The most terrible sights of the world (17 photos). Unknown sights of Austria: Tower of lunatics and House of butterflies Drunk people

Vienna reminds me of a secular beauty in her years. A luxurious lady who knows her own worth, who, despite her regal appearance, sometimes allows herself to be weird.

The old city, enclosed in the arms of the Ring (ring boulevard of the Ringstrasse), glorifies the greatness of the former empire. The slightly frightening splendor of the Hofburg, the stiffness of the palaces is diluted with the cheerful experiments of Hundertwasser and the refined Viennese Secession. Horse-drawn carriages in medieval streets, baroque palaces, gothic church spiers, delicious cakes in charming Viennese cafes, lush parks, cute drunk Augustine from a medieval song and Viennese waltzes... This city has given the world a lot of beauty, it requires leisurely walks and attention to detail. The number of famous people in Vienna is off the scale, and almost every old house in the center has a fascinating story to tell from its past.

If the city seemed too cold or pompous to you, believe me, this feeling is deceptive. Vienna is very different and if "used properly" will be a great holiday destination for any tourist. Music lovers, gourmets, people who are passionate about architecture, history or contemporary art - everyone can find something of their own in the city.

How to get there

The fastest way to get to the capital of Austria is by air. From neighboring countries, you can get relatively inexpensively by bus and train. Naturally, one should not forget the waterway: cruises on the Danube.

By plane

Vienna International Airport Schwechat (Flughafen Wien-Schwechat) is located 19 km from the city center. It is very convenient and rationally organized and consists of 4 terminals: 1, 1 A, 2, 3 (terminal 2 is now closed for reconstruction).

From Russia, regular direct flights to Vienna are operated by Aeroflot, Rossiya, UTair, S7 and Ural Airlines. It is also very convenient to get on the flight of the main airline of Austria - Austrian Airlines. The price of a round-trip ticket from Moscow is from 140 EUR. Direct flights from St. Petersburg are usually more expensive: from 180 EUR. To save money, you can use the Pobeda airline, which offers low-cost flights from Moscow to Bratislava (about 100 EUR round trip), from where you will be taken to Vienna by bus, this trip is already included in the ticket price. You can see the price options for flights.

To get a ticket at the lowest price, you need to book in advance and follow the special offers.

How to get from the airport to the center of Vienna

By train

Vienna has several major railway stations, each of which is connected to the city center by metro lines and buses:

You can get to Vienna by train from most European cities. Of course, it is convenient and quick to do this from neighboring cities: Bratislava (from 10 EUR), Budapest (from 14 EUR), Prague (from 19 EUR), Munich (29 EUR). On some routes, both conventional and high-speed trains will be at your service. Tickets can be booked on the website of the Austrian railways, as well as on the websites of the railway of the country from which the trip is planned.

From Moscow to Vienna you can take the following trains:

• Train 017B - which goes through Vienna. On the way you will spend about 27-28 hours.
• Train 021E "Vltava", to which direct cars are connected to Vienna. On the way - 29-30 hours.

Both trains depart from Belorussky railway station and arrive at Vienna Central Station. Price: 160-180 EUR one way.

By bus

The most tedious way. Some bus companies offer transfers in Riga, some in Berlin. You can also take a bus to Warsaw, and then transfer to a bus to Vienna. But such a trip will be very long (about 50 hours), and its price is comparable to the cost of a plane ticket purchased in advance (60-80 EUR one way).

By ferry

Traveling by boat is a rather pleasant and romantic way to get to the city:

The Viennese pier, where most ferries arrive, is located at Handelskai 265, near the Vorgartenstraße metro station.

Clue:

Vienna - the time is now

Hour difference:

Moscow 1

Kazan 1

Samara 2

Yekaterinburg 3

Novosibirsk 5

Vladivostok 8

When is the season. When is the best time to go

Vienna is very different depending on the season. I prefer to come here during the warm season, from mid-April to the end of October, to enjoy the greenery and flowers of the many Viennese parks. True, in July and August it gets a little hot, and most theaters are closed, so to get the most out of the trip, I would choose the end of April, May, June or the beginning of autumn. But I think you will not be disappointed with the city, no matter what month you arrive.

Vienna in summer

In summer, Vienna appears in all its glory. It's so nice to go to Schönbrunn or Belvedere, plunge into the greenery of the Vienna Woods. The average air temperature is around +24 °C, rains are not uncommon, so bring an umbrella. The downside of the summer season will be crowds of tourists, queues at the ticket office, and periodic heat (sometimes the air temperature rises to + 30-35 ° C). Also, keep in mind that the opera season runs from September to June, so if you visit the city in July or August, you won't be able to enjoy the beauty.

Vienna in autumn

September is often warm and similar to summer. Starting from the end of the month, the weather is getting colder, however, there is not much rain, and it is very comfortable to walk around the city. At the end of November, snow may already fall, however, it will instantly melt, forming slush. Therefore, in my opinion, this is not the most pleasant month to visit Vienna.

Vienna in spring

Viennese spring is changeable, sunny weather alternates with rainy and windy days. Air temperature - from +5 to +16 °С. Consistently good weather, as a rule, is established by the end of April. In May, Vienna blossoms: chestnuts, lilacs, bright flowers in well-groomed flower beds. This is a very beautiful month for the first acquaintance with the city.

Vienna in winter

During the pre-Christmas period, Vienna is truly beautiful. Merry Christmas markets begin to receive visitors at the end of November and are open until Christmas. But on the holiday itself, the city is quite quiet, and many establishments are closed. And the next day, Christmas decorations are already starting to be removed.

But you won’t be bored - the New Year is coming soon, and after it the ball season is gaining momentum, the peak of which falls on February. As for the weather, severe frosts are rare in Vienna, usually temperatures are around zero, but snow and wind are frequent guests, so it is better to stock up on warm and waterproof clothing.

Vienna - monthly weather

Clue:

Vienna - monthly weather

Districts. Where is the best place to live

When choosing accommodation on a tourist trip, we always try to achieve the optimal balance between price and convenience. In a big city, a hotel on the outskirts will allow you to save money, but still, for the most complete immersion in the Viennese atmosphere, I recommend settling in one of the 8 central districts.

Each of them has its own number:

• 1 District Innere Stadt- the very center of the old city, a magnificent place, the only drawback of which is the high price. If you have enough money, I would advise you to settle here.
• 2 district Leopoldstadt- a green area across the river from the center, next to two large parks.
• 3 district Landstrasse- a good option for a tourist, here is the railway station, where trains from the airport arrive, the Belvedere palace complex and the colorful buildings of Hundertwasser.
• 4 District Wieden- a small area between the main railway station and the center with a beautiful Karlsplatz square and a huge Naschmarkt market.
• 6 district Mariahilf perfect for shoppers: the area is located along the lively Mariahilferstraße lined with shops.
• 7 district Neubau also adjacent to Mariahilferstraße and very close to the center, there are many shops, boutiques, restaurants and art galleries. There is also the Museum Quarter.
• District 8 Josefstadt- This cozy residential quarter is located behind the Town Hall. There are no special attractions here, but it was here that most of the mayors of the city lived, as well as the current president of Austria
• District 9 Alsergrund- a densely populated student area, in which the buildings of university faculties and dormitories are scattered. There are also many medical clinics in Alsergrund.

As for prices, the average cost of a double room in an inexpensive hotel in the first district is 100-130 EUR. In other areas, hotels are cheaper - from 65-90 EUR.

