People's Park Vienna show on the map. Parks and gardens in the center of Vienna. They looked with some envy at the serene Austrians who were relaxing on the grass on the lawns. Why with envy? But we have been instilled with the complex since childhood: “don’t walk on lawns, don’t trample the grass.” IN
Hello, friends! I have already talked about a tour of the historical center of the Austrian capital. And I mentioned the sights more than once. Now it’s the turn of the Volksgarten - a park in Vienna, which is located next to the Hofburg. The name of the park translates as People's Garden, which fully corresponds to its purpose. Any resident or guest of Vienna can relax in this city park.
The People's Garden has all the conditions for relaxation. A large area, bright flower beds, a rose garden along the entire perimeter of the park, a beautiful fountain in the center:
And all this beauty is complemented by many benches, where there is enough space for everyone. And the convenient location of the park is a good reason to organize a vacation in Vienna, tired of walking tours, in the Volksgarten park.
In this article:
- Where is Volksgarten park located?
- Corner of Empress Elizabeth in the People's Garden
- Types of the park
- Parliament of Austria
Why do I mention parliament in this article? Because the parliament building is literally a step away from Volksgarten park. They are separated only by a narrow roadway. And being very close, it is interesting to look at the parliament building.
Where is Volksgarten park located?
The People's Garden occupies a spacious area between the Burgtheater and almost approaches the town hall. The park was laid out in 1819-23 in the place where the old Hofburg bastion was previously located.
Initially, it was planned to use the park as part of the palace grounds, which would be intended exclusively for the ducal families. But by 1823, the government decided to open the park to the people, making it Vienna's first public park.
One convenient way to get to the People's Garden is to turn left during the transition from the Hofburg gate. There is a vast Parade of Heroes with two famous bronze horsemen. To get to the People's Garden, you need to go towards the sculpture of Archduke Charles and then to the Triton and Nymph fountain:
The People's Garden begins from this fountain. The composition of Triton and the Nymph sitting on his shoulder was created by Victor Tilgner, and in 1880 the sculpture was installed as a fountain.
This composition will become our guide for entering the garden. And to understand how close it is to the Hofburg, look back and you will see the entire new wing of the palace ensemble. And nearby, already above the plantings, the dome from Maria Theresa Square will peek out. Like this photo:
The alleys will lead to the central part of the Volksgarten park - paths, benches and a fountain. In the northern part of the park, closer to, there is one of the very first buildings of the park, the Temple of Theseus - a small copy of the Athenian monument.
Corner of Empress Elizabeth in the People's Garden
Quiet, calm and uncrowded is the part of the park where the monument to Elizabeth of Austria is erected. Empress Sissi, being the wife of Franz Joseph I, did not leave such a significant mark on the activities of the state as Maria Theresa. But descendants remembered Sissi as an extraordinary person and a very beautiful woman.
A sculptural composition in honor of Elizabeth of Austria was installed in Volksgarten Park next to the Temple of Theseus in 1907. A figure made of white marble against a background of emerald greenery is visible from afar:
The alley leading to the Sissi monument is well-groomed and beautiful. We were in Vienna in October, however, the People's Garden was fragrant with flowers, pleasing to the eye with greenery and bright yellowed leaves.
A statue of Empress Elizabeth sitting on a bench is installed in the center of the composition. The author of the sculpture is Hans Bitterlich. The sculpture seems quite small, but its height reaches 2.5 meters:
Here we are all posing together in this photo - Sissy, two ducks and me)) The ducks, by the way, became the main characters of the park that day))
Types of the park
Since we came to the People’s Garden to take a break from the intensive excursion program, we decided to sit on one of the many benches and simply admire the surrounding beauty:
Notice the flowering shrubs that grow in front of the trees lining the park. These are rose bushes. Therefore, many people remember the Volksgarten as a park with roses. Magnificent tall rose bushes still blooming. Against the backdrop of autumn-colored foliage, the flowers look especially impressive:
Behind the central alleys, musicians settled down and entertained visitors with world-famous melodies, including “Kalinka”:
We even suspected that our compatriots were touring in the park, but after listening to the musicians’ conversation, we definitely heard German speech.
The People's Garden is practically surrounded on all sides by beautiful architecture. On the northern side of the park, statues mounted on the pediment of the theater stand white above the vegetation. It's very close. And then rise the openwork Gothic towers of the Votivkirche votive church:
The towers of the church are quite high and clearly visible, although the church is located away from the park. But after we examined the 137-meter high, the rest of the buildings and spiers of Vienna no longer attracted us with their size.
If you move your gaze in a counterclockwise direction, you will see the tallest of the five towers of the town hall:
In the foreground is the main fountain of the Volksgarten park. It appeared in the park in 1866 thanks to the sculptor Anton Dominique Fernkorn. The large bowl of the fountain is installed on a solid leg in the center of the reservoir - the entire fountain is shown in the first photo. Ducks swim in the pond - they love the People's Garden. But look where the most determined of the birds has climbed))) She settled down in a bowl and bathed right in the spray of the fountain!
