Page 82 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Austria

80  VIENNA AREA B Y AREA

the repre sen tatives of the
17 peoples of the empire. The
magnificently decorated state
apartments and conference
rooms can be visited in a guided
tour. The lower vestibule contains
busts of prominent members of
the Austrian National Assembly.
The side wings have four
bronze chariot groups, each
driven by Nike, the Greek god-
dess of victory. Another, smaller
statue of Nike is held aloft by
her fellow goddess, of wisdom,
Pallas Athena, whose 5-m (16-ft)
statue is the main feature of the
monumental fountain in front
of the central portico, designed
by Carl Kundmann and placed
here in 1902. It is flanked by
allegorical figures representing
Law Enforcement (left) and
Legislation (right), as well as
figures symbolizing the major
rivers of the empire.
Pallas Athena monument in front of the parliament building
1 Neues Rathaus of the highest legislative body of 3 Burgtheater
the Austrian part of the Austro-
Friedrich-Schmidt-Platz 1. Map 1 C3. See pp82–3.
Tel 52 550. % Rathaus. v 1, 71, D. Hungarian Empire. An imposing
Open 8am–6pm Mon–Fri. 8 1pm Neo-Classical building, the
Mon, Wed & Fri. Closed during Parlament was completed in 4 Universität
meetings and public holidays. 7 1883 to designs by the Dutch
architect Theophil Hansen. Universitätsring. Map 2 A3. Tel 42 77 0.
The New Town Hall, built in The entrance is raised above % Schottentor. v 1, 37, 38, 40, 41,
1872–83 by Friedrich Schmidt, street level. A gently sloping 42, 43, 44, 71, D. @ 1A.
lies in an attractive park. The ramp leads to the main portico,
symmetrical, triple façade of which is modelled on a Greek Vienna University is the oldest
the Neo-Gothic building faces temple. Both the ramp and the university in the German-
Ringstrasse. Its central tower, pediment are adorned with speaking world and the third
98 m (321 ft) high, is topped by carved marble figures of Greek oldest in Central Europe, after
the statue of a knight in armour, and Roman historians, scholars Prague and Cracow. It was
one of Vienna’s symbols. The main and statesmen. The relief depicts founded in 1365 by Rudolf IV,
tower is flanked by two smaller the Emperor Franz Joseph I and flourished and grew in the
towers, 60 m (197 ft) high. The handing the constitution to late 15th century. Its present
town hall cellar is a restaurant.
The whole length of the first floor
is taken up by a reception hall. The
forecourt is used for many events,
including a Christmas fair.

2 Parlament
Dr-Karl-Renner-Ring 3. Map 1 C4.
Tel 40 11 00-25 70. % Volkstheater.
v 1, 2, 71, D. 8 Sep–mid-Jul: 11am,
2pm, 3pm, 4pm Mon–Sat (also 1pm
Fri, noon & 1pm Sat); mid-Jul–Aug:
11am, noon, 1pm, 2pm, 3pm, 4pm
Mon–Sat. ∑ parlament.gv.at
Today’s assembly hall of Austria’s
two-chamber parliament
originally served as the location The main building of Vienna University
For hotels and restaurants in this area see p293 and pp312–13

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