Imperial Vienna – The Waltz & The Kiss
In the footsteps of Klimt, Strauss and the Habsburg Emperors to the Belvedere, Hofburg and Schönbrunn Palaces
4 nights from £695
Key VJV Features
• VJV Special Event • VJV Sightseeing Programme
• Upgraded Flight Option • Walking Content: 2
• Group Size:4- 20
As the Empire neared its end, Austria experienced an artistic surge, in particular with the ‘Secession’ or Art Nouveau movement – the Secession building contains Klimt’s Beethoven Frieze and the movement’s slogan: ‘To every age its art, to art its freedom’. In 2012 Vienna celebrates the 150th birthday of its most famous member, Gustav Klimt – Belvedere Palace has the largest permanent collection including ‘The Kiss’, his most famous painting. Special exhibitions include: 150 years of Gustav Klimt (Upper Belvedere Palace, 15 Jun-6 Jan); Klimt’s Travels (Leopold Museum, 24 Feb-27 Aug); Klimt (Museum of Fine Arts, 14 Feb-6 May); Klimt Drawings (Albertina, 14 Mar-10 Jun); Klimt, The Wien Museum Collection (16 May-16 Sep).
July 2011 saw the last Habsburg State Funeral as Otto, son of the last Emperor, was buried in Vienna’s Imperial Capuchin Crypt. The Habsburg Empire encompassed much of Europe, whose monarchs and nobility often resided in the imperial capital – its cultural heritage is now housed in Vienna’s museums and palaces, which our specialist guide introduces to small groups of VJV travellers, (a 72-hour Vienna card is provided for selected discounts and free travel by metro, bus and tram).
In winter a popular meeting point are the Coffee Houses (where they have sold more variations than Starbucks for centuries!) and a ‘Wiener melange’ will buy a seat for as long as you like – the historic Café Central was a favourite of Lenin and Trotzky in exile and Café Landtmann of Freud and Mahler whilst Café Mozart was in ‘The Third Man’ and Demel was the Emperor’s pastry shop.
VJV Special Event - An Evening at Schönbrunn
Gather at Schönbrunn Palace in the late afternoon for a tour of the State Apartments after the crowds have gone, then enjoy a Viennese dinner at the restaurant in the main courtyard. This evening in the home of Strauss and the waltz naturally culminates with a concert performance of light Viennese music, song and dance in the Schönbrunn Orangery. Category A seats and a glass of bubbly are provided!