It is convenient to choose and book accommodation at. You can see the prices for apartments, and compare the cost of rooms in hotels by.

What are the prices for holidays

Residence

I have already announced the prices for hotels. But, like in any city, there are hostels in Vienna where you can stay for 15-20 EUR. Unfortunately, there are very few of them in the central regions, and places there must be booked in advance.

Nutrition

Lunch in a cafe will cost 12-15 EUR. Dinner for two - from 45-60 EUR. It will be cheaper to satisfy your hunger with street food, fortunately, there is no shortage of it. Countless sausage shops, kebab stalls, and mini-pizzerias are scattered around the city. Even more frugal tourists can buy sandwiches in the supermarket, it will take a little more than 1 EUR. You can also save on bottled water. Tap water in Vienna is of excellent quality, as it comes through pipelines from high mountain sources.

If you live in an apartment and have a kitchen, you can buy groceries in supermarkets or markets. Vienna's main market is Naschmarkt.

Huge and noisy, it occupies a large area and is open every day except Saturday and Sunday from 9.00 to 18.30. Don't expect to buy food from local Austrian farmers, there are very few of them here, mostly stalls were occupied by perky merchants from other countries.

The most popular supermarkets in Vienna are: Spar, Billa, Hofer, Merkur, Penny Markt. Large supermarkets are usually open until 20.00, many do not work on Sunday. Pay attention to special offers, so you can save a lot. By the way, chocolate, liquor and other tasty gifts are usually cheaper to buy in supermarkets, and not in souvenir shops.

Entertainment

If you are planning an intensive visit to museums, it makes sense to consider purchasing Vienna City Card. The card for 24, 48 or 72 hours provides free travel on any public transport within the city and discounts when visiting attractions.

• The cost of the red card: 13.9 EUR, 21.9 EUR or 24.9 EUR.
• The White Card includes a 24-hour hop-on hop-off bus ticket and one guided city tour. Cost: 28 EUR, 31 EUR and 35 EUR, respectively.

The card holder can take a child under 15 years old free of charge. You can get detailed information about the varieties of the card, as well as purchase it online at this.

Also, many attractions offer complex tickets. For example, the Sisi Ticket for EUR 29.9 will take you in the footsteps of Empress Elisabeth of Austria, including the Hofburg, Schönbrunn and the imperial furniture collection. The ticket "Treasures of the Habsburgs" for 20 EUR gives access to the Kunsthistorisches Museum, the museums of New Burg and the imperial treasury. There are quite a few options for these tickets.

Clue:

The cost of food, lodging, transportation, etc.

Currency: Euro, € US dollar, $ Russian ruble, rub

Main attractions. What to see

Vienna is one of the most famous cities in Europe, so the choice of sights is huge, and you will not be bored.

Top 5

• St. Stephen's Cathedral- the main temple and symbol of the city. The spire of its southern tower proudly rises to the sky at 137 meters. The first basilica on this site was erected in the 12th century, since then the cathedral has been repeatedly destroyed, rebuilt and completed. The Gothic miracle that we see now was created by the 16th century. The cathedral is so large and interesting that it can easily take a couple of hours to see it.
  An attentive viewer will discover many interesting things. For example, outside, to the left of the portal, there are "Viennese measures" - a ruler and a loaf of bread, by which buyers could check the merchants; inside, at the base of the cathedral pulpit, Anton Piligram, the architect of the cathedral, looks out of a small window. Try to find these details. I am sure that you will notice a lot more remarkable in intricate gothic lace! Many relics are kept in the cathedral: the miraculous Icon of the Mother of God of Pöch, the relics of St. Valentine, part of the tablecloth that covered the table during the Last Supper. Also in the cathedral is the tomb of the ruling dynasty, but to be precise, starting from the 17th century, only some of the internal organs of the highest persons were buried here. Therefore, if you want to play an exciting game: "find all the parts of the Habsburg body", you will have to run around Vienna. For an even darker mood, you can go down to the catacombs of the cathedral (excursion 5.5 EUR), where in the 18th century, due to the closure of nearby cemeteries, 11 thousand crowns found their peace. If the gloom is enough for you, we go to the viewing platforms. There are two of them in the cathedral: you can take an elevator to the North Tower with a huge Pummerin bell for 5.5 EUR; climbing the high South Tower costs less - 4.5 EUR, but you will have to walk to the observation deck on 345 steps. Both sites have their own advantages: from the first, you can see in detail the multi-colored tiles of the roof of the cathedral, the second, being higher, offers a panoramic view of the city.
  The cathedral is open every day from 6.00 to 22.00 (on Sundays and public holidays from 7.00). It regularly hosts church music concerts. I also recommend seeing the cathedral in the evening when it is beautifully illuminated.
  
• Vienna State Opera- one of the most famous opera houses in the world.
  The first performance of Mozart's Don Giovanni took place here in 1869. You can get acquainted with the schedule of the Vienna Opera and buy tickets on the official website. By the way, when ordering in advance for some performances, you can catch very inexpensive tickets for 8-15 EUR. Even cheaper (for 3-5 EUR) you can buy tickets for standing places, the sale of which starts 80 minutes before the start of the performance at a special box office to the left of the main entrance. One person can only buy one ticket. It is better to arrive early, as there is usually a long line at the cashier. The imposing opera building and luxurious interiors can be seen not only during the performance, but also with a tour for 7.5 EUR. By the way, the “Haus am Ring” (House on the Ring) did not immediately appeal to the Viennese. The architect of the building died of a heart attack, unable to bear the evil criticism of his project, and the creator of the interior completely committed suicide. Once a year in February, the Opera hosts a legendary opera ball. In 2018, this beautiful event will be held on February 8th. Entrance to it costs 290 EUR, seats at the tables or in the box require significant additional payments. Tickets must be booked in advance on the official website.
• Schönbrunn- the summer residence of the emperors of the Habsburg dynasty.
  I advise you to visit this majestic complex in good sunny weather in order to fully enjoy the magnificent palace park (entrance to the park is free). Among its attractions: well-groomed alleys, luxurious flower beds, fountains and sculptural groups in the Baroque style, a green labyrinth (5.5 EUR), the Palm Pavilion, a botanical garden, a Tyrolean house (here you can taste and buy traditional products) and much more. If you have the strength to walk to the far end of the park, climb up to the elegant Gloriette Colonnade (3.8 EUR), which overlooks the palace and the city.
  Also in the park is the oldest zoo in the world, which I will talk about separately. To feel the imperial scope, you must definitely visit the chambers of the palace. Depending on the ticket (14.2 EUR or 17.5 EUR), you will visit 22 or 40 rooms of this huge building. There are also combined tickets that include several attractions of the complex and other Viennese beauties. Look for their price. The schedule of the palace and park can be seen by clicking on this link. Getting to Schönbrunn is very easy, the Schönbrunn metro station of the same name is within walking distance.
• Gazebo. This palace ensemble, surrounded by a French park, consists of two palaces of Prince Eugene of Savoy: the Upper and Lower Belvedere. One was used for receptions, the other was private quarters. It is worth going inside the palaces not only to appreciate the beautiful decoration, but now the Austrian Art Gallery is located within their walls. V Upper Belvedere there is a permanent exhibition. It is here that you can see Klimt's painting "The Kiss", so mercilessly exploited for the needs of souvenirs. V Lower Belvedere exhibitions are taking place. A ticket to the Upper Belvedere costs 15 EUR, to the Lower Belvedere - 13 EUR, children under 18 years old - free of charge. You can also purchase a complex ticket, which will cost 20 EUR. Both museums are open from 10.00 to 18.00. Lower Belvedere on Wednesdays is open until 21.00. Art is great, but if you just want to take a walk, Belvedere Park can do it for free. From Italian, the word "belvedere" is translated as "beautiful view", and this name is well deserved.
  It is very beautiful here, do not be too lazy to go through the entire park complex, which is included in the UNESCO heritage list, find the cozy "Secret" and "Alpine" gardens. Take a look at the botanical garden adjacent to the palace park.
• Hundertwasser House. It is hard to remain indifferent, looking at a cheerful building, in which there is not a single straight line. By the way, the correct name of this attraction is the Hundertwasser-Kravina House, since the architect Josef Kravina also took part in the project. But the main idea, no doubt, belonged to the genius of Friedensreich Hundertwasser.
  No one can blame this residential building for monotony. All of its windows are crowned with small crowns to emphasize that each of the owners is the king of his home, who has the right to create it the way he wants. A significant place in the architecture of the building is occupied by nature, the house is surrounded by greenery, trees are inextricably woven into its structure. This is not just a crazy fantasy, but the manifesto of an artist who considered typical residential buildings devoid of individuality as prison cells, who strove for unity with nature and rejected standardization and the dictatorship of straight lines. Unfortunately, getting inside the amazing building will not work, as there are private apartments. But you can look into the trade and exhibition complex "Hundertwasser Village" (Hundertwasser Village), located opposite, designed according to the same principles. Or watch a film about the artist over coffee at the nearby Kunst-Cafe.

