol is an original. Located in a side street of Vienna’s city centre, you almost feel like in a small French town. A very authentic, small & charming coffeehouse with a great atmosphere – also due to the French speaking waiters.

• Address: Neuer Markt 14, 1010 Vienna
• Opening Hours: Daily from 8.00am, Sunday from 10.00am
• Website

The French café Le Bol in Vienna.

The French café Le Bol in Vienna.

7. Café Sperl

Café Sperl might just be the most typical coffeehouse in Vienna – plus one of the few old-school ones that is not filled with smoke or run-down. Charm, tradition and history is a great priority here. This coffeehouse is a great place to get away from your daily routine: simply sit down, drink your coffee, read the newspaper and let time fly by. The “Herr Ober” (Viennese for waiter) might have to be asked twice, but no one is really stressed here. During summer, you can sit outside and eat one of the best Apfelstrudel in the city.

• Address: Grumpendorferstraße 11, 1060 Vienna
• Opening Hours: Monday – Saturday from 7.00am – 11.00pm & Sunday from 11.00am – 8.00pm
• Website

Inside Café Sperl in Vienna.

Inside Café Sperl in Vienna.

Outside Café Sperl in Vienna.

8. Daniel Bakery

From a Florentine bread salad and oriental antipasti, through to American Rib Eye Steak. At the Daniel Bakery you get all of that. But the bakery is not just popular with fans of international cuisine … those who love desserts & those with a sweet tooth will have lots of fun here. Listen to this: Crème brûlée, a great range of cookies, muffins, cupcakes or tasty cakes and gateaux (all homemade)…

• Address: Landstraßer Gürtel 5, 1030 Vienna
• Opening Hours: Daily from 06.30am – 1.00am (food is served until 11.00pm)
• Website

Daniel Bakery inside Hotel Daniel in Vienna.

Daniel Bakery inside Hotel Daniel in Vienna.

The hanging boat on the facade of Hotel Daniel in Vienna, Austria.

9. Café Berg

The Café Berg has been a popular breakfast spot in Vienna for quite some time. It’s also a meeting point for the local gay & lesbian scene (not only though) with the adjoining book shop Löwenherz which offers literature, music and film on the same topic. Customers are easy going and sometimes even glamorous.

• Address: Berggasse 8, 1090 Vienna
• Opening Hours: Daily from 10.00am – Midnight (Kitchen until 11.00pm)
• Website

Café Berg in Vienna.

10. Manameierei

The Manameierei is a wonderful spot in the greenery with high quality, yet simple and light food & drinks. It’s located right next to the Schwarzenbergpark, a stunningly beautiful area in the Northwest of Vienna great for excursions and walks, so make sure to have some spare time to get a seat. What I really appreciate is that the owners set a strong focus on food products, therefore most of them come from farmers in the adjoining area.

• Address: Exelbergstrasse 32, 1170 Vienna
• Opening Hours: Saturday & Sunday 9.00am – 6.00pm
• Website

The Manameierei in Vienna.

The Manameierei in Vienna. © Manameierei

Within 24 hours, Vienna and its surrounding was covered in 50cm of white powder. A true paradise for snow lovers and a pain in the butt for everyone else. For me, this only meant one thing: it was time for some hardcore cross-country-skiing!

So I packed my gear and was on my wait out to the Vienna Woods, where you’ll find lots of cross-country skiing slopes. Through to the temperature change the area was totally in fog and the ice crystals on the vegetation brought a real surreal look. It was almost a spooky atmosphere while skiing through the Vienna Woods because such weather phenomenon only occurs very seldom; the whole forest was covered with ice crystals. Everything was frozen, but still very fragile. The right temperature produced ice crystals on all the vegetation and it really looked like a winter wonderland…

Ice Crystals in the Vienna Woods, Austria.

Ice Crystals in the Vienna Woods, Austria.

Ice Crystals in the Vienna Woods, Austria.

Ice Crystals in the Vienna Woods, Austria.

Ice Crystals in the Vienna Woods, Austria.

Cross-Country-Skiing in the Vienna Woods, Austria.

Ice Crystals in the Vienna Woods, Austria.

Me shooting among Giants in the Vienna Woods, Austria.

