Page 77 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Austria

INNER CIT Y  75

c Kapuzinerkirche b Kärntner Strasse
and Kaisergruft Map 2 B5, C4, C5. % Stephansplatz,
Karlsplatz. v 1, 2, 62, 71, D.
Neuer Markt. Map 2 B5. Tel 51 26 853.
% Stephansplatz, Karlsplatz. @ 2A. @ 1A, 2A, 3A.
Open 10am–6pm daily. &
Kärntner Strasse was once the
main road running south across
The Capuchin church stands town to Kärnten (Carinthia),
at the southwestern corner of hence its name.
Neuer Markt, formerly a cereal Today, the view down the
and flour market. In 1617, Anna street is blocked at its Ring end
of Tyrol, wife of Emperor Matthias, by the silhouette of the opera
founded a crypt in its vaults in house, and at the Stock­im­Eisen­
which the Habsburg family Platz end by the modern Haas­
members were laid to rest. Haus, which reflects the spires
Today, the Kaisergruft (imperial Grand stairway in the Winterpalais of the Stephansdom. At Stock­
crypt) contains the earthly des Prinzen Eugen im­Eisen­Platz there is a wooden
remains of 138 family members. block into which every passing
On their death, the Habsburgs brilliant military commanders of apprentice ironworker used to
were dismembered; their hearts his day. The task was entrusted drive a nail, in the hope that this
are kept in silver urns in August­ to Johann Bernhard Fischer von would ensure his safe return.
inerkirche, their entrails in the Erlach, and the palace was In the mid­section, at No. 37,
catacombs of Stephansdom subsequently extended by stands the Malteserkirche
(see pp62–3). The only Habsburg Johann Lukas von Hildebrandt. (church of the Knights of Malta).
monarchs not present are Its central part includes the The Maltese Knights came to
Ferdinand II, whose vast tomb­ original magnificent staircase, Vienna in the early 13th century,
mausoleum is in Graz, and adorned with sculp tures by and the church remains under
Charles I. The last Austrian Giovanni Giuliani. The central their jurisdiction to this day. The
emperor, he died in exile and is portal reliefs depict the figure church walls display the coats of
buried on Madeira. The only of Aeneas carrying his father arms of the Grand Masters of
non­Habsburg buried here is out of the burning city of Troy, the Maltese Order.
Maria Theresa’s governess, and the hero Hercules, who is Malteserkirche is one of the
Countess Caroline Fuchs. slaying a monster. few older buildings in the street.
The most poignant tomb is From 1848 until 2006, the When Kärntner Strasse was
the crypt of Franz Joseph I. The palace was home to the Ministry widened during the 19th
monarch is flanked by separate of Finance. After extensive century, to transform it into the
tombs containing the remains renovation, the palace today old town’s main artery, most of
of his wife Elisabeth, assassi­ houses the Baroque collection the buildings were demolished.
nated by an Italian anarchist, of the Belvedere (see pp102–3). Today, the pedestrianized
and their only son Crown Nearby, at Seilerstätte No. 30, street is one of Vienna’s most
Prince Rudolf, who committed is the Haus der Musik (House of fashionable and expensive
suicide in 1889. Also of note Music). A museum dedi cated to shopping streets. Here, you can
is the double sarcoph agus of the Wiener Philhar moniker shop at one of many exclusive
Maria Theresa and her husband (Vienna Philharmonic), it also boutiques, eat and drink in
Franz Stephan I. It bears the houses a high­tech exhibi tion busy restaurants, bars and
statues of the imperial couple on the nature of sound, which outdoor cafés, and listen to
and four figures with the allows visitors to see and feel as street musicians or just watch
crowns of Austria, Hungary, well as hear music. others stroll by.
Bohemia and Jerus alem
(the Habsburgs were also
the titular Kings of Jerusalem).

v Winterpalais des
Prinzen Eugen
Himmelpfortgasse 8. Map 2 C5.
Tel 51 433. % Stephansplatz. v 2.
@ 2A. Open 10am–6pm daily.
∑ belvedere.at

The Winter Palace was commiss­
ioned in 1694, by Prince Eugene
of Savoy, one of the most Kärntner Strasse, one of Vienna’s most fashionable shopping streets

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