Page 76 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Austria

74  VIENNA AREA B Y AREA

The magnificent Prunksaal in the National Library, Josefsplatz
l Josefsplatz by Nikolaus Pacassi. They now events, including the royal
serve as cultural venues for wedding of Marie Louise (1812)
Map 2 B4. % Stephansplatz,
Herrengasse. @ 1A, 2A. the city. to Napoleon, and that of
Elisabeth of Bavaria (known
In the centre of Josefsplatz stands by her popular nickname, Sisi)
an equestrian statue (1807) of z Augustiner kirche to Franz Joseph (1854).
Joseph II portrayed as a Roman Augustinerstrasse 3. Map 2 B5. Tel 53
emperor, by Franz Anton Zauner. 37 099. % Stephansplatz, Karlsplatz,
Behind the statue, to the Oper. @ 2A. Open 7am–6pm daily. x Albertina
right, is the entrance to the Mass: 11am Sun & church hols. Albertinaplatz 1. Map 2 B5. Tel 534
National Library building 830. % Stephansplatz, Karlsplatz.
designed by Johann Bernhard The 14th-century Gothic v 1, 2, 62, 71, D. @ 2A.
Fischer von Erlach. Its Prunksaal Augustinian church was refur- Open 10am–6pm daily, 10am–9pm
(Hall of Honour) is regarded as bished in the Baroque style, Wed. 8 7 ∑ albertina.at
the most beautiful library in but some 100 years later was
Europe. Frescoes by the Baroque restored to its original character. The Albertina was once the
painter Daniel Gran adorn its Inside is one of the most Habsburg palace of Duke
vault. The walls of the historic power ful works by Antonio Albert of Sachsen-Teschen
reading room are graced by Canova (1805), the tomb of and his wife Archduchess Maria
Johann Bergl’s frescoes. Maria Christina, Maria Theresa’s Christina, the favourite daughter
Perhaps the grandest items in favour ite daughter. It is shaped of Maria Theresa.
the library’s rich collection are like a pyramid, approached by The Albertina houses one
the cartographic treasures a funeral procession. St of the world’s finest collection of
exhibited just behind George’s Chapel, on the prints and drawings, including
the Prunksaal. right, contains a marble works by famous artists such
The Redoutensäle, in cenotaph dedicated to as Leonardo da Vinci, Michel-
the wing adja cent Emperor Leopold II, an gelo, Dürer, Rubens, Manet
to the library and while further along, and Cezanne, as well as by
once the court in the Loreto Schiele, Klimt and Picasso. It has
ballrooms, now chapel, are silver a million prints, over 65,000
serve as the head Tomb of Maria Christina in urns containing watercolours and drawings, and
office of the Vienna Augustinerkirche the hearts of some 100,000 photographs. It is
Congress Centre. members of the also home to the Sammlung
On the opposite side of Habsburg family, including Batliner, a collection of paintings
Josefsplatz are two interesting Leopold II’s, as well as the heart under the title “Monet to Picasso”.
palaces: at No. 5 is the 18th- of Napoleon’s son, the King of The beautiful Neo-Classical
century Pallavicini Palace by Rome, who died when young. Historic State Rooms in the
Johann Ferdinand Hetzendorf The church was once the palace are among the most
von Hohenberg, and at No. 6 Court Chapel and, as such, valuable examples of this style
the 16th-century Palffy Palace the scene of many historic of architecture.
For hotels and restaurants in this area see pp292–3 and pp310–12

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