We were a group of four friends who started exploring some unknown corners of our home city at 11.00 am. We managed to visit 7 Viennese monuments in a single day … you can imagine that we were completely exhausted afterwards :)

Paulinenwarte.

First we drove up to Türkenschanzpark in 18th district to climb up “Paulinenwarte”. It’s a just recently renovated outlook, built by Paul Metternich in 1888. The view was great but a light net (to keep the doves away) disturbed the view.

Paulinenwarte in the Türkenschanzpark, Vienna.

The Türkenschanzpark is a great spot to relax in Vienna.

Another monument in the Türkenschanzpark, Vienna.

Zacherlfabrik.

Next stop was the “Zacherlfabrik” in the 19th district. It’s an old-oriental looking building that was once an insecticide factory.  Nowadays, one part of the building  is used for concerts and events and the other part is rented out. It must be really nice to live there with a great backyard and silence in the middle of a busy city.

The oriental facade of the Zacherfabrik in Vienna.

The oriental facade of the Zacherfabrik in Vienna

The back side facade of the Zacherlfabrik in Vienna.

Strudelhofstiege.

Then we drove to “Strudelhofstiege”, which is a stairway in the 9th district. There you really realize that Vienna can be hilly in certain parts :) The staircase opened its gates in 1910 and is a fine example of Art Deco.

Strudelhofstiege in Vienna, Austria.

Strudelhofstiege in Vienna, Austria.

Jüdischer Friedhof Seegasse.

Continuing, we made a halt at the Jewish cemetery in Seegasse. You have to pass a senior-citizen home to get in and the windows of this building face the cemetery … I don’t know what the seniors are thinking about the view, when they move in there. Not sure I would appreciate it.

Jüdischer Friedhof Seegasse in Vienna, Austria.

Krankenhaus St. Elisabeth – Apotheke.

After the cemetery we continued to the “Kaiserin Elisabeth pharmacy”, which is located in the same named hospital. This is a real beautiful Baroque pharmacy all made of wood, carved by an unknown craftsman. It’s one of the most best-preserved Baroque pharmacies in Europe.

Krankenhaus St. Elisabeth Apotheke in Vienna.

Krankenhaus St. Elisabeth Apotheke in Vienna.

The backyard of Krankenhaus St. Elisabeth in Vienna.

Hotel Daniel in Wien – ehemals Hoffmann La-Roche.

The new hotel “Daniel” was on our way to the final destination, the “Favoritner Wasserturm”. This hotel is in the former “Hofmann La Roche building close to the “Belvedere” on Landstrasser Gürtel. It’s not really a typical monument yet but what’s great about the hotel is the innovative new concept; the rooms are minimalistic furnished though with everything one might need. The ceiling is unfinished but the thought behind it was to show the story of the building. The lobby looks like a living room, which makes it really cozy. Overall, a great concept with a very moderate room price from 92 to 115 € per room per night.

The hanging boat on the facade of Hotel Daniel in Vienna, Austria.

In the lobby of Hotel Daniel in Vienna, Austria.

In the lobby of Hotel Daniel in Vienna, Austria.

Wasserturm Favoriten.

Our final destination was the Wasserturm Favoriten – another highlight of the day. The weather that autumn Sunday was very nice and clear, so the view was stunning. You could see far to the distance and we even realized that Vienna has some pretty impressive skyscrapers :)

Wasserturm Favoriten in Vienna, Austria.

A clear city view of Vienna, Austria.

A clear city view of Vienna, Austria.

A clear city view of Vienna, Austria.

Obviously there are many more sights and places to be seen in Vienna, if you want more info, feel free to contact me via a comment below or an e-mail through the contact form (even when it comes to touristy places).

#1 Must Visit When In Vienna: A Ring Tour.

The Ringstraße is the road surrounding the inner city (1st district) of Vienna with some of the most famous sight like the Opera House, Hofburg Palace, Parliament and City Hall. While wondering the street, take a side track into the lovely Burggarten to either rest a bit or to enjoy a cup of coffee in the Palmenhaus. Further along the way, you will come to the Votivkirche and then to the Danube Channel with many restaurants.
The Ring is definitely one of my favourite places in Vienna, simply because of the impressive buildings built around it and the atmosphere along the way…

I’m a huge Opera fan, and therefore the Vienna State Opera is almost my second home…

The famous Hofburg palace was the Habsburgers winter residence, as the Schönbrunn Palace was their summer residence.

