The capital of Austria, Vienna is famous for its music and architecture. The city lies in the northeastern corner of Austria, along the Danube River. The Innere Stadt (Inner City) is an area in the center of the city that contains most of Vienna's famous buildings. Surrounding this area is a circular road called the Ringstrasse. This road is lined with grand buildings, monuments, and parks. Vienna was home to some of the greatest Western classical music composers, including Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Ludwig van Beethoven. The modern city has kept a style that reflects its elegant past.

Places of interest

Vienna's most famous church is Saint Stephen's Cathedral. This 13th-century Gothic-style church has a beautiful spire (steeple) that can be seen from all over the city. Its two towers, which can be reached by stairs or an elevator, are popular with tourists because of their great views of Vienna.

Another notable site in Vienna is the Hofburg, which is a large complex of buildings. It includes the former royal palace of the Hapsburg ruling family. It is also the home of the Imperial Treasury, where crowns and jewels of the former empire are on display. In addition, it houses the Spanish Riding School, which features the famous Lipizzaner stallions (horses). The offices of Austria's president are there as well.

Many beautiful buildings can be seen along Vienna's Ringstrasse, or circular road. Two former palaces now house museums that hold the collections of the imperial family. The Museum of Fine Arts has a large collection of 16th- and 17th-century paintings, while the Museum of Natural History has a collection that includes gems and fossils. The Schönbrunn Palace, the summer residence of the Hapsburgs, with its splendid rooms and great formal park, lies to the southwest in the suburb of Hietzing.

People and culture

The Viennese are descended from different peoples, including the Polish, Germans, Hungarians, and Bohemians. People in Vienna speak German. Most of the city's population is Roman Catholic.

Vienna is the cultural center of Austria and one of the world capitals of music. Operas, concerts, and theatrical performances have played a major part in Viennese life for centuries. The city is well-known for music in part because of the many famous composers who lived and worked there. Beethoven, Mozart, Joseph Haydn, and Franz Schubert were famous residents of Vienna whose former homes have been made into museums. Today operas can be seen at the world-famous Vienna State Opera House and plays can be seen at the Burgtheater.

Economy

The Viennese economy is based on trade and industry. The government employs many people in the Austrian capital. Tourism is also an important part of the economy. The leading industries include the manufacture of transport equipment, electrical machinery, chemicals, and electrical goods. Vienna is also known for its urban (city) technological businesses that provide services such as traffic control systems, subway construction, and river engineering to other cities throughout the world.

History

Celtic peoples first settled in the region in about the 8th century BC. In the 1st century AD the site became a Roman military post named Vindobona. Most of the city was destroyed in the invasions that brought an end to the western Roman Empire in the 5th century. However, a small town survived. The city's name was recorded in documents dating from 881 as Wenia and from 1030 as Wienis.

In about 1150 the dukes of Babenberg, a Frankish ruling family, made Vienna their capital. In 1276 Vienna became the capital of the Hapsburg empire. As the Hapsburg capital the city grew in importance. By the 16th century it was one of the great cities of the world.

The Ottoman Turks attacked the city in 1529 and again in 1683. Although they were defeated both times, parts of Vienna had to be rebuilt. At the end of the 18th and beginning of the 19th centuries, the city's music, literature, and painting thrived. As the city and its population continued to grow in the 19th century efforts were made to modernize the city. The city improved the drinking-water supply and introduced trams and railways.

After World War I (1914–18), the Hapsburg empire came to an end. Vienna then became the capital of the small, newly formed country of Austria. In the 1930s, Vienna had to deal with economic crises and fighting among Austrians. This instability made it easier for German troops to take over Austria in 1938. During World War II Vienna was bombed, though not as badly as other European cities. After the war ended in 1945, Vienna was occupied by the four Allied powers: Great Britain, France, the United States, and the Soviet Union. This occupation came to an end in 1955. Since that time, Vienna has continued to be an important city in Europe. Along with New York City and Geneva, Switzerland, Vienna is a headquarters of the United Nations (UN). Its culture and architecture make it a popular tourist destination for people from all over the world. Population (2000 estimate), 1,608,144.