On the eastern side of the park, you can also see interesting architectural elements and a high support with a coat of arms:
These are the symbols of the Austrian Parliament. The Parliament building is located across the street from the People's Garden, and we go to see this architectural object.
Parliament of Austria
The Parliament building was erected according to the design of the Danish architect Theophil Hansen in 1874-1883. And until the collapse of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in 1918, the building housed the Chamber of Deputies. And now there are two parliamentary chambers: the Federal Council and the National Council.
The ceremonial Parliament building stands on a hill. Its central part is similar to ancient Greek architectural monuments:
Behind the luxurious façade there are more than 100 offices and halls. The projecting central body is complemented by a Corinthian portico and side wings. And on each side there are those chariots that attracted our attention back in the park:
The Parliament building is perfectly complemented by a fountain with a sculpture of Pallas Athena. The sculptural composition appeared as a result of a creative union of sculptors led by Karl Kudmann and was installed in front of the entrance in 1902:
The snow-white sculpture of Athena, decorated with gold, and the parliament building made of white stone look excellent. And the fact that we visited all these sights on a perfect sunny autumn day allowed us to see them at their best.
If you walk a little from the parliament in one direction, the next object will be an equally magnificent structure. If you go in the opposite direction, you will find yourself on Maria Theresa Square. All these objects are located tightly in the center of Vienna.
Or you can sit in the People’s Park and admire from afar all the snow-white towers, which are so tall that they are quite visible from the park. There are many attractions in Vienna, but you also need to arrange a rest for yourself, postponing any sightseeing for a while. If the weather permits, then such a holiday surrounded by roses in Volksgarten Park will be just right. You can’t review everything))
Your euro guide Tatyana
Looking for the perfect place to take a photo for memory? You will find it in the Vienna City Park, at the foot of the golden monument Johann Strauss, related to the number most photographed monuments in the world. In addition, in the City Park there are monuments to Franz Schubert, Franz Lehar and Robert Stolz, a marble statue of the artist Hans Makart, a bronze bust of the composer Anton Bruckner, the Viennese burgomaster Andreas Zelinka, under whose leadership the City Park was created, and many others. Thus, City Park is the park with the largest number monuments and sculptures in Vienna. Glades, flower beds, exotic trees and a large pond make the City Park a real green oasis in the city center. The park was opened in 1862 after the demolition of the old city wall and the construction of the Ringstrasse and became Vienna's first public park.
Did you know that until 1956, visitors to the City Park had to pay to rest in the chairs installed here?
Volksgarten and Burggarten
If you are a fan of Empress Sisi, then you need to visit Monument to Sisi in the Volksgarten. For Mozart fans worth making a pilgrimage to statue genius composer in Burggarten garden. The Burggarten garden, created in the English style, was personal the garden of Emperor Franz Joseph I, Empress Consort Sisi. In 1919, three years after the death of the monarch, the Burggarten garden was opened to the public. Today it contains the only monument to the emperor, which was built only in 1957 thanks to private initiative. The Burggarten garden also houses Palm Pavilion, which is one of the most beautiful buildings in the Art Nouveau style, which was designed by the architect Friedrich Ohmann. This tropical oasis includes Butterfly Pavilion, where hundreds of exotic butterflies live, as well as cafe Restaurant with a pleasant atmosphere.
Did you know that the People's Park (Volksgarten) and the Palace Park (Burggarten) are recognized as world cultural heritage sites?
Town Hall Park
After visiting the parliament and the Burgtheater, it is definitely worth visiting the park of the Vienna City Hall. The park complex is located symmetrically and is located between the university and parliament. Both halves of the park are separated Town Hall Square, where various events are held almost all year round. The most famous are definitely " Vienna Ice Dream" in winter And Summer Music Film Festival.
Parks of Sigmund Freud and Bruno Kreisky
Sigmund Freud Park is located between the University of Vienna and the Votive Church and is particularly popular among the parks in central Vienna as a place to lie down.
Bonus in the summer months: Every morning, 100 comfortable sunbeds are brought here (and picked up around 21.00), which are provided for free use. You can also truly relax in Bruno Kreisky Park in the 5th district: hanging hammocks invite visitors to relax and hang out from May to October.
In the very center of Vienna, next to, there is the magnificent Volksgarten park. It is also called People's Park.
And indeed, he is popular! There are plenty of vacationers there! But there is enough space for everyone and no one bothers anyone.
Entrance to the park is free and open to everyone from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. They don't allow you to bring any transport there, not even a bicycle, although some manage to bring it in.
Tired of viewing the historical sights of the Hofburg, we took a walk through the park with great pleasure.
They looked with some envy at the serene Austrians who were relaxing on the grass on the lawns. Why with envy? But we have been instilled with the complex since childhood: “don’t walk on lawns, don’t trample the grass.” So we don’t walk and we don’t trample.
For those like us and those like us, the park has many benches with comfortable backs, benches and benches. They are all painted and in good condition, but attached to each other.
