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Published: September 14th 2014
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Painting by Friederich Hundertwasser
We had a fscinating visit to the Hundertwasser Museum, Kunst Haus Wien. See http://www.kunsthauswien.com/en/museum/art-and-style . OK, so maybe the Holy Roman Empire WAS somewhat holy, Roman and an empire. At least that's what the emperors thought, and, after all the HRE did rule a huge part of Europe for quite a few centuries, no small accomplishment. The legacy of the emperors is here in Vienna, in the amazing display of crown jewels and garments worn by the emperors as they fulfilled their roles as kings of Hungary, Bohemia, Venice, and so forth, in the churches they built in gratitude for not being assasinated or avoiding various plagues, and in many statues and monuments to their past glory. Much of the ostentatious display of the Hofburg, or royal palace, dates from after the HRE, when the empire was reduced to Austria-Hungary only by Napoleon, who allowed Franz I to retain the title of emperor in exchange for his daughter's hand in marriage. This is the kind of fuzzy history you can learn in three days in Vienna.
One memorable emperor was Rudolph II, patron of the arts. Unlike the Louvre, the treaures of the Kunsthistoriches Museum (Historical Art Museum) seem to have been directly supported by the emperors rather than stolen after the fact. I am
Partof a huge, and unique, china set, given by Louis XV to Empress Maria Theresa
This helped seal the deal for the marriange of her daughter, Marie Antoinette, to the king's son, who became Louis XVI. The marriage was a godd idea at the tme, but the consequences were ultimately not good for Marie Antoinette. The china is beautiful, though. grateful to Rudolph, for sure, for Room X, all Brueghels that I have been wanting to see for over 40 years. You can get so close that I had to be admonished to keep the end of my pointing finger behind the railing. This experience alone is worth the price of the plane ticket to me.
Another emperor, or empress, of note was Maria Theresa, the only female to rule the HRE. She married for love as evidenced by her 16 children. So, during the entire time that she was one of the world's most powerful rulers she was either pregnant or caring for a newborn. Why isn't this woman a top icon of feminism? Maria Theresa also did her bit to avoid war by making strategic marriages for her many offspring. The plan worked well as far as the power politics of the day went. However, as shown by the fate of her daughter Marie Antoinette, the plan failed to take into account the consequences of the uprising of the lower classes.
We took in as much as we could in three days in this amazing city, the museums of the Hofburg, and especially the one featuring
13-stringed lute at Museum of Historical Musical Instruments
Here we also saw Leopold Moozart's violin and the clavier played by Bach, Mozart, and Beethoven. historical musical instruments, St Stephens cathederal, the historical art museum previously mentioned, as well as a small museum devoted to Friederich Hundertwasser, an Austrian artist and environmentalist whom we had not previously heard of, a great dinner with local wine at a Heuringer on the edge of the Vienna woods at the end of a tram line, a chamber music concert, and more. Oh yes, we also enjoyed a few of the famous Viennese treats. The attached photos show some of what we experienced in the fabulous city of Vienna during a much needed break from daily riding.
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D MJ Binkley
Dave and Merry Jo Binkley
Vienna
We were in Vienna for last New Year's. What a fantastic city. The music is amazing, the foods superb and the people so friendly. 3 days is not enough. You will need to return.