See also: Vienna

Vienna ( German Wien in ) is the Capitale of the Austria. It is at the same time Land (federate State), in German Bundesland Wien . It is located at the east of the country, and is crossed by the the Danube ( Donau ). It was the capital of the Saint Germanic Roman Empire as well as Archiduché of Austria, Empire of Austria (1804-1866) and later of the double monarchy, commonly called Austria-Hungary (1867-1918).

Populated approximately 1.631.082 inhabitants (2005), it is an important international political center, in particular because of the Austrian Neutralité, since sit there SOEC, OPEC and various agencies of the the United Nations, like the International Atomic Energy Agency or ONUDI. It was also the place of signature of a great number of international treaties like the Convention of Vienna.

History

See also: History of Vienna (Austria)

The origin of Vienna goes back to the 6th century before the Christian era, when Celtes founded there a city under the name Vindobona (white city). In 15 av. J. - C., Vindobona becomes important extremely Roman of the province of Pannonia, defending the Limes, the border of the Roman Empire, which faces the German people located more at north. The archaeological vestiges of the Roman period of Vienna are nevertheless extremely modest.

During the the Middle Ages, Vienna becomes successively the seat of the Babenberg (counts then dukes of Austria), then Habsbourg. When the latter reach the statute of emperor, the city becomes the capital of the Saint Germanic Roman Empire. She is however quickly confronted with the rise to power of the Ottoman Empire whose troops besieged it twice ().

• In 1529, first Seat of Vienna, by the troops under the orders of Soliman the Magnificent the. The resistance of the Vienneses and the 20.000 soldiers carried the decision.
• In 1683, at the time of the second seat, Vienna had its safety with Charles V of Lorraine and with the intervention of the Polish troops of Jean III Sobieski. The top dog Kara Mustafa, ordering the Turkish troops, was decapitated by the sultan Murad IV.

In 1815, thanks to the talent of Metternich, Vienna is the seat of the congress éponyme, which defines geopolitics for one half-century of Europe left the Napoleonean wars .

Of 1918 with 1934, Vienna was called red Vienna it, because of the come to power of a coalition of social democrats and thesocial ones.

Historical population

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Town planning

See also: Districts of Vienna

Several times frontier town of the world of Christendom, Vienna a long time remained enclosed within fortifications which explain the density of its central urban fabric. Its last enclosure, dismantled in the middle of the 19th century, was replaced by a known circular boulevard under the name of Ring (German ring).

Established with a few kilometers of the Danube on Right Bank of the river, Vienna in remained moved away a long time, in particular to protect itself from the risings. Its drain at the 18th century and the 19th century made it possible the town of approach, then to extend on left bank from the Danube. But an important dissymmetry remains, since the left bank accommodates only approximately 200.000 inhabitants.

Vienna (the state as the city) is subdivided of 23 districts, the Gemeindebezirke , indicated by a number and a name. The zip codes allotted to the town of Vienna go from 1010 to 1230, first 1 indicating the central city, and the two figures mentioning the district. Thus, the address of the castle of Schönbrunn for example comprises the code 1130.

*Le center itself ( Innere Stadt (Vienna) ) is the first district , it is the site of historical Vienna, on Right Bank of the Danube. It is surrounded of the circular Ring , first and second boulevards, one in each direction of circulation. It includes/understands in its center, inter alia, the imperial palace Hofburg , which, with its dependences, occupies most of the surface of the district. One circulates little conveys some in the first district, the progression in the narrow streets and the parking being difficult.

* the districts 2 to 9 surrounds the first in the direction of the needles of a watch and are adjacent for him (except the 5). These districts all, densément populated, are regarded as the center of the city (with the first). They outside the Ring but are surrounded in the west and the south by the Gürtel (girdles in German), another circular boulevard opened with the circulation in the two directions and surmounted on a great part by the underground line air U6.

* the districts 10 to 20, and the 23e , borders Vienna in the west and the south, and densément is less densément populated. Some are more zones of offices, others (16-19) zones of rather green residences. The palate of Schönbrunn occupies most of the 13th district.