Just across the Hofburg palace sits the Austrian Parliament with the Pallas Athena fountain in front of the main entrance.

#2 Must Visit When In Vienna: One, Or two, Or three Coffee Houses.

As a Viennese, I love a good cup of coffee. The Viennese Coffee House Culture is world famous – and since 2011 even an UNESCO intangible cultural heritage. The Viennese coffeehouse is described in this inventory as a place “where time and space are consumed, but only the coffee is found on the bill.” And oh is that true! I wrote a separate article on my top 10 favourite coffee houses. Of course there are many more, but I think this gives you a goof impression on traditional and modern ones in all areas ov Vienna.

#3 Must Visit When In Vienna: Twin City Liner.

Vienna and Bratislava are the capital cities with the shortest reaching distance (in Europe). So, if you’re staying in Vienna for more than just the weekend, be sure to hop on the Twin City Liner to take a cruise to Bratislava. It only takes 75 minutes in each direction and you can check out two capitals in just one day.

#4 Must Visit When In Vienna: Schloss Schönbrunn (Including The Zoo) & Gloriette:

Schloss Schönbrunn: Schönbrunn is one of the most important cultural monuments and tourist attractions in Austria. So why am I posting it here, since I promised to stay away from typical tourist attractions … Well, because there’s more to Schloss Schönbrunn than just the (very beautiful) castle; the park around Schloss Schönbrunn is a great little oasis in an otherwise busy city. It’s perfect for long walks or a little jog. Jogging grounds in Vienna are rare, so naturally the park can get pretty crowed … best to go there early morning or late in evening.

Winter tip: The Christmas Market in front of the castle is a must for every visitor and local.

Gloriette: The Gloriette in Vienna is the largest (and therefore most well-known) gloriette worldwide and is a nice café where you can refuel your energy.

The Gloriette was built in 1775 as the last building constructed in the garden of Schönbrunn castle. it was used as a dining hall and festival hall as well as a breakfast room for emperor Franz Joseph I.

Each year the Vienna Philharmonic orchestra plays an open-air concert at Schönbrunn Palace park. The admission is free and it has been held every year (around May) since 2004. Approximately 100.000 people come here every year.

Tiergarten Schönbrunn: The famous Vienna zoo was founded in 1752, which makes it the oldest zoo in the world.

How to get there:

• If you want to see the castle, take metro line U4 station Schönbrunn. For the zoo it’s better to take the metro line U4 until Hietzing (even though you can also walk through the gardens to reach the zoo).

Today Tiergarten Schönbrunn is considered and regards itself as a scientifically administered zoo which sees its main purpose as a centre for species conservation and general nature conservation as well as in the fulfilment of the education mandate given to it by the legislation.

Tiergarten Schönbrunn is one of the few zoos worldwide to house giant pandas. Apart from these there are other zoo attractions like the rainforest house, in which the spectator is led through a simulation of the Amazon rainforest, an aquarium, which enables spectators to walk through underneath a simulation of the Amazon in flood, and, more recently, an exhibit of animals in unnatural habitats.

#5 Must Visit When In Vienna: Naschmarkt & Brunnenmarkt.

Naschmarkt: The Naschmarkt is Vienna’s most popular market and a real hot spot. Whether you want to go out for lunch or after work-cocktails … one of the many bars/restaurants will suit you for sure. You can also buy yummy fresh fruits and vegetables from around the world, exotic herbs, cheese, baked goods, meat and seafood.

How to get there:

• The Naschmarkt is located at the Wienzeile in the 6th district of Vienna and is about 1.5 kilometres long. You can get there by metro line U4 station Kettenbrückengasse or Karlsplatz (also U1 and U2 go there).

Fresh Vegetables at the Naschmarkt in Vienna, Austria.

Brunnenmarkt: The Brunnenmarkt is the longest street market in Europe, located in the 16th district of Vienna and (in my opinion) the “new” Naschmarkt. Over the years, many lovely restaurants have popped up around the Yppenplatz, which is the extension of Brunnenmarkt. The setting around the entire area is trendy yet still very cultural, and that’s what makes Brunnenmarkt so diverse and “hot”.

How to get there:

• The Brunnenmarkt can be reached by the metro line U6 until station Thaliastrasse and then the tram line 46 until Brunnengasse.