Beaches. Which is better

Beach holidays in the capital of Austria are not very popular among tourists. But if you have been in the capital for a long time, summer is in the yard, and your body and soul are asking for water procedures, the Danube beaches are at your service.

Churches and temples. Which are worth a visit

In addition to the above-described St. Stephen's Cathedral in Vienna, there are many other no less remarkable churches:

• Capuchin Church Kapuzinerkirche. Its facade is modest, the main object of interest is the crypt of the Capuchins (Kapuzinergruft), which has served as a burial place for emperors and members of their families from the House of Habsburg since the 17th century. This slightly spooky but impressive place is open from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm (Thursdays from 9:00 am). Adult ticket 7.5 EUR, children under 18 years old - 4.5 EUR.
  
• Church of St. Augustine Augustinerkirche- another church inextricably linked with the Habsburgs. In her crypt, their embalmed hearts are kept in silver urns. Also in the past, weddings of members of the imperial family took place in this church.
  
• Church of Saint Peterskirche- a beautiful baroque church in the center of the old town, opposite it stands the "plague column" - a column erected in gratitude for the end of the plague in the 17th century. The church is open from 7.00 to 20.00.
  
• Jesuit Church Jesuitenkirche I remember the amazing interior, the ceiling paintings are especially good. Open from 07.00 to 19.00.
  
• Church of St. Ruprecht Ruprechtskirche- the oldest temple in Vienna, founded in the 9th century. Pay attention to the stained glass windows of the 13th century and the mysterious "Black Madonna", the patroness of the city. Opening hours: Monday, Wednesday 10.00-12.00 and 15.00-17.00; Tuesday 10.00-12.00; Thursday and Friday 10.00-17.00, Saturday 11.30-15.30.
  
• Church of Mary on the banks of Maria am Gestade- Another old church in the Gothic style with a magnificent openwork dome. Its name is reminiscent of the branch of the Danube, the channel of which passed here at the time of the founding of the temple.
• Church Karlskirche Karlskirche- one of the most beautiful baroque temples in Vienna. Its huge dome and proud columns sing an ode to the greatness of the empire. For 8 EUR you can take the panoramic elevator to the dome of the church to take a closer look at its frescoes. Opening hours: Monday - Saturday from 09.00 to 18.00, Sunday from 12.00 to 19.00.
  
• Church of the Votivkirche, the second highest in the city, raises its openwork spiers to 99 meters. The neo-Gothic building was built as a thank you for miraculously saving Emperor Franz Joseph from an assassination attempt. The church is open from Tuesday to Friday from 16.00 to 18.00, Saturday and Sunday from 9.00 to 13.00.
  
• Church Am Steinhof unusual for a number of reasons. Firstly, this is one of the few temples built in the Art Nouveau style. The project was designed by the legendary Viennese architect Otto Wagner. Secondly, the church is located on the territory of a psychiatric hospital, and its main parishioners are patients of the clinic, which led to some features of the interior. You can visit the church on Saturday from 16.00 to 17.00, and on Sunday from 12.00 to 16.00 (donation 2 EUR).
  

Museums. Which are worth a visit

The concentration of museums in Vienna is one of the highest in the world. Unfortunately, the size of this article does not allow us to describe the charms of the tile museum, the museum of funeral supplies, the museum of globes or the museum of tobacco. Therefore, I will dwell in more detail only on the most popular places:

• Hofburg. This huge palace was home to the imperial court, and now houses the official residence of the President of Austria, as well as museums, the National Library, the Spanish Riding School and much more. This is a whole complex, occupying an impressive area (500,000 square meters) and consisting of many buildings. Tourists can see Imperial Apartments, Sisi Museum(popularly beloved wife of Franz Joseph), imperial silver collection.
  A combined ticket there costs 13.9 EUR. Opening hours from 9.00 to 17.30, in July and August until 18.30. To see the regalia of the Holy Roman and Austro-Hungarian Empires in imperial treasury, you will have to pay another 12 EUR. The Treasury is open every day, except Tuesday, from 9.00 to 17.30. The New Burg building has Ephesian and Ethnographicmuseums, an armory and a collection of ancient musical instruments. I especially liked the ethnographic museum, the pearl of the collection of which is the headdress of the Aztec leader Montezuma. A visit to the museums of New Burg is included in the ticket price to the Kunsthistorisches Museum.
• The twin buildings, located opposite each other on Maria Theresa Square, have become home to Artistic and historical and Natural History Museum.
  I visited only the first one, it captivated me not only with its rich collection, but also with its luxurious interior.
  The art gallery of the museum is one of the best in Europe, many famous masters are represented here. By the way, if you, like me, love the work of Brueghel the Elder, a large number of his paintings are stored here. In the museum you can also see Egyptian, ancient and Middle Eastern art, the imperial cabinet of curiosities and a numismatic collection. The museum is open from 10.00 to 18.00, and on Thursdays until 21.00. From September to May, Monday is a day off. Ticket price - 15 EUR, children and teenagers under 19 years old are free. The Natural History Museum is also interesting, boasting a figurine created about 20,000 years ago (the Willendorf Venus), the world's largest collection of meteorites, and a wonderful paleontological hall. Ticket 10 EUR, children and teenagers under 19 free of charge. Museum opening hours: Thursday to Monday from 9.00 to 18.30, Wednesday - from 9.00 to 21.00.
• Museum Quarter or MQ, Museumsplatz 1, one of the largest museum complexes in the world. Its front part is located in the baroque building of the former court stables, which harmoniously fits into the surrounding architectural ensemble. But passing through the arch into the courtyard, you find yourself in a completely different world: the world of contemporary art, cubic forms and freedom of creativity.
  Museum Quarter includes: Leopold Museum with a collection of Austrian Art Nouveau (13 EUR), Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art of the Ludwig MUMOK Foundation(11 EUR), exhibition hall of contemporary art Kunsthalle(8 EUR), architectural center(9 EUR), contemporary dance center(20 EUR), children's museum(free) and youth theater(tickets from 6 EUR). Most visitors will be interested in the first two museums. You can visit them by purchasing a complex ticket. Periodically, MQ arranges all sorts of special promotions. For example, Art Night tickets (MUMOK, Leopold and Kunsthalle Museum) for 15 EUR or a family ticket for 2 adults and 2 children MQ Duo (MUMOK, Leopold Museum) for 32 EUR. See the schedule of museums.
• Albertina Museum (Albertina), Albertinaplatz 1, takes its name from Duke Albert von Sachsen-Teschin, creator of this fine art gallery. First of all, Albertina is famous for its richest collection of graphics. Visitors can see paintings by Leonardo Da Vinci, Raphael, Dürer, Rubens and other artists. The gallery is open every day from 10.00 to 18.00, and on Wednesdays until 21.00. Adult ticket - 12.9 EUR, up to 19 years old - free of charge.
• Museum of Applied Arts, Stubenring 5, one of the first European museums of this direction, opened in the 19th century. It exhibits furniture, cutlery, dishes, textiles and other items of artistic crafts from the Middle Ages to the present day, including contemporary art. Pay attention to the building itself, decorated with beautiful ornaments.
  The museum is open daily, except Monday: Wednesday - Sunday from 10.00 to 18.00, Tuesday from 10.00 to 22.00. The price of an adult ticket is 9.9 EUR, under 19 years old - free of charge. On Tuesdays from 18.00 to 22.00 admission is free for all visitors.
• Secession Showroom, Friedrichstraße 12, was built in 1898 for the needs of a new association of artists who rebelled against the dictatorship of traditional art and the conservatism of the Vienna House of Artists. The famous saying is carved on the facade of the Secession: "Each time - its art, art - its freedom."
  This snow-white pavilion with a dome of iron laurel leaves, nicknamed the "golden head", contains a permanent exhibition of modernist artists (a must-see for fans of Gustav Klimt), and exhibitions are also held here. An adult ticket costs 9.5 EUR, children under 10 years old are free. Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday, from 10.00 to 18.00.
• Vienna House of Arts Kunsthaus Wien, Untere Weißgerberstraße 13. If you have seen Hundertwasser's house and liked it, you can continue your acquaintance with the work of this outstanding man in Kunst Haus Wien - "the house of uneven floors and dancing windows".
  The building of the former furniture factory, completely rebuilt in the artist's original style, houses a permanent exhibition of Hundertwasser's works and exhibitions of other artists. A ticket to the museum, including the main collection and exhibitions - 12 EUR, only the main collection - 11 EUR, only exhibitions - 9 EUR, children under 10 years old - free of charge, from 10 to 19 years old - 5 EUR. Opening hours: from 10.00 to 18.00. If you don't feel like paying for a ticket, you can appreciate the architecture of the building just by drinking coffee in a wonderful museum cafe.

parks

tourist streets

The old city of Vienna is not so big, and yet it is impossible to list all the streets worthy of attention within the framework of one article, there are too many of them. A must to stroll through the luxurious streets Kohlmarkt and Graben, walk along the pedestrian Kärntner Strasse, starting in the heart of Vienna, admire the palaces of the “noble lane” Herrengasse, look at the cozy medieval Postgasse and Fleischmarkt. Impossible to miss and elegant boulevard Ringstrasse, laid in the 19th century on the site of the walls of the old city. There are many attractions here, including the Parliament, the City Hall, the Vienna Opera, the Burgtheater and the Stock Exchange. Ringstrasse is divided into several sections, each of which has its own name, with the ending "ring": Burgring, Opernring, Parkring, etc. Outside the Ring it is pleasant to walk along the narrow pedestrian streets of the quarter. Spittelberg in the Biedermeier style.

What to see in 1 day

One day is quite a bit for a city like Vienna. I hope that the route I have proposed will allow you to see different sides of the capital: medieval, imperial and modern Vienna.

• 9.00. Let's start the walk with Stephansplatz square. We will examine the cathedral, go down to the catacombs or go up to the observation deck, depending on your interests. Adjacent to Stephansplatz is a funny Stock-im-Eisenplatz, which is decorated with a tree trunk studded with nails.
  According to ancient customs, a nail driven into a tree brought good luck. Now this monument of the 15th century is hidden under glass, so it will not work to join the tradition.
• 10.00. A short walk will take us to home of Figaro at Domgasse 5, where Mozart lived.
  
• 10.20. We go further towards the church Jesuitenkirche, we examine its luxurious interior and continue the tour of medieval Vienna, following the Postgasse and then turning to Fleischmarkt. We pass the legendary restaurant Griechenbeisl, which I will discuss below. Going further and turning right, we get to the oldest church in the city Ruprechtskirche.
• 10.40. Returning a little back, we pass to the oldest square of the city Hohermarkt, under its pavement lie the ruins of the Roman camp of Vindobona, which was once led by Emperor Marcus Aurelius.
  By the way, in house number 3 there is a Roman museum RÖMERMUSEUM, where for 7 EUR (under 19 years old - free of charge) you can learn more about the ancient history of this place. Another attraction of the square - anchor clock.
• 11.00. Turning towards the church Peterskirche, admiring its interior and bizarre plague column Wiener Pestsaule on Graben street.
  
• 11.20. We go out to a huge square am hof with the church, from the balcony of which in 1806 the fall of the Holy Roman Empire of the German peoples was announced.
  Further, our path lies through the area Freyung, where there is a Scottish monastery, several beautiful palaces and an Austrian fountain with figures symbolizing the main rivers of the empire: the Danube, Elbe, Po and Vistula.
• 11.40. We are in the square Rathausplatz. Before us is a beautiful neo-Gothic building New Town Hall, which, by the way, can be visited with a guided tour.
  Against - Burgtheater, I liked this small theater no less than the Vienna Opera. Its interior is decorated with frescoes by Klimt. On the left is Parliament where the National and Federal Councils meet. On the right is the building of the third oldest university in Central Europe (it was founded in the 14th century).
• 12.00 . Through a lush park Volksgarten we go to the front PHorse Heroes Heldenplatz, on which the facade of the New Burg looks.
  Imperial Vienna in all its glory. right square Maria-Theresien-Platz with museum buildings - twins. We will go the other way and pass through the beautiful inner square of the Old Burg In der Burg with a monument to Emperor Franz Joseph I. Pay attention to swiss gate, leading to the Swiss courtyard, from where you can get to the treasury and the imperial chapel. But now our path lies to the square michaelerplatz.
  By the way, there is a legendary confectionery very close by. Demel, so if you want to take a break for Viennese coffee and dessert, this is the time.
• 12.20. Looking at the excavations in the center michaelerplatz, entrance to Spanish riding school and buildings around the perimeter of the square (do not miss the innovative for its time house Vine), we go to the wonderful baroque square Josephsplat z.
  It has a building on it. National Library of Austria, the beautiful interior of which can be seen during the tour (7 EUR). But we go on, we pass by a humble church Augustinerkirche with the hearts of the Habsburgs, Albertina Museum and monument to the victims of war and fascism.
• 12.40. We are near State Opera. We inspect the building and move to the side Vienna Secession. Nearby is the largest Viennese market Naschmarkt and there are many restaurants in the vicinity. So if you're looking for a cheap lunch, this is the place to be.
• 13.40. After a snack, we go out to the square Karlsplatz visiting the majestic church Karlskirche and we go to Gazebo. You can enjoy great views of the city while walking in the park, or look inside to see Klimt and other famous artists.
• 15.40. A short walk will take us to the wonderful City Park of Vienna Stadtpark.
  After resting near the lake and feeding the ducks, we continue our journey towards the Hundertwasser House.
• 16.40. After visiting the unusual house, in order to rest our weary legs, at the nearby Hetzgasse stop, we take tram 1, which will take us along the Ringstrasse ring boulevard to the Kärntner Ring / Oper stop.
• 17.30. So we made a ring around the city. Along a beautiful street Kärntner Strasse We go towards St. Stephen's Cathedral. Looking around the area on the way Neuermarkt, adorned with the Fountain of Providence.
• 18.00. We walk along the main streets Kohlmarkt and Graben dotted with shops and cafes.
  And then we look for a suitable restaurant with Austrian cuisine to celebrate a busy day.
• 21.00. If we have enough strength, we jump into the metro and go to the Prater to make a turn on the famous Viennese wheel.