* the districts 21 and 22 , more recent, more popular historically and much less dense, is on other bank of the Danube. The current trend (2004) is with the development of these zones, and of many dwellings more aired, in particular of standing on banks of the river, are in construction in these districts.

The social diversity and ethnic is real, even if there exist great disparities according to the districts. The popular or middle-class character of a district is independent of its distance to the historical center. Moreover, certain districts gather more of the same inhabitants origin or culture (Balkan or Yugoslav, Italian, Asian, Jewish, Hungarian…), independently of the social status of the inhabitants, but one does not observe real cutting by community as in other European capitals (London, Berlin).

Culture

It is from the musical point of view that the Vienna-city-of-culture owes its international repute. There hardly exists of other city in which as many famous type-setters lived. The Waltz of Vienna, its chorus of children (Wiener Sängerknaben), of large musical events such as the Concert of the New year or the Ball of the Opera of Vienna, just as the buildings dedicated to the Opera and the Theater are universally known. This known as, Vienna is also known for its kitchen and its culture of the coffees. The apogee of the culture Viennese corresponds at the beginning of the XXe century: it is the time of certain major advances in the scientific discipline (invention of the psychoanalysis by Sigmund Freud), but also of an important revival in the field of arts (Sécession Viennese, painting of Gustav Klimt and Egon Schiele) or in the field of the literature (works of Arthur Schnitzler, Joseph Roth, Hermann Broch and Robert Musil).

Theater and opera

Such an amount of art that the culture lay out in Vienna of very a long tradition in the fields of the Théâtre, of the opera or arts illustrés.
The Burgtheater, like its second scene (the Academic Theater), pass to appear among the most important theaters in the world. Vienna also lays out of the Popular Théâtre and the Theater of Josefstadt. A multitude of smaller scenes reinforces the offer of theater of the capital, which has to hardly envy largest from the quality point of view. Those are often devoted to modern and experimental parts like with the Cabaret or art mineur.
The amateurs of opera also have a very developed offer: the national Opera (Staatsoper) and the Popular Opéra (Volksoper) propose an offer varied, this last being more particularly turned towards the Opérette but also towards the Musical comedy.
The concerts of Classical music are organized with the Musikverein (with famous the gilded room ) and with the Konzerthaus .

The Théâtre on Vienna (Theater year der Wien) was distinguished these last years by first representations of Musical comedy. The most appreciated of them was Elisabeth , which was then translated into several languages and in the whole world. The house in which Beethoven presented Fidelio for the first time since 2006 is again devoted only to the opera.
The Haus der Musik (House of the Music) of Vienna proposes to the children and to adults since the year 2000 a Musée of the sound (Klangmuseum).
The Marionettentheater Schloß Schönbrunn (puppet theater) proposes to the children as with the adults a spectacle of Marionnette S in the form of parts and of operas.

Museums

The Hofburg shelters the Museum of Sissi, the Kaiserappartements (Apartments of the Emperor) and the Hofsilber- und Tafelkammer. Directly beside Hofburg are the Kunsthistorisches Museum (Museum of history of art), which shelters many paintings of Old Masters, as well as the Naturhistorisches Museum (Museum of natural history of Vienna).

From there, one reaches directly the Museumsquartier (district of the museums), a complex of museums set up in the years 1990 in the old imperial stables. This district shelters the Museum moderner Kunst -- Stiftung Ludwig (Museum of modern art - Ludwig Foundation), the Leopold-Museum, which propose mainly works of the style Sécession Viennese, Wiener Moderne and Austrian expressionism, several rooms being used for temporary exhibitions, as well as the Tanzquartier Wien (district of the dance). The Palais Liechtenstein shelters one of the private collections of art most important in the world.

Still come to be added many other museums, Heeresgeschichtlichen Museum (Museum of history of the army) with the Technisches Museum (technical Museum) while passing by the Wiener Uhrenmuseum (Museum of the clock industry) or the Bestattungsmuseum (Museum of the undertaking). Without forgetting the museum of districts, which concentrate on the specific history to each district.