Vegetables at the Brunnenmarket in Vienna, Austria.

#6 Must Visit When In Vienna: Lainzer Tiergarten.

The Lainzer Tiergarten is for those of who who would like to get away from all the hassle for a while. It’s a wildlife preserve in the 13th district of Vienna. Approximately 80% of it is covered in woodland, so it’s a perfect destination for long walks. Back in 1561, it was used as a fenced-in hunting ground for Ferdinand I of Austria and his family. What’s really lovely about this place is that your trip can either be topped with a yummy lunch/coffee at the café or a visit to the museum in the Hermesvilla (or both of course). Emperor Franz Josef I gave this chalet to his wife Empress Elisabeth (better known as “Sissi”) because she was a huge nature fan and wanted a place for her own. Not bad huh?

How to get there (Lainzer Tor):

• Take the tram line 60 until Hermesstraße, or bus number 55A until Lainzer Tor

Hermesvilla is a palace in the Lainzer Tiergarten, in Vienna, a former hunting area for the Habsburg nobility. Today it’s home to a café and museum great for weekend visits.

The name Hermesvilla refers to a statue of Hermes made of white marble that is located in the garden of the villa. Empress Elisabeth aka “Sisi” called it the “castle of dreams.“

The Lainzer Tiergarten is a wildlife preserve in mostly home in the 13th distinct of Vienna. 80% of it is covered in woodland with alleys for runners and walkers leading through the forest. My favourite time of the year to go there is autumn where the colours are simply amazing.

#7 Must Visit When In Vienna: A Typical “Heuriger”.

A Heuriger is a typical Austrian wine tavern where pretty much all you get is wine and a limited variety of cold food (bread with cheese, etc.). A Heuriger isn’t open all year around; typically only two to four weeks per year. It’s a really nice experience because it’s some very traditional and typical for Austria so if you’re visiting during the “Heurigen” season, be sure to check one out. The 19th and 23rd district, as well as Perchtholdsdorf (South of Vienna) are the classical areas.

My “Heuriger” tip: Heuriger Kurt Pröglhöf (Am Goldbieglberg 5, 2380 Perchtoldsdorf) or any Heuriger in the 19th district.

A typical Heurigen get together. The name was given to Eastern-Austrian wine taverns in which wine-growers serve the most recent year’s wines.

At a Heuriger, you will only get the owners own wine, and it serves a limited selection of cold food as an evening meal, generally local, homemade products.

#8 Must Visit When In Vienna: Wiener Zentralfriedhof (Vienna Central Cemetery).

Some may find this sight a bit macabre but I think that the Zentralfriedhof is an amazing place in Vienna and therefore I want to include it. The Viennese Central Cemetery is the largest cemetery in Austria and Europe’s second largest (Hamburg-Ohlsdorf is the largest). It opened its gates in 1874 and is a great place to visit since it displays Austrian history throughout the last 200 years. The Karl-Lueger-Kirche is the Art Nouveau-style church and once of the most famous buildings at the cemetery. it’s located in the centre of the cemetery. From the Main Gate an avenue leads to the “graves of honor” reserved for famous personalities. Some of the notable persons laid to rest here are Beethoven, Brahms, Schubert and Johann Strauss (son and father).

My tip: Take a walk through the Jewish cemetery and you might get lucky by spotting a deer – yes, the cemetery is THAT big :)

How to get there:

• Take the metro line U3 until the station Simmering and then with the tram line 71 or 6 until Zentralfriedhof

The Zentralfriedhof (Central Cemetery) is one of the largest cemeteries in the world, largest by number of interred in Europe and most famous cemetery among Vienna’s nearly 50 cemeteries.

Passing through Gate 1 of the Central Cemetery, the way will lead you towards the old Jewish section, a field of graves with many remarkable monuments. Among others, Arthur Schnitzler and Friedrich Torberg are interred in Group 6.

#9 Must Visit When In Vienna: Otto Wagner Church.

If you have enough time and are interested in nice architecture, the Otto Wagner Church in the 14th district is an absolute must when visiting Vienna. Designed by Otto Wagner, it’s considered one of the most important Art Nouveau churches in the world. The copper-covered dome (which looks a bit like half a lemon) is visible from quite a distance.

