World-famous waxworks Madame Tussauds will open its eleventh international branch on Vienna’s Riesenradplatz in April 2011.

With a selection of 65 life-like waxworks on display at this new 1,500 square metre museum, visitors to Vienna will soon be able to experience the real glamour and elegance of Vienna and the world of celebrity.

At Madame Tussauds you can meet and interact with the people that have shaped Austrian history and culture and learn about their achievements. The roll call of historic personalities includes Emperor Franz Joseph and Empress Elisabeth, Mozart, Haydn, Strauss and Schubert, Gustav Klimt, Sigmund Freud, Mahatma Gandhi, Albert Einstein and Falco.

Among the more contemporary faces on show are Arnold Schwarzenegger, Niki Lauda, Hermann Maier, Nelson Mandela, George Clooney, Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt and Lady Gaga. Each is presented in its own unique style and setting.

Madame Tussauds © WienTourismus

Closer to the date, you can check their website to see which celebrities will be launching their figures and when!  But please don’t expect Mozart or Albert Einstein to show!

Madame Tussauds is located in Vienna’s famous Prater amusement park.

Address:
Madame Tussauds
Riesenradplatz, Prater, 2nd district
Website: www.madametussauds.com/wien

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In Vienna, al fresco fun does not stop at the end of summer. To get a different take on outdoor life in the city when the mercury takes a dive, check out the MuseumsQuartier, around Karlsplatz and amongst the vineyards on the Nussberg Hill.

Winter im MQ (Nov 11 – Dec 23, 2010)

This is a yuletide spectacular at Vienna’s MuseumsQuartier in the 7th district. With six different ice pavilions serving delicious specialty punches and delicious snacks, the courtyard of this cultural complex is one of the places to warm up and get into the spirit of Christmast.

In the evenings, projections play across the facades of the buildings in MQ Wien and DJ music fills the night sky. Sporting entertainment comes in the shape of an illuminated curling rink and a miniature automobile slalom course. Winter im MQ is open until December 23, 2010.
Website: www.mqw.at/winter

Wärmespender (Nov 20 – Dec 23, 2010)

The Wärmespender market in the Resselpark on Karlsplatz (4th district) is also
open until just before Christmas (from 4.00 pm – midnight, daily).

MuseumsQuartier © PPAG

This year, adopting the theme “Soup and Soul”, top Viennese restaurants will serve their favorite soups in front of the Karlskirche.  DJs and live artists will provide a side serve of soul music. And the festive fun is all in a good cause – the profits will be donated to various social projects.   So this is the place to have some fun and at the same time do a little to contribute to a good cause.
Website: www.waermespender.at

Mayer am Nußberg

Viennese wine is served under the stars in Vienna’s vineyards throughout the winter. Award-winning winemaker Mayer am Pfarrplatz runs an outdoor bar in the beautiful vineyards of the Nussberg Hill in the 19th district on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays, weather permitting.

Mayer am Nussberg can be reached on foot, or by free shuttle bus from Pfarrplatz in Heiligenstadt. DJs and live acts start at 10pm.
Website: www.pfarrplatz.at

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Café Museum, one of the Vienna’s finest traditional coffee houses, re-opens in Vienna this month.

Café Museum which closed at the end of 2009 under a cloud of controversy under the previous operators is now set to re-open in October. Its new owner is the successful café owner Berndt Querfeld who already operates five other upmarket coffee houses in the city, including the renowned Café Landtmann on the Ringstrasse.

Cafe Museum © WienTourismus/PeterKoller

Café Museum is a classic Viennese café dating back to 1899. It was once nicknamed “Café Nihilism” because of its simple, unadorned interior designed by Adolf Loos. It soon established itself as a meeting place for artists and intellectuals, and among some of its patrons were Gustav Klimt, Oskar Kokoschka, Egon Shiele and Robert Musil.

In 1930 the interior of Café Museum was given comfortable benches and booths, according to plans by architect Josef Zotti. The café was restored to its original design in 2003, but with little success.

Now, upholstered furnishings restore typical Viennese coziness to Café Museum under the Querfeld management.  Visitors to Café Museum will be able to enjoy pastries that are specially baked by the Landtmann’s Feine Patisserie for all the Querfeld family businesses.

Café Museum is centrally located between the Ringstrasse and Naschmarkt, a stone’s throw from the Secession building.

Address:

Café Museum
Friedrichstrasse 6/Operngasse, 1st district
www.cafe-wien.at

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Starting Friday, October 8, 2010, art lovers in Vienna will be able to enjoy “Michelangelo. The Drawings of a Genius” at the Albertina.

The Albertina will present the first major Michelangelo exhibition in more than twenty years and a collection of 120 of the genius’ most valuable drawings will be on display.

Michelangelo at Albertina

Michelangelo. The Drawings of a Genius is the title of this latest exhibition at the Albertina. The exhibition centres around the drawings of human figures by the Tuscan master Michelangelo Buonarroti (1475-1564).

The presented works range from the earliest preserved drawings and the twelve designs for the wall painting The Battle of Cascina to the drafts for the world-famous frescoes in the Sistine Chapel. Paintings and reliefs created after designs by Michelangelo will also be on display.