Twinnings

• : this city belonged to the many Austrian possessions a long time.
• many Arrondissements of Vienna is also twinned with cities (or districts of big cities) Japanese:
• Döbling (Vienna 19) with
• Floridsdorf (Vienna 21) with
• Innere Stadt (Vienna 1) with
• Meidling (Vienna 12) with
• Hernals (Vienna 17) with
• Alsergrund (Vienna 9) with
• Hietzing (Vienna 13) with
• Donaustadt (Vienna 22) with
• Josefstadt (Vienna 8) form the “Alliance of Josefstädte” with the homonymous districts and.
• There exist also twinnings between Arrondissements of Vienna and the provinces, cities and districts Chinese:
• Innere Stadt (Vienna 1) and
• Mariahilf (Vienna 6) and
• Alsergrund (Vienna 9) and
• Simmering (Vienna 11) and
• Donaustadt (Vienna 22) and
• Liesing (Vienna 23) and

Water transport and ways

Urban shoed transport

See also: Subway of Vienna

The network of Subway of Vienna account 5 lines (2004), and of the work, envisaged until worms 2015, are currently in hand to gradually extend it in periphery (with an additional line). It is inter-connected with a fast regional rail network, the Schnellbahn , managed by the Austrian railroads (ÖBB). The Schnellbahn and the regional trains connect Vienna to the closest cities in Low-Austria, Tchéquie, Slovakia and Hungary.

Vienna also comprises a very dense network of Tramway, whose first lines entered in service second half of the 19th century.

The essence of the grid system concentrates on Right Bank (southern) the Danube, with the image of the pattern of the settlement Viennese.

Compared with the number of inhabitants and the surface of the city, Vienna has the joint grid system densest of the world.

Stations

Vienna has several railway stations, of which two more important are Westbahnhof , serving the west of Austria, the Suisse, the Germany but also the Hungary and Südbahnhof , which serves the Italy, the Slovakia, the Tchéquie. There exists as a station called Northern Wien , as 50 years of Cold war relegated to the row of regional station, the North-East of Vienna being next to the austro-Czechoslovakian border directly (old layout of the Iron curtain).

There exists a single project of station to facilitate the rail traffic, which would replace the Westbahnhof and the Südbahnhof , which are both of the terminals. This station would be called Hauptbahnhof or Zentralbahnhof , and the end of the building site is planned for 2025.

Airport

The airport of Wien-Schwechat (LIFE codes IATA of it) is located at ten kilometers of Vienna, and is acted as international airport for most of Austria, Slovakia, Hungary of the west and Moravie. One reaches it easily from Vienna or Bratislava in public transport.

Since the center town of Vienna, the airport accessible is drunk by it (6 EURO since several starting points in Vienna, 20 to 30 minutes of way following the schedule), in Schnellbahn (3 EURO from several stations of the center and the southern suburbs, 20 minutes of way), or in City Airport Train (or CAT , for 10 EURO since Wien Mitte , 16 minutes of way). On the way, one sees in particular the oil refinery of the Austrian company OMV.

Recently, of many tourists use the small airport of Bratislava, located at about fifty kilometers of Vienna, which proposes more and more relations low-cost with many European cities.

Cours d' water

Vienna counts three waterways:

• the the Danube, larger river of Europe, which crosses it the North-West (of Linz) to south-east (towards Bratislava). The " Danube" old man; ( alte Donau ) is the name given to an arm died in the north of the current river, appreciated place of bathe of the Vienneses. The " new Danube" or neue Donau , as for him, comprises two arms separated by an island ( Donauinsel ) long several kilometers, and attended for its beaches festive and animated in evening the summer ( Copa Cagrana ).

The Danube is an important way of navigation in Europe for the transport of the goods, but it is also an alternative means to go from Vienna to Bratislava, Budapest or Melk in shuttle.

• the Channel of the Danube ( Donaukanal ) double the river in the south while entering the old city. It thus creates an island, made up of districts 2 and 20. It is not a question of a channel in a strict sense of the term, but well of an arm of the Danube, which was the original course of the river to the Moyen-âge before many Crue S does not modify its layout towards its current location.
• the small river Vienna ( Wienfluss ), long of 34km, which traverses Vienna on 15km of west in is, passing in particular in front of the Naschmarkt, the Château of Schönbrunn, and the Stadtpark, to throw itself in the channel of the Danube on the level of Urania, building Art nouveau sheltering a cinema today.