How to get there:

• Option 1: Metro Line U4 until Unter St. Veit and then Bus 47A untilPsychiatrisches Zentrum
• Option 2: Metro Line U3 until Ottakring (last stop) and then Bus 48A (also starts from the bus station Dr. Karl Renner Ring) until Psychiatrisches Zentrum

If you have enough time and are interested in nice architecture, the Otto Wagner Church is an absolute must when visiting Vienna.

#10 Must Visit When In Vienna: Haus des Meeres.

The Haus des Meeres is a public aquarium located in the 7th district of Vienna. The aquarium itself is nice, but not that special compared to other aquariums in the world. Although not too many aquariums are located inside a tall concrete flak tower built during World War II, so I guess that’s kinda special. The best part about the Haus des Meeres is the rooftop cafe/restaurant. It’s one of the only public places in the city centre where you really have a complete 360° view. It’s truly spectacular and therefore one of my favourite spots in the city!

How to get there:

• Option 1: Metro Line U3 until Neubaugasse and bus lines 13A, 14A, 57A (stop “Haus des Meeres”).

The view up from the Haus des Meeres is truly spectacular. You can see Vienna in all its beauty.

Vienna from above. On the left side you can see St. Stephens Cathedral and also Viennas highest building, the DC tower in the distance.

The Haus des Meeres offers some of the best views of Vienna. Its rooftop terraces offers a 360° view.

Other Day-Trip Possibilities Around Vienna.

• A visit to Burg Kreuzenstein
• A day trip to the world heritage site Lake Neusiedl
• An excursion to the Falkensteiner Hütte

1.) Tell us a little bit about yourself and how your passion for travelling started.

I suppose I inherited the travel bug from my aunt, who travelled the world – places like Pakistan, Indonesia – alone on her bike(s) in the 70s and 80s. I am glad I did, even though I am the only one in my family now whose feet are constantly itching and whose thoughts are wandering most of the time. I am just grateful I found a partner who knows this disease quite well.

I have been on months-long trips, several ones – and still, my bucket list gets longer and longer. My style: Couchsurfin´, backpackin´, roadtrippin´, volunteerin´ and livin´. I love to deeply experience a culture and connect with both old and new friends.

2.) Where is home?

Based on where I was born and where I have most of my belongings: Austria. I grew up in the South of Lower Austria, lived in Vienna for about 13 years and moved to the North of Lower Austria recently, about 40 minutes away from Vienna.

But honestly, I have to admit that I don´t know where home is – or rather where home is not. So based on my heart, I feel at home wherever I meet amazing, like-minded people and wherever I can do something useful, participate in an idea and share stories. So, it was a challenge for me to decide which questionnaire I should answer…

3.) How did you get there? Have you lived there all your life, moved there because of College or just fell in love with the city/town on one of your trips?

How I landed here? Because my heart chose to fell in love with a boy who lives here :)

4.) What does your living situation look like? Give us a brief description (city or countryside, apartment or house, messy or neat-freak, roomies, pets, plants etc.)

I live with 5 other girls in Wimbledon. I love Wimbledon because it’s so close to central London but it has a village feel with nice bars, cafés, restaurants and the huge Wimbledon Common where I like to go to for long walks. Our house is quite big with a nice big garden and it’s lovely at the minute because we have daffodils and snowdrops sprouting up.

Right now, we live in a rather small apartment on the countryside – stuffed with souvenirs from his trips and mine. I came back from 7 months in South America 6 weeks ago, and as we moved to an old farm house soon (his, not mine) – or let´s say, hopefully soon – there´s no reason to unpack all my bags here. The advantage is that I am not collecting lots of things right now because there´s simply no space, but there is the disadvantage that you are greeted by a pile of shoes when opening the door to the apartment, my clothes are almost falling out of the closet and we cannot be in the bathroom together without stumbling upon each other’s feet. It´s quite a challenge from being on the road alone, couchsurfing here and there back to living as a couple in the Austrian countryside.

5.) What’s your favorite spot in your apartment or house & why?

My favorite spot in the apartment would be the winter garden / balcony, if I spent more time there. But really, it is the green couch in the middle of the living room. Not because it´s so comfortable (it´s not) but because there, my partner and me share stories, start the day exchanging ideas in the morning and end the day talking about our experiences in the evening. It´s just a very “we&us”-place, the couch.