What to see in the surroundings

Many interesting sights are scattered around the capital. I will list just a few:

Food. What to try

What comes to mind first when you think of Vienna? Certainly, Wiener schnitzel, apple strudel, Viennese coffee and Sacher Torte. These are the things you cannot leave Vienna without having tasted.

Everyone knows Viennese coffee with whipped cream, but in the Austrian capital you will find a true variety of its varieties: Melange - espresso with a head of milk foam, Mozart - with Mozart liqueur and almond flakes, or my favorite coffee - Maria Theresia with whipped cream and orange liquor, as well as many other coffee delights.

Coffee is a good accompaniment to dessert. Sacher chocolate cake, invented by Franz Sacher, is so tasty and popular that it has become the center of a heated debate between the famous confectionery houses Demel and Sacher. As a result, Demel calls their cake "Eduard Sacher Torte" (paying tribute to Eduard Sacher, son of Franz, who slightly changed the recipe), and Sacher Café chose the name "Original Sacher-Torte". Both cakes are great.

Another famous Viennese dessert is strudel. Its feature is considered to be very thinly rolled dough. There is a saying in Vienna that it is possible to read a love letter through a good baker's dough.

The Viennese schnitzel is also exceptionally thin. The classic Wiener Schnitzel is made from veal. Beaten and fried in breading until golden brown, the meat hangs appetizingly from the plate, it is accompanied by a slice of lemon.

The side dish is usually served with a potato or green salad. Wiener Schnitzel vom Schwein pork schnitzel is also popular and tends to be slightly cheaper.

Cafés are an integral part of Vienna's urban culture. No wonder the Viennese coffee tradition has been included in the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage List.

In the cafe, they not only drank coffee and had a snack, the cultural and political life of the city was in full swing here, new ideas were born, books and music were written. Many of the current establishments boast a long history. So Cafe Central with its high ceiling and solemn columns, many famous visitors knew. Here Peter Altenberg wrote, Trotsky liked to play chess, Sigmund Freud drank coffee. already mentioned by me Cafe Sacher and cafe-confectionery Demel(formerly a supplier of the imperial court) excite with their fantastic desserts. I love ice cream and that's why I also recommend the cafe "Zanoni & Zanoni" where you can taste a variety of varieties of this delicacy.

It is difficult to pass by a charming tavern Griechenbeisl(Fleischmarkt, 11) - one of the oldest in Vienna. The first mention of a tavern in this house dates back to the 15th century. It was here that the famous song "Ah, my dear Augustine" was written and performed.

Another reason to look here is the autographs of restaurant visitors (Mozart, Beethoven, Wagner, Schubert, Strauss, Brahms, Chaliapin, Twain, Bismarck and many others), which decorate the walls of the Mark Twain Room.

Another attraction of Vienna - wine taverns heurigers(from the Austrian word “heuer” – this year), where you can taste young wine. Vienna, by the way, is one of the few large cities within which vineyards are cultivated. Unfortunately, the Viennese note that many establishments have become too touristy, and the quality of wine has not changed for the better. But real cozy and colorful heurigers still exist, although they need to be looked for. There are especially many Heurigers in the suburbs of Vienna (Grinzing, Mauer, Nussdorf, Neustift, Strebesdorf, Oberlaa, etc.).

Budget

• Figlmueller, Wollzeile 5 (be sure to try the special Wiener Schnitzel).
• Bettelstudent, Johannesgasse 12
• Schnitzelwirt, Neubaugasse 52
• Rosenberger, Maysedergasse 2
• Centimeter, Lenaugasse 11

Intermediate level

• Plachutta, Wollzeile 38
• Vollwertrestaurant Lebenbauer, Teinfaltstraße 3
• Wiener Wiaz Haus, Gußhausstrasse 24
• Buxbaum Restaurant, Grashofgasse 3
• Ef16 Restaurant Weinbar, Fleischmarkt 16

Expensive

• Restaurant Rote Bar, Philharmoniker 4
• Le Ciel by Toni Morwald, Kärntner Ring 9
• Steirereck, Am Heumarkt 2A
• Restaurant Edvard, Schottenring 24
• Zum Schwarzen Kameel, Bognergasse 5
• Loca, Stubenbastei 10

Holidays

Vienna hosts many festivals. Of particular interest are:

Safety. What to watch out for

Vienna is a very safe city. Of course, nowhere can be insured against pickpockets and theft. But in general, a tourist can feel calm and comfortable here at any time of the day or night. Although, perhaps, I would not walk alone along the Prater at night.

Things to do

• Evaluate architectural experiments. For example, geometric Looshouse, which provoked the indignation of Emperor Franz Joseph or the House of Haas haas house, which so beautifully reflects St. Stephen's Cathedral.
  
• Hear the mass performed Vienna Boys Choir in the palace chapel Burgkapelle. This can be done from mid-September to early July on Sundays and church holidays. Tickets must be booked in advance, for example, on the official one. Another option to hear beautiful voices is to visit the MuTh concert hall in the Augarten, where the choir performs on Fridays. See tickets.
• Watch the legendary Lipizzaners(breed of horses, characterized by a snow-white color and a special article). A horse show is regularly held in Spanish riding school founded in 1572. Tickets for it can be booked. For 15 EUR from Tuesday to Friday (10.00-12.00) you can also visit the morning training, during which the horses will move gracefully to the music.
  
• Pay tribute to great composers by visiting house-museums Schubert, Beethoven, Haydn and Mozart, as well as the house of Strauss the son, where the famous waltz "On the Beautiful Blue Danube" was composed.
• Find anchor clock in the corner of the Hoher Markt, every day at 12 o'clock they show a mini-performance: 12 figures of historical characters who played an important role in the life of the city appear before the audience.
  
• Climb to Danube tower Donauturm. The observation deck is located at a height of 150 meters, it consists of a closed and an open part (protected by a grate). The price of an adult ticket is 7.9 EUR, a child ticket is 5.7 EUR. Opening hours: 10.00 - 24.00 (last entry 23.30).
• visit Schönbrunn Zoo founded in the 16th century. Today it is the most modern complex with a magnificent collection of animals. Here you can see even large and small pandas!
  