Economy

According to the data of the census of 2001, Vienna counts 821.458 active people, in 87.691 companies. Smallest district (1. Bezirk) is also that which counts the most employment.

Vienna benefits from its international reputation to offer a raised quality of life, a low rate of criminality and to be a " springboard towards Est" , the city and its companies having an long experience and maintaining good relationships with PECO. Many international groups, such Heineken, Lafarge, Schneider Electric or HypoVereinsbank have for this purpose bench their seat for Eastern Europe in Vienna.

Number of Austrian companies having crossed the borders have their head office in Vienna, for example Casinos Austria, OMV, Wienerberger, BAWAG and Erste Bank.

Single the Austrian purse is also established in Vienna.

Sport

Vienna occupies an important place in the Austrian sporting world. Indeed, of many new sporting practices initially appeared there before spreading itself in the remainder of the country. The preferred sport of the Vienneses is the Natation. Many natural water levels and swimming pools are available. The sandy and wooded island of Gaensehaeufel, located in XXIIe district, is particularly appreciated population. The Football is placed at the second rank of the most practiced sports. Vienna has two large rival clubs evolving/moving in the Championnat of Austria of football, the Austria (holder of the number of gained cuts, a European final) and SK Rapid has]] (record of championships, two finales of European cuts). The Vienna is as for him the oldest club of Austria. The historical predominance of the clubs Viennese is such as it was necessary to wait until 1965 to see a club province to become champion. The Ernst Happel Stadion is the most important football stadium of Vienna with 53.000 places, and accommodates the matches of the national team since 1931. These last years it accommodated three times the final of the Ligue of the Champions and will accommodate the final of the Euro 2008.

Apart from football, many clubs represent other sports successfully. In 2005, the Hockey lives to triumph the teams male over the Vienna Capitals and female of EHV Sabers. Wiener Stadthalle accommodated the Championships of the world the same year. In American football, the Chrysler Vikings gained the Eurobowl in 2004 and 2005, and baseball WBV Homerunners. The Aon hotVolleys in volley ball and the Margareten Fivers had to be satisfied each one of a second place. The only national team of female Rugby is Viennese.

Apart from the collective sports, Vienna makes it possible many to practice individual sports. The ways of the Prater and the Donauinsel island are very appreciated by the followers of the race on foot. Each year is organized Vienna City Marathon. More than 1.000 km of ways are arranged for the cyclists, in addition to the tracks of VTT in the hills surrounding Vienna. 11 clubs of oars accommodate the practitioners on the the Danube and the " Danube" old man;. Golf courses are towards Wienerberg. In fencing, the most famous club is Wiener Sportclub. Multiple offers also exist for the winter sports, worships in Austria. Two tracks are exploited by the city with the site of the old track-FIS of the Hohe-Wand-Wiese and on Dollwiese. As soon as snow reaches 20 cm thickness, the service of the sports traces basic ski slopes through Prater, on Donauinsel, in Wienerberg, in Steinhof, in Schwarzenbergpark, in Cobenzl and Maurerwald. The tracks go 2,5 km (Winerberg) up to 12 km (Donauinsel). In term of sports equipment, the town of Vienna counts also several Hippodrome S, in particular the Hippodrome of Krieau and that of Fredenau.

• international sporting Events:

*Championnats of Europe of horsemanship of Jump of obstacles in 1977.

*Championnats of Europe of swimming in small basin (2004)

* Championship of the world of hockey on ice (2005), with Innsbruck

* Euro 2008, with Switzerland

Leisures

Night life

In the years 1980, a great number of bars (called Beisl) developed in the district of Schwedenplatz and the church Ruprechtskirche, to form named Bermuda Triangle well (certain people would have been reported there missing after having spent long nights there). In the following years, the local scene extended on both sides from the Canal of the Danube. Near the stop of Schottenring subway, also on the banks of the Channel of the Danube, since 1995 the Flex is - one of the most known clubs of Vienna, in which evolve/move daily of DJs and groups of the local scene as much as international. WUK, located near the Gürtel at Währing, is known for its scene Ragga/Reggae/Dancehall. The Quartier of the Museums accommodates, particularly during the summer season, of many attended terraces.