Roses
True, what surprised us was not the benches and lawns, but the incredible number of roses in the park. Roses of various varieties, colors and sizes.
There are tall bushy roses taller than a human being, and there are also very miniature ones. People's Park can rather be called a rose garden, or a beautiful garden. Here the silence is filled with birdsong, and this is the city center! And such peace that you don’t want to leave anywhere.
In one alley we saw signs on each rose bush, indicating the variety of rose, the country where this variety was bred, and in what year. Immediately each of us found one of our own age, and it was pleasant that the condition of roses of the same age was good, despite the advanced age of some.
Fountains
Walking along the alleys of the park, we saw two fountains. One, from a distance, looks like a flower vase. We already saw the dolphins up close, gracefully supporting a marble bowl with their backs.
Another fountain is called "Triton and Nymph". This is a whole sculptural composition in the middle of the pool. Ducks swim in the pool, reeds grow, and the fabulous Triton holds the Nymph in his arms, resting on a green hill.
Sissi Memorial
Here in the park in a secluded corner there is a memorial dedicated to (Elizabeth of Bavaria). It is made of white marble.
The sculpture of Sissi is depicted completely alone. She sits on the bench, drooping, and looks into the distance with great longing. Behind her is a semicircular arch, in front of her is a rectangular pool of water and a flower bed. They separate Sissy from the prying eyes of visitors. Water lilies float in the water and reeds grow. The impression is created of a certain abandonment, made artificially.
The place for the memorial and the monument to Sisi itself were chosen by her husband, Emperor Franz Joseph. The monument was erected in 1904. This is probably the saddest place in the park.
Not far from the memorial, a white antique temple with columns caught our attention. It is an exact copy of the same temple in Athens. This is the temple of the ancient Greek Theseus. The building is buried in roses. It hosts exhibitions of paintings by contemporary artists.
Volksgarten Park is a great place to relax for visitors of all ages. During daylight hours, it delights with roses, beautiful flower beds, fountains and pools with swimming ducks. Tired tourists and Austrian pensioners like to relax in the shade of branchy trees.
Volksgarten park
Between the Ring Boulevard and the Hofburg Palace complex in Vienna, one of the most beautiful and oldest parks in the city is located - Volksgarten, which means People's Park.
People's park with rose bushes
Shady alleys, trimmed, smooth lawns (on which, unlike in Russia, you can not only walk, but also lie down to rest, or do morning exercises), flower beds with rose bushes and ducks peacefully bathing in the fountain - all this creates an excellent mood for those tired of long walks around Vienna for tourists. Along the walk there are beautifully decorated benches with wooden seats and backs. Green spaces of wonderful shapes and flower beds create a unique atmosphere. The rose bushes are truly amazing - the rose garden of different shapes and colors is located right in the center of the park. It has hundreds of different varieties of roses, which are beautifully planted and neatly trimmed. Under each variety there is a small plate with the Latin name. The tranquility and beauty of the garden makes people smile and gives them the opportunity to admire the magnificent views to fully enjoy their holiday.
Monument to Empress Elizabeth of Bavaria
The central place in the park's garden is given to the monument to the favorite of the Austrians - the wife of Franz Joseph I, Elizabeth of Bavaria, better known as Empress Sisi. The Empress Elizabeth Memorial, by Hans Bitterlich, is a white marble sculpture that stands out against a background of greenery and flowers. The monument was erected in 1907 in memory of the tragic death of Elizabeth. The Empress, who was burdened by the court and social events, traveled extensively throughout Europe and in 1898 was killed on the shores of Lake Geneva by an Italian anarchist.
Fountain "Triton and Nymph"
A little closer to Heroes' Square there is the Triton and Nymph fountain by the architect Anton Dominik von Fernkorn. The fountain depicts a beautiful girl escaping from the hands of a demon.
An eye-catching building in the garden is the Temple of Theseus by architect Peter von Nobil, which appeared in the park in 1819-1823. Once upon a time, a sculpture of Theseus by Antonio Canova was installed here, but then it was moved to the Kunsthistorisches Museum. In 2008-2010, reconstruction was carried out and the temple was painted snow-white. It is now a popular venue for exhibitions of contemporary artists.
The Temple of Theseus in Volksgarten Park is a small copy of the ancient Temple of Hephaestus in Athens.
Temple of Theseus in the park
Favorite vacation spot
The park is surrounded on all sides by historical buildings, making it look like a large pearl set in gold. Here you can hide from the city noise and relax on a bench, inhaling the scent of roses. Volksgarten is one of the most beautiful parks in Vienna, which fills every visitor with its energy and joy. The park is open daily until 10 pm, you can only get into it on foot, bicycles are prohibited here, you will have to leave your two-wheeled vehicle in the parking lot at the entrance. After relaxing in the silence of the park, you can continue your journey around the city, going to the old Hofburg or to the Ring Boulevard to the City Hall, the Vienna Parliament and the People's Theater.