Special Exhibit:

A letter by Michelangelo in sonnet form to his lover Giovanni da Pistoia, in which the artist describes the strenuous work on the Sistine Chapel ceiling. And, the presentation of the exhibition features a new element – The ceiling frescoes of the Sistine Chapel will be projected inside the Albertina.

Exhibition  : Michelangelo. The Drawings of a Genius
Place         : Albertina, Albertinaplatz 1, 1st district
Dates        : Oct 8, 2010 – Jan 9, 2011

Website     :  www.albertina.at

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Fancy some honey from Carinthia, cheese from Vorarlberg, smoked Arctic char from the Mariazellerland, escargots from Vienna’s vineyards? The Vienna Genussfestival has them all .. and much more.

The Festival will bring together leading food producers and foodies from all over Austria in Vienna’s Stadtpark. From May 7–9, 2010 Austria’s leading producers, food manufacturers and gourmets will present choice culinary creations for visitors to enjoy in one of the city’s most impressive parks. This year, visitors can also expect to sample signature dishes from countries of the former Austro-Hungarian Empire.

Vienna Genussfestival - © Jobst

Vienna Genussfestival also features a packed program of lectures and tasting sessions for visitors. Little ones are not forgotten – there is even a special food school for children!

The focus of the Vienna Festival is not just about gourmet food, but to promote regional and sustainable food production and the creation of a platform for the best producers in the country.

If you’re visiting Vienna in early May, what a fantastic opportunity to find out more about Austrian food produce from the producers themselves. There’ll be food products for sale and you’ll also be able to sample all the best produce and cuisine that Austria has to offer in the beautiful setting of Vienna’s Stadtpark.

This gourmet festival – now entering its third year – attracted over 130 exhibitors and 100,000 visitors in 2009.

Admission is Free.

Event:
Wiener Genussfestival,
Stadtpark, 1st district

Date: May 7-9, 2010
Time: Friday 12:00-21:00, Saturday 10:00-21:00, Sunday 10:00-17:00
Web : www.kulinarisches-erbe.at

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Christmas is not too far off and this is the time to start thinking of Christmas presents and plan any Christmas holiday travel activities.

Europe is a great place to be in at Christmas time and if you’re planning on a holiday in Austria, consider doing something a little different.

While you’re at it, why not surprise your loved ones with a Christmas gift that will certainly delight them.  Yes, forget the usual ties, perfumes, chocolates etc.!

Here are a few Christmas travel gift ideas:

Silent Night Chapel - Salzburg

Christmas Eve at Weikersdorf Castle

Not far from Vienna, you can experience a traditional Austrian Christmas Eve celebration which the whole family will love! Get into the yule time spirit, with a White Christmas in the beautiful Austrian alps.

Christmas Eve at the Castle of Weikersdorf in Baden regularly sells out weeks in advance, so you’ll need to book ahead of time to avoid disappointment.

More information here….

Salzburg Christmas Eve Tour to the Silent Night Chapel

Travel through the foothills of the Austrian Alps, along the Salzach river valley to Oberndorf, where you will have the opportunity to take part in a touching Christmas celebration in the Silent Night Chapel.

More information here….

Christmas Horse Drawn Sleigh Ride from Salzburg

Your full day winter excursion takes you along the Salzach river valley past many of Austria’s ski resorts.  Near Schladming, location of the 1982 Ski World Championships, you will ascend up to the “Steirische Ramsau” 3,281 feet (1,000 meters) above sea level at the base of one of the Alpine glacier massifs – the Dachstein.

More information here….

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With its rich cultural heritage, exquisite landscape and attraction as a winter sporting centre, Austria attracts thousands of visitors each year who come here in search of its wonderful and unique blend of culture, nature, wine, health, sports and outdoor activities of all kinds.

Austria’s many famous citizens have also brought international fame to their country.  Blessed with so many brilliant composers like Mozart, Haydn, Strauß, Mahler, Schubert, etc. their music still dominate the world of classical music 150 – 200 years on.  Then there are the just as brilliant writers, scientists, painters, movie stars and sportsmen who have and continue to bring fame to Austria.

Austria it seems has something that every tourist wants.  As a relatively expensive country, tourists don’t come to Austria to relax or laze around.  Many come in search of music by their favourite composer or to catch some opera.   Others are interested in its imperial history or to visit its many churches, castles and palaces.

Mozart playing in Vienna's Stadtpark

Austria’s magnificent landscape also makes this an ideal destination for cruising the Danube, walking, hiking and cycling in summer.

It is a favourite winter resort for ice-skating, skiing and cross-skiing and tobogganing and has twice been selected to host the Winter Olympic Games in 1964 and 1976 (Innsbruck).

For more on travel attractions in Austria see the following posts and our photo gallery.

Destination Austria
Saltzburg Sightseeing – Sound of Music tour
Where to Shop in Vienna
A Unique dinner experience at  the Marchfelderhof Restaurant in Vienna
The Original Sacher-Torte
Austria Photo Gallery

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