Since the end of the year 1990, Gürtel accommodates many bars such as the Chelsea or the Q/'', from now on established well. These bars had right from the start the objective to animate this district. Because of their particular localization, they have the advantage of hardly causing additional noise pollutions for the residents.

In the perimeter of old the Allgemeinen Krankenhaus ( Altes AKH ), some academic institutes, trade and bars settled these last years, offering a pallet of wide activities. In the years 1990 was finally launched the restoration of the Gürtel, which made it possible to attract a great number of bars to the mode in the old district of the brothels.

In summer, the Copa Cagrana or the Sunken City , on the Donauinsel on the level of the bridge Reichsbrücke, is some of the many bars in outside which represent another important aspect of the night life Viennese. For a few years has also developed the animated district of the Freihausviertel in the 4th district, which is not attended solely in evening but also the day, because of its proximity with the Naschmarkt. Starting from the end of the year 1990, vast discotheques and recreational centres were established with the accesses external of the city, in particular in Donaustadt (Discotheque Nachtschicht Deluxe ).

Green areas

• the park of the Prater proposes great green extents as well as an amusement park permanent in the center of the city;
• the hill of Cobenzl, located at the North of Vienna;
• the pre Am Himmel (of German " with the ciel"), located near Cobenzl;
• the park Laaer Berg in the South of Vienna, old career of clay extraction;
• the park Augarten, in the North-East of the downtown area;
• the cemetery Zentralfriedhof, in the South-east of Vienna, which accommodates many famous musicians;
• the hill of Bisamberg, in the North-East of Vienna;
• the Donaupark (Park of the Danube) in the East of comes, near UNO-City, with in the center the Donauturm (Turn of the Danube).

Policy

Vienna passes for the stronghold of the social democrats to Austria. The term of " Vienna Rouge" is still sometimes used today in remembering the years 1918-1934. The social democrat Party controls the city since the end of the Second world war (except for short periods) with a majority. The current mayor is Michael Häupl, elected for the first time in 1994 then re-elected at this station with the autumn 2005. Before the 2nd world war, the political scene Viennese was dominated by the Social Christian Party, particularly by the long period of the mayor Karl Lueger.

Since the town of Vienna constitutes a Land in oneself (1921), the mayor is also the president of the Land. The town hall of Vienna as well lodges Amtsräume of the mayor of Vienna as of the municipal council which has the row of Parliament.

Distribution of the parties in votes cast and seats obtained

At the time of the municipal elections of October 23rd, 2005, the distribution of the seats according to the parties was expressed thus (100 seats to be distributed):

• SPÖ 49,09% (55 seats)

• ÖVP 18,77% (18 seats)
• FPÖ 14,83% (13 seats)
• the Greens 14,63% (14 seats)
• KPÖ 1,47%
• BZÖ 1,15%
• WiF 0,04%
• SLP 0,02%

Without to have obtained the absolute majority, the SPÖ obtained the majority of the seats thanks to the electoral system in force in Vienna.

At the time of parallel elections in the districts, the SPÖ gained 16 districts, the ÖVP 5 and Greens 2. The ÖVP is established traditionally better in the residential zones of center town and the residential districts at the western end of the city. The Greens direct the small districts of the center town 7 and 8 but are established very little in the external districts, where the FPÖ on the contrary is best established.

The participation was of 60,81% (66,58% in 2001) for the communal ones and of 58,5% at the time of the elections of districts. For the first time the young people of 16 and 17 years had the right to vote.

International organizations sitting at Vienna

Since 1979, Vienna is the third city of UNO with New York and Geneva. Many other international organizations have their seat in Vienna:

• IPI - international Institute of press
• OPEC - Organization of the Oil exporting countries
• SOEC - Organization for safety and the Co-operation in Europe
• UNO - the United Nations

* IAEA - International Atomic Energy Agency (Nobel Prize of peace 2005)

* ONUDI - United Nations for industrial development

* UNODC - United Nations Office one Drugs and Crime

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