Text by Taliya Khafizou

                                                                                                          Photo by Almira Khafizou

            Austro-Hungarian Empire held sway in European world during many centuries. Today, accordingly, it continues to surpass many western countries in cultural inheritance and, above all, in life quality. The capital of Austria – Vienna (or Wien in German) – combines modern trends with royal charm and loftiness of big city. It will richly endow discerning guests with numerous impressions, like a Symphony, which bestows variety of its motives on the sensitive listeners, or like miraculous music, which spurs the Fantasy. Not only is Vienna permeated with musical motives, but also with historical, mystical, architectural, artistic, gastronomic, and many others. Each motive here wits its own chronicle of life….

The motive of capital`s history is as much solemn and rich as other melodies of gorgeous Viennese Symphony. It traces own roots back to dim and distant past, giving us the possibility to ruminate on the legends of by-gone years, etymology of the capital`s name, and precursors of modern cultural heritage. This history deserves a special article. Whereas we will just note that Vienna was founded in nearly 1st century BC on Danube River and it is one of the most ancient European cities.

If historical Vienna`s fasti were imagined in form of music, they would definitely combine eastern and western motives in musical entity. After all, one should not forget that Austro-Hungarian Empire took many of its characteristic traits over Eastern world…..

For instance, Viennese Waltz is one of the main associations which is triggered by the name of Austrian capital. But just few people know that Waltz traces back to Sufism, one of the richest and strongest spiritual streams, which appeared in the East. The word Waltz has meant the dance of whirling motion, and etymologically as well as by performance surprisingly resembles the famous whirls of Dervishes