  The price of an adult ticket is 18.5 EUR, a child ticket is 9 EUR, children under 6 are free of charge. You can familiarize yourself with the working hours of the zoo and the schedule of feeding animals.
• Go to Berggasse 19, where he lived and worked Sigmund Freud. Now there is his museum. Opening hours: from 10.00 to 18.00, adult ticket - 12 EUR, children 12-18 years old - 4 EUR.
• To honor the memory of Soviet soldiers who died during the liberation of Vienna from fascist occupation by visiting monument at Schwarzenbergplatz.
  
• Go to Minorite Church (Wiener Minoritenkirche), which houses an amazing mosaic copy of Leonardo da Vinci's The Last Supper, commissioned by Napoleon by the artist Giacomo Raffaelli.
  
• Find the Basilisk Sculpture in Handsome Lantern Lane Schonlaterngasse. According to legend, the monster lived in a well and liked to turn the townspeople into stone, until a brave baker stopped this disgrace by placing a mirror in front of the basilisk.
• Dine in one of the taverns Grinzig, a cozy Viennese suburb with vineyards. Grinzig is located near the highest mountain in Vienna Kahlenberg, therefore, climbing it, you can enjoy panoramic views.
• See the most beautiful incinerator in the world - plant Spittelau, another creation of Hundertwasser. The architect, a passionate fighter for the preservation of the environment, took care of environmental safety. So the golden balls on the factory pipes are not just decorative elements, but special filters that clean the smoke from harmful impurities. The heat obtained from the combustion of garbage is directed to heating Viennese apartments.
  
• look at the majestic Central Cemetery where Beethoven, Schubert, father and son Strauss, Brahms and many other celebrities rested. But do not look for Mozart here, he is buried in the cemetery Sankt Marxer in a common grave, the exact location of which, unfortunately, is not known.
• go to UN City, a city within a city on the banks of the New Danube. It is the third most important headquarters of the United Nations in the world. You can get inside with a guided tour. Details.
  
• stare at Vienna Gasometers(Guglgasse 6), giants built to store coke oven gas and now converted into residential buildings and a leisure and shopping area.
  
• visit House of Music is an amazing interactive museum where you can not only get acquainted with great composers, but also completely immerse yourself in the world of sounds, participate in interesting experiments and even look into the alleged future of musical art. Adult ticket 13 EUR, children under 12 years old - 6 EUR, children under 3 years old - free of charge.

Shopping and shops

The central streets of the old city of Vienna ( Kohlmarkt, Graben, Karntner Strabe) are full of shops of famous brands, there are also local boutiques.

Pay attention to small tablets, they say that in the past these establishments were suppliers of the imperial court. By the way, looking at the shop windows is a pleasure in itself, they are decorated with such love!

More democratic shops are located on the streets Mariahilfer Strabe, Favoritenstrabe, landstrabe, Meidlinger Strabe.

Popular shopping malls:

• Shopping City Court, SCS-Straße, 2334 Vösendorf;
• Donau Zentrum, Wagramerstr. 81;
• Shopping Center Nord, Ignaz-Köck-Straße 1;
• Wien Mitte, Landstraßer Hauptstrasse 1B.

For antiques (if you have the funds), you should go to Dorotheum, Dorotheergasse 17, one of the largest auction houses in the world. And if you can't afford auctions yet, you can try your luck at the flea market. Flohmarkt(on Saturdays from 7.00 to 18.00).

Clubs and nightlife

Despite the legendary Austrian respectability, in Vienna you can find nightlife for every taste and budget.

Not to mention the largest disco venue in Austria - club «Praterdome».

It is located in the Prater park and is open on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and before public holidays from 22.00. The huge square, laser show and variety of music guarantee a memorable evening. Don't forget to bring your ID, entry to persons under the age of 18 is not allowed.

Other popular clubs:

• Volksgarten, 1, Burgring;
• Flex, Augartenbrücke 1;
• B72, Hernalser Gürtel 72-73;
• Säulenhalle, Burgring A-1010;
• Grelle Forelle, Spittelauer Lände 12.

Souvenirs. What to bring as a gift

Local souvenir shops mercilessly exploit images of Mozart and paintings by Klimt. So only the most persistent traveler can avoid the temptation to purchase:

Other gift ideas:

How to move around the city

Vienna public transport is represented by metro, trams, buses and trains. The system is very efficient and makes it easy to get anywhere in the city.

There are the following types of tickets valid in any transport:

• single ticket(Einzelfahrschein) is valid for 1 trip in one direction with any number of transfers. Price - 2.2 EUR (1.1 EUR for children from 6 to 15 years old). The ticket can be bought at vending machines, ticket offices, tobacco shops, as well as on the bus or tram (the cost is slightly more expensive than 2.3 EUR). It is also convenient to buy a ticket through the Wiener Linien ticket app (for Ios and Android), such a ticket will be valid for 90 minutes. A ticket purchased from a vending machine, ticket office or tobacconists must be validated once at the start of the trip. For children under 6 years - travel is free, on Sundays and public holidays - travel is also free for children under 15 years.
• Shopping ticket(Wiener Einkaufskarte) is valid for one working day from Monday to Saturday from 8.00 to 20.00. Price - 6.1 EUR. It also needs to be composted.
• Travel tickets for 24, 48 and 72 hours. The countdown starts from the moment the ticket is validated. They cost 7.6 EUR, 13.3 EUR and 16.5 EUR respectively.
• Weekly pass(Wochenkarte) is valid from Monday (from 0.00) to Monday (until 9.00). Price - 16.2 EUR. You don't need to compost.
• 8 day pass(8-Tage-Klima-Karte) is valid for eight unrelated days. The ticket has 8 strips. It can be used by several people, each of whom must compost a separate strip. Price 38.4 EUR.
• If you have purchased Vienna City Card, you will be able to enjoy free travel on public transport during the validity period of the card.

In Vienna, there are no turnstiles in the subway and no restrictive measures, so you may be tempted to ride a hare. But believe me, the probability of meeting a controller is not so small, and the fines are impressive, so it's better not to risk it.

Trams

There are 29 tram routes in the city. This is a very popular and convenient mode of transport.

The Ringstrasse circular route, beloved by tourists, has been made completely touristic and requires a separate ticket. It is called Vienna Ring Tram, and is equipped with a multimedia system, thanks to which you can listen to the tour in several languages, including Russian. Ticket price - 9 EUR (4 EUR for children from 6 to 15 years old). Boarding the tram is possible at the Schwedenplatz stop, platform C. The tram runs from 10.00 to 5.30, the journey takes 25 minutes.

In principle, a similar journey can be made on ordinary trams, but you will have to make a change: take tram 1 from the Oper stop to Schwedenplatz, and then transfer to tram 2 to Oper.

Metro

Vienna has five metro lines: U1, U2, U3, U4, U6. The U5 line exists at the moment only in the distant plans. The metro covers most of the places that are significant for tourists and operates from 5 am to 12 am. It seemed to me very convenient that on the night from Friday to Saturday, from Saturday to Sunday and on the eve of holidays, the metro is open 24 hours a day.

Buses

The bus network is also well developed, buses scurry even through the narrow streets of the old city. It is very convenient that transport is also available at night: 26 night bus routes run from 00.30 to 5.00.

Transport rental

In my opinion, renting a car to explore the city is pointless. Public transport is well developed in Vienna, and within the center it is most convenient to travel on foot. Another option is to rent a bike.

Prices for car rental start from 30-35 EUR per day (you can see the options). A bicycle will cost 15-25 EUR.

All major motorways in Austria are tolled; to travel on them, you need to purchase a special sticker - vignette), which is glued to the windshield of the car. There are vignettes for a year (86.4 EUR), 2 months (25.9 EUR) or 10 days (8.9 EUR). They are sold at gas stations and tobacconists. From December 2017, it will be possible to purchase an electronic vignette that does not have to be glued to the car.

The price of gasoline in Vienna as of June 2017 is 1.12-1.14 EUR.

Vienna - holidays with children

Vienna is the right place for families with children. There are many parks here, most museums offer well-equipped children's sections. You can go to the developing children's museum ZOOM in the Museum Quarter, schönbrunn zoo, ride on attractions of the Prater. Liked by children and House of the sea, Fritz-Grünbaum-Platz 1, where they can get acquainted with interesting marine life (by the way, there is an observation platform at the top with a beautiful view of Vienna).

Ski holidays

There are many ski resorts in Austria. The most famous skiing areas are located in the west of the country. But in the vicinity of Vienna there are places for winter sports lovers to roam:

A daily ski pass costs on average from 30 to 40 EUR.

Tracks

The slopes of the above resorts are more suitable for beginners and intermediate skiers (blue and red slopes). There are black runs for professionals on the slopes of Ötscher, Hochkar, Annaberg, Mönichkirchen, Gemeindealpe and Semmering, but there are not very many of them.

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The Museum of Pathological Anatomy is one of the creepiest museums in Vienna, you need to have very strong nerves to calmly view its exhibits. Narrenturm or fools' tower is the oldest hospital for the mentally ill in Europe (continental part). Its story begins in 1784, when Joseph II, Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire, ordered that the Les Invalides be rebuilt into a state-of-the-art hospital. The hospital was divided into three large parts: a maternity hospital, a hospital and a zone for the mentally ill. Moreover, the last branch so captivated the emperor that it turned into his private project, which he financed not from the treasury, but with his own money.

Emperor Joseph II was a member of the Masonic Lodge, and was also seriously interested in alchemy, so it is not surprising that his hobbies were reflected in the appearance of the tower of lunatics in Vienna. The Tower of Fools is a circular building with five floors, 28 rooms of only 13 square meters each. At the time of Joseph II, there were no bars or doors here - the sick, who were basically given only three diagnoses (dementia, melancholy and insanity), could calmly walk around all the floors, and the most violent ones were simply chained to the beds. They also treated patients in very simple ways: they gave emetics, bled and stuff like that, no psychotherapists worked with them.

After the death of Joseph II, the conditions for keeping the mentally ill in the Tower of Lunatics became tougher: doors appeared, straitjackets began to be used. In addition, a high wall appeared around the Tower of Fools, which was supposed to protect patients from curious onlookers who regularly drop in here just to gawk. In 1852, a second psychiatric hospital was opened in Brunelfeld, to which the majority of patients were sent, and only those who, according to the doctors, were terminally ill, were kept in the Tower of Lunatics.

And in 1869 the hospital in the Tower of Fools was closed. For more than half a century the building was empty, and only in 1920 it housed a hostel for nurses who worked in the Central Hospital. Since 1971, one of the most terrible museums in Vienna has been located in the Tower of Lunatics - the Pathological Museum, which is part of the Natural History Museum of Vienna.

The exhibits presented at the Museum of Pathological Anatomy are not for the faint of heart. Here are preserved human organs, mummified bodies, embryos with congenital mutations, in general, all this is somewhat similar to the famous exposition of the Russian Kunstkamera in St. Petersburg. You need to have a strong nervous system before going to this museum, but despite all the horror, the museum is very interesting.

The Pathological Museum is open only two days a week: on Wednesday from 10:00 to 18:00 and on Saturday from 10:00 to 13:00. The ticket price is 2 euros (persons under 19 years old are free), and if you want to join the tour, you will have to pay €6 per person (€4 for schoolchildren).

You can get to the Tower of the Mad on foot from the metro stations Alser Straße or Schottentor, you will need to walk a little more than a kilometer. The exact address of the museum is Pathologisch-anatomische Sammlung im Narrenturm-NHM, Spitalgasse 2, Uni-Campus Hof 6, 1090 Vienna. Phone: +43 1 52177606.

The Tower of Madness in Vienna is one of the scariest and most mesmerizing places in the world. And it's not just words. Everyone who has ever visited this gloomy place will never forget it. The fact is that the Tower of Lunatics contains within its walls a museum of pathological anatomy.

In the building you can see different parts and organs of the human body. They were alcoholized in special solutions and placed in different vessels. Almost all organs were subjected to gene mutation. The tower represents all human fears. For lovers of an increased dose of adrenaline in the blood, this is the most suitable place. Creepy impressions will be provided to you.

The museum building is located in the tower. From afar, the room looks very intimidating. If you look closely at the ominous architectural appearance of the tower, then the sensations will be like watching some kind of horror movie, such as Silent Hill. Moreover, it must be said that the creators of the game of the same name used the visual appearance of the tower in one of its levels.

In the capital of Austria there is a campus of the University. It is in it that this mysterious tower is located. It was built in the 18th century. Its first destination was a lunatic asylum. A close examination of the building plan clearly shows its original purpose.

The premises has five floors and two courtyards inside. On all floors there are rooms of the same size for sick people. In addition to the rooms, each floor is equipped with an annular corridor. The madhouse in Vienna did not last long, namely from 1784 to 1786.

Museum of human vices

After the premises ceased to fulfill their original intended function, it was given over to museum of pathological anatomy. To date, there are a large number of mysterious exhibits. All of them, in one way or another, are associated with deviations of the human body in the field of gynecology or are susceptible to sexually transmitted diseases.

In this terrible museum there are many organs of the human body in alcoholized form. Of these, human skulls and mutated genitals are of particular interest to visitors. Of course, not everyone will be interested in seeing the exhibits of the Tower of Madmen. But, for lovers of everything extreme and creepy, this is the place that should be visited in the Austrian capital.

Also, the Tower of Lunatics has an instructive effect on people who are promiscuous. And in this age of AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases, this is very relevant. The Vienna Museum of Pathologies is a real reminder to humanity of its vices. It is unique in its kind.

Riddles of the Tower of Lunatics

During the Second World War, the premises of the current museum were repeatedly bombed. During one of them, one of the most valuable exhibits of the museum, the most famous sculptural group of Laocoön, was destroyed. It was made from animal bones. But, according to the legends associated with the Tower of Madmen, human bones are also present in the sculptural group.

To date, it is almost impossible to prove this. The sculptural group represents the struggle of Laocoön with snakes. In the Vatican, in the Museum of Pius Clement, there is an exact analogue of this famous sculpture, but it is also a copy of a bronze statue made in 200 BC. The original sculpture of Laocoön has not survived.

The capital of Austria - Vienna, is famous for its museums, visiting which is included in many tourist programs. The Albertina Art Museum, the Belvedere Palace Complex, the Grassmayr Bell Museum, the winter residence of the Austrian Habsburgs - the Hofburg - all of them occupy their own, honorary level, among the sights of Vienna.

The Federal Pathological Anatomical Museum, for its almost century-old history, has accumulated a lot of chilling exhibits. Despite the fact that a visit to this museum is not recommended for people who are impressionable or have weak nerves, the Tower of the Madmen is undoubtedly a landmark in Austria. In 1784, Emperor Joseph II built the Tower as the first psychiatric hospital. Even one glance at the building is enough to make sure of its true, original purpose. In its original version, the building existed until 1936, when the first museum samples appeared, and in 1976 it became a national museum.

Today, there are a large number of mysterious specimens. Dissected skulls, mummified heads, exhibits demonstrating various genetic diseases, internal organs of alcoholics and smokers, severed limbs, alcoholized babies born with various pathologies - this is just a part of what has been collected for an impressionable public. The alcoholized head of the murderer of Empress Sisi is one of the most valuable museum exhibits.

As a result of the bombings of the Second World War, the sculpture of Laocoön, with his sons, made of human and animal bones, was destroyed. When the building served its original function as a hospital, they studied, along with psychiatric, and venereal diseases - their consequences and symptoms. Thanks to this, many exhibits on this topic have been preserved, one of them is an old mahogany gynecological chair. In addition to the fact that you can see everything, the museum tells in detail about each instance. The Vienna Pathology Museum is unique, interesting and mysterious. It is undeniable that a person who decides to visit the Tower of Madmen will have enough impressions for many years to come.

Spending time in a museum usually does not bring any negative emotions for us, but in rare cases it happens the other way around. There are such museums on the planet, visiting of which is not recommended for the faint of heart - such terrible exhibits are presented in them.

THE FACES OF DEATH OF THE MUMMY MUSEUM

The Mummy Museum in the Mexican town of Guanajuato is not for the faint of heart. Unlike classic Egyptian mummies, the exhibits of this museum amaze with a variety of faces of death, the distorted facial expressions of some mummies even suggest that people were buried alive.

No one embalmed these mummies, they formed naturally in the local cemetery due to too dry soil. The dead bodies were subjected to rapid and severe dehydration, which kept them from decomposing.

This museum was formed by chance. In the second half of the 19th century, a law was passed, according to which the relatives of the deceased in the cemetery had to pay a tax on eternal burial. If the tax was not paid, the remains of the deceased were removed.

The law and forced exhumation were in effect from 1865 to 1958. It should be noted that not all recovered bodies were mummified; apparently, the conditions in different parts of the cemetery (dryness of the soil, its composition, proximity to groundwater, etc.) contributed to the preservation of the bodies in different ways.

All the mummified bodies found during the exhumation were kept by the cemetery workers in a separate building. Already at the end of the 19th century, these mummies began to attract the attention of travelers, and they began to charge a fee for their inspection. The official date of the museum's formation is considered to be 1969, when the mummies were exhibited in special glass cases.

In total, the museum has collected more than a hundred mummies, mostly women's mummies, there are also about two dozen children's and several men's. Among the children's mummies, individual specimens stand out, which are considered the smallest mummies on the planet.

There are a lot of very creepy mummies in the museum, at the sight of which impressionable young ladies almost lose their senses. Of all the mummies, only 59 are on display. Hundreds of thousands of tourists visit the museum every year.

THE SOULS OF THE DEAD ARE ALWAYS NEAR?

In the sacristy of the Italian church Del Sacro Cuore del Suffraggio in Rome, there is a small museum, the exhibits of which testify to the presence of the souls of dead people on earth. The beginning of this Museum of the Dead Souls was laid in 1912 thanks to the church rector.

For a long time, only one exhibit was kept in the museum - a nightcap with traces of ghost fingers smeared with soot. These footprints, according to local legend, were left by the ghost of Louise le Senechel. Her husband, after the death of his wife, began to lead a rather riotous life and completely forgot about the prescribed mourning, so she came to him from the other world to remind him of decency.

On the night of May 7, 1873, the ghost of Louise pulled off the cap from the head of Mr. le Seneschel and pinched his nose several times very painfully ...

Over time, others have been added to this exhibit. At the moment, the museum has more than a hundred different artifacts, including clothes, underwear, books and other items with fingerprints, soles and other traces left by the souls of the dead. All this is material evidence of the real existence of ghosts.

If you want to visit this museum, remember that it is usually closed. To view the exposition, you need to contact the local priest. By the way, according to the testimonies of tourists who visited the museum, it is useless to take pictures in it - spirits spoil almost all the pictures ...

NATURAL HORROR "THE TOWER OF THE CRAZY"

The Museum of Pathological Anatomy in Vienna (Austria) is located in a 5-storey tower building, in which in the 18th century there was a clinic for violent lunatics, hence the second name of the museum - "The Tower of Madmen".

Although mentally ill people have long disappeared from this building, many museum visitors, having not yet seen its exhibits, already feel some oppressive “aura” of its thick walls, as if saturated with negativity and unhealthy emotions.

The exhibits of the creepy museum will not add to the mood. Weak-hearted people are immediately advised to refrain from visiting it.

What is so terrible can be seen in the "Tower of the Mad"? The exposition includes canned heads, corpses with various developmental anomalies and mutations, babies drunk in alcohol with terrible pathologies.

Organs of patients with venereal diseases, alcoholics and smokers are displayed here. They say that it is very useful to see them for people suffering from bad habits, and for those who are promiscuous in their relationships.

One of the most valuable exhibits of the museum is the alcoholized head of the murderer of Empress Sisi. Perhaps the only exhibit that does not cause negative emotions is an old mahogany gynecological chair.

MUSEUM OF MEDICAL HISTORY MUTTER

The Mutter Museum of Medical History in Philadelphia (USA) presents an extensive collection of medical pathologies and antique medical equipment to the attention of visitors. There are no less terrible exhibits here than in the Museum of Pathological Anatomy in Vienna, so it is better for especially impressionable people to refrain from examining it.

The Mutter Museum was opened in early 1750 by Benjamin Franklin, at first its unusual collection was used only for scientific research and educational purposes. Now this museum can be visited by anyone.

Among its exhibits, the famous collection of human skulls (48 copies) of various sizes and shapes is widely known. One of the most important exhibits of the museum is the body of a woman, turned into soap due to the unusual conditions of her burial place.

Here you can also see the famous Siamese twins Chan and Yen Bunkers with a joint liver, the skeletons of Siamese twins fused with their heads, the skeleton of a two-headed child, many canned internal organs with various pathologies.

Of great interest to tourists is one of the main exhibits of the museum - Harry Eastlack. This man suffered from fibrodysplasia ossificans during his lifetime, a very rare disease characterized by the formation of bone growths at the site of a bruise or wound. Eastlack died at the age of more than forty, before that he bequeathed his skeleton to the museum.

In addition to the skeleton of this unfortunate man, the museum presents a number of his lifetime photographs. Another exhibit, quite shocking to visitors, is a conjoined female fetus in a glass cubic jar.

TORTURED WITH THE DEVIL'S FANTASY

There are several torture museums in the world, but two of them are considered especially terrible - in The Hague (Netherlands) and in the city of Mdina (Malta). The first of them is also called the "Gate of Prisoners", the main exhibit in it is an ancient casemate of the XIII century, in which torture actually took place.

Its walls seem to be saturated with unbearable pain and horror; especially sensitive people here often faint during an excursion. The museum displays an impressive arsenal of various instruments of torture, and the guide's story is full of detailed details of their use.

The Museum of Torture in Mdina is considered unsurpassed in terms of its impact on visitors. It is located in the basement, descending into which you immediately stumble upon decapitated people, hangmen, a rack and various instruments of torture. Among the latter are a vise for squeezing the skull, tongs for pulling out nails, and other inventions of executors who possessed a truly diabolical fantasy.

Here are shown scenes of various tortures, the characters of which, made of wax, look very naturalistic. These museums are not recommended for the faint of heart, pregnant women and children.