6.) Do you prefer books or movies (plus what’s your favorite one)?

I love to read books on my Kindle.
And I also love to watch movies while knitting my jacket out of the beautiful yellow Bolivian wool I bought there.
My favorite book or movie – always the one I am reading or watching at the moment. I love variety. And I love inspiration.

7.) Where & how do you write your blog articles? Do you start with a rough draft or get right to it?

Right to it is the only way for me – not to mention the pre-thinking about the article for some days in advance. I have one spot in the house where I usually write, a light spot with lots of paper around me (clippings, inspirations, thoughts, scribbles), a cup of coffee and plenty of water.

8.) What does a perfect day in your hometown look like? What season is it? Are you inside or outdoors? Do you hang out with friends or family?

My perfect day in the area where I live takes place outside, walking through the woods, maybe taking a stroll alongside the Danube or relaxing in the grass at the lake and later celebrating the day with a good local dish along and a home-made wine at a local Heuriger. Main ingredients for the perfect day are good weather with lots of sun (so best spring/summer/early autumn), good movement, good people, good talks and good food. According to the saying: Eat, drink & have fun!

9.) Name three spots in your hometown, which you’d probably not find in a guidebook but you could recommend to travellers. Tell us what’s special about them.

In this case, I take Vienna as my hometown – because you cannot find the village I live in in any guide books.
I have always taken people to:

1.) Am Himmel (At Heaven): Where you cannot only experience the green part of Vienna, but also a beautiful view at the city AND you can find out what your tree sign is according to the Celtics.

2.) Beautiful small boutiques: in the 6th and 7th district to go for shopping and support local, green, fair & sustainable designers (check out the area of Lindengasse / Kirchengasse)

3.) A typical Heuriger: a little bit outside of the city center of Vienna to experience good local food & wine for nothing, such as Weinhof Zimmermann.

10.) What’s your favorite local dish (if you have one in your country/town, please tell us which one)? Can you cook it & what are the main ingredients?

I am a vegetarian, so I mostly cook Asian, Indian dishes and Pasta. But one of my all-time-favorites (maybe because it reminds me of my childhood) is egg dumplings OR cheese dumplings.
Whenever I am on the road, staying with someone, I occupy their kitchen and try to prepare one of these dishes for them. Even though, I always have a hard time finding the right cheese for the cheese dumplings, I prefer to make them.

What you need:

• Flour
• Water
• Eggs
• Salt
• Pepper
• Onions
• Cheese
• And green salad, so that you at least have one healthy dish on the table to soak up the greasy, heave stuff.

11.) How much does 1 liter (or one gallon) of milk and petrol cost today?

Liter of milk – mh, I don´t drink milk, so soya milk it is and it costs about 2,25 €.
Petrol: 1,47 € for Super 98.

12.) Where are you right now, on which device to you answer this questionnaire and what shoes are you wearing (if possible please add a picture)?

I am sitting in the living room, my table is full of paper (as usual), no coffee but a glass of water in front of me. My device is my best companion, my Sony Vaio, which was with me on the road as well. And I wear nothing but my nail polish on my feet.

13.) Last but not least: What does “home” mean to you?

I don´t have a certain picture or image of home but get the feeling of being welcome, being understood, being part of something. And maybe, there´s also a bit of Austria in the word home as it also symbolizes comfort, quietude and something constant, well-known, never-changing.

Want to be a part of this series?

If you want to be a part of our series, just go to the “Home Sweet Home” article and download the appropriate questionnaire. We’d really like to read your stories :)

Participants so far:

#1: Ulli Maier
#2: Nisa Maier
#3: Shvyia Nath
#4: Rika Huang
#5: Yvonne Zagermann
#6: Dario Endara
#7: Frankie Thompson
#8: Roy van den Bos
#9: Monica Stott
#10: Doris Neubauer
#11: Amanda Slavinsky
#12: Edna
#13: Casper Oppenhuis de Jong
#14: Ashley Abroad
#15: Inma Gregorio

Castle lovers, prepare yourself!

It took us a little longer than expected to get to Leobendorf but due to our anticipation, we didn’t mind. We came from the West and therefore already saw the castle in the distance. Seemingly lifted from the pages of a Germanic fairy tale, Burg Kreuzenstein, bristling with storybook turrets and towers, might have even made Gustav Klimt drop his sketch book. It so looked like a castle out of a Disney movie.

