eg: UK or Brides UK or Classical Art or Buy Music or Spirituality
 
eg: UK or Brides UK or Classical Art or Buy Music or Spirituality
 

Your Online Guide » Holiday Destinations » Vienna Travel

[V96]Vienna Teng City Hall
by Anil Gupta, Ani
The ambitious program of architectural improvements to Vienna introduced by Emperor Franz Joseph I, including the Ringstraße, the Rathauspark (City Hall Park), and the Opera. Friedrich von Schmidt, who had been one of the architects working on Cologne Cathedral, designed and built the Vienna City Hall between 1872 and 1883. It is the most significant secular building in the neo-Gothic style in the city.

As Vienna is Austria’s federal capital as well as a federal province in its own right, it is the seat of the mayor and governor of Vienna - two posts held by the same person. The Provincial Assembly is composed of 100 members and elected for a term of five years.

The huge chandelier in the historicist style is the most striking feature of the 14-metre-high Council Chamber where the members of the Assembly convene. It has a diameter of five meters and 213 lights. It was cast in one piece, weighs 3,200 kg and can be entered by maintenance personnel to change the lamps. The coffered ceiling of high-grade larch and spruce wood is decorated with 22-carat gold-leaf rosettes. Directly below the ceiling, a series of frescoes depicts events from the history of Austria and Vienna. The section situated on the right hand of the central visitors’ gallery shows scenes from the 13th to 16th centuries; one can see Duke Rudolf IV laying the foundation-stone for the southern spire of St. Stephen’s Cathedral and the institution of Vienna University, the world’s oldest university where students are taught in the German language.

The left-hand side takes one into the 17th to 19th centuries. Empress Maria Theresa is surrounded by famous exponents of the politics, arts and sciences of her era. Most of the pointed-arch windows with stained lead glazing facing the gallery were reconstructed after the Second World War on the basis of the original plans. The back wall of the central visitors’ gallery depicts the tasks of Vienna's municipal administration in symbolic form.

Another attractive feature is the Senate Chamber which serves as the meeting-room of the City Senate. This is one of the most impressive rooms of the City Hall. A special sight is the beautiful majolica fireplace - a present by the Guild of Stove and Fireplace Makers dating from 1885 - on the wall facing the entrance to the hall. The walls are covered with green silk damask. The ceiling featuring inlay work and gilt elements is intricately and richly decorated.

The Arkadenhof is one of the biggest inner courtyards in Europe having a surface of 2,804 square meters, and can be compared to the courtyard of the Doge’s Palace in Venice. A choir-type oriel along its western wall is a reminder of the original project to build a chapel in the City Hall. Lined by five-meter-wide, pointed-arch arcades, the courtyard offers a fascinating setting for a wide variety of events. A folding roof designed by the architect Silja Tillner is a new addition to protect visitors against wind and rain. It also houses the Municipal and State Libraries and Archives which hold many key documents of Vienna’s history and a large collection of local memorabilia.


The ambitious program of architectural improvements to Vienna
introduced by Emperor Franz Joseph I, including the Ringstra'e,
the Rathauspark (City Hall Park), and the Opera. Friedrich von
Schmidt, who had been one of the architects working on Cologne
Cathedral, designed and built the Vienna City Hall between 1872
and 1883. It is the most significant secular building in the neo-
Gothic style in the city.

As Vienna is Austria's federal capital as well as a federal
province in its own right, it is the seat of the mayor and
governor of Vienna - two posts held by the same person.
The Provincial Assembly is composed of 100 members
and elected for a term of five years.

The huge chandelier in the historicist style is the most
striking feature of the 14-metre-high Council Chamber
where the members of the Assembly convene. It has a
diameter of five meters and 213 lights. It was cast in one
piece, weighs 3,200 kg and can be entered by maintenance
personnel to change the lamps. The coffered ceiling of high-
grade larch and spruce wood is decorated with 22-carat gold-
leaf rosettes. Directly below the ceiling, a series of frescoes
depicts events from the history of Austria and Vienna. The
section situated on the right hand of the central visitors?
gallery shows scenes from the 13th to 16th centuries;
one can see Duke Rudolf IV laying the foundation-stone
for the southern spire of St. Stephen's Cathedral and the
institution of Vienna University, the world's oldest university
where students are taught in the German language.

The left-hand side takes one into the 17th to 19th centuries.
Empress Maria Theresa is surrounded by famous exponents
of the politics, arts and sciences of her era. Most of the
pointed-arch windows with stained lead glazing facing the
gallery were reconstructed after the Second World War on
the basis of the original plans. The back wall of the central
visitors? gallery depicts the tasks of Vienna's municipal
administration in symbolic form.

Another attractive feature is the Senate Chamber which serves
as the meeting-room of the City Senate. This is one of the
most impressive rooms of the City Hall. A special sight is the
beautiful majolica fireplace - a present by the Guild of Stove
and Fireplace Makers dating from 1885 - on the wall facing
the entrance to the hall. The walls are covered with green silk
damask. The ceiling featuring inlay work and gilt elements is
intricately and richly decorated.

The Arkadenhof is one of the biggest inner courtyards in
Europe having a surface of 2,804 square meters, and can
be compared to the courtyard of the Doge's Palace in
Venice. A choir-type oriel along its western wall is a
reminder of the original project to build a chapel in the City
Hall. Lined by five-meter-wide, pointed-arch arcades, the
courtyard offers a fascinating setting for a wide variety of
events. A folding roof designed by the architect Silja Tillner
is a new addition to protect visitors against wind and rain.
It also houses the Municipal and State Libraries and Archives
which hold many key documents of Vienna's history and a
large collection of local memorabilia.





Article written by Anil Gupta.

Article Source : Vienna Travel

About Author
Both Anil Gupta & Simi are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.

Anil Gupta has sinced written about articles on various topics from Hotels and Hostels, Destinations and Hotels and Hostels. Anil Gupta recommends that you visit for more information on Vienna hotels.. Anil Gupta's top article generates over 49500 views. to your Favourites.

Simi has sinced written about articles on various topics from Forums, Office Politics and Political and Social. Author Bio::------------ Anil Gupta . Simi's top article generates over 2400 views. to your Favourites.
EditorialToday Holiday Destinations has 7 sub sections. Such as Popular Destinations, Asia Travel, Europe Travel, USA Travel, England Travel, Latin America and Europe & Canada. With over 20,000 authors and writers, we are a well known online resource and editorial services site in United Kingdom, Canada & America . Here, we cover all the major topics from self help guide to A Guide to Business, Guide to Finance, Ideas for Marketing, Legal Guide, Lettre De Motivation, Guide to Insurance, Guide to Health, Guide to Medical, Military Service, Guide to Women, Pet Guide, Politics and Policy , Guide to Technology, The Travel Guide, Information on Cars, Entertainment Guide, Family Guide to, Hobbies and Interests, Quality Home Improvement, Arts & Humanities and many more.
About Editorial Today | Contact Us | Terms of Use | Submit an Article | Our Authors