After arriving at the parking lot, I was so exited to see the castle closer since it already made such an impression from far away. And I wasn’t disappointed: This gigantic medieval castle looked absolutely stunning! I’ve never seen anything like it before (in real life).

From far away, Burg Kreuzenstein looks a bit like Disneyland.

Burg Kreuzenstein from the outside – also a bit like from a Disney movie.

You have to know, I’m usually not one of these people, who goes on guided tours but this time was different. The outside looked so amazing that I just had to see the inside. So Ines and I bought a ticket for a guided tour – and that was a very wise decision! The castles inside is just as impressive as the outer parts. The entire building is so well restored and therefore it was easy to imagine how living there must have been. BUT, the interesting part about Burg Kreuzenstein is that it’s actually just a “show castle”. It was never built the way it looks today…

It almost felt like Ned Stark could ride by any minute…

Occupying the site of a previously destroyed fort, the enormous structure was built by Count Wilczek in the 19th century. Burg Kreuzenstein was constructed out of sections of medieval structures purchased by the family Wilczek from all over Europe to form an authentic-looking castle. Count Wilczek wanted a place to house his collection of late-Gothic art objects and armour … and Burg Kreuznstein was just the place for this.

Burg Kreuzenstein is one of the best renovated castles in Europe.

Inside the castle, the medieval thrills continue with rooms full of armaments, a festival and banquet hall, a library, a stained-glass chapel, vassal kitchens with a 3.000 year old wooden table and a room devoted to hunting trophies including a “Narwalzahn” (if you’ve ever wanted to see a “unicorn horn,” here’s your chance). By the way, Count Wilczek was not only obsessed with building Burg Kreuzenstein … Count Wilczek was the main sponsor of the Austro-Hungarian North Pole Expedition from 1872 to 1874. Wilczek Land and Wilczek Island, two islands in Franz Josef Land, were named after this Austrian Count. He has accomplished to much that it almost seems like he lived the life of three men…

The inside of Burg Kreuzenstein is just as beautiful as the outside.

Lots of fine details make Burg Kreuzenstein so special.

The chapel is the most magnificent building of Kreuzenstein castle and also a gem of sacral medieval craftsmanship, exemplifying the great collector’s passion and the art-historical expertise of the castle’s rebuilder.

Even though knights never lived here, it’s interesting simply imagining it…

Trees are also grow inside of Burg Kreuzenstein.

So what else can I say? Other than that the trip to Burg Kreuzenstein left quite an impression, not that much. What I really enjoyed was the fact that I actually learned quite a lot on the tour. Like for example heaps of typical German expressions and their origin. Interesting stuff, I tell you!
Oh and I almost forgot one important fact: The castle is sometimes used as a location for films, most notably “Season of the Witch” with Nicolas Cage in 2011.

Contact Information

• Address: Leobendorf bei Korneuburg, A-2100 Leobendorf
• Entry Cost: 10 €
• Opening Hours: April – October / daily from 10am – 4pm
• Website: www.kreuzenstein.com

Here are a couple of impressions:

When spring in Austria arrives, the sheep and cows are put onto the fields.

In the countryside of Austria, fences are still built the old-school way, by wood.

The Austrian landscape around Vienna is flat with thousands of fields.

Fresh lush landscapes cover the Austrian land durign spring.

Clear lines show the fields around Vienna.

The colours of the leaves in the Vienna woods change again in the spring time.

The observatory in Buchberg is a great spot to see the surrounding landscape from above.

• Well,  first of all: I own around 2.200 DVD’s & Blu Rays.
• Second: I tend to buy every single new release there is asap anyway.
• Third: I love watching movies more than once, so in the end it’s cheaper that way.

But last weekend I felt like going again. So mum, my friend Ines and I went to see the movie “Intouchables” (which by the way is great and has a fantastic soundtrack). While walking to the cinema in the first district, I realized that there were so many little side streets that I’ve never been to before. So it was clear, that I had to check out these “unknown” areas of my home town – and lucky for me, Ulli & Ines came along as well :) The next day, we we’re on a photo-walk through Vienna’s charming first district.

Here Are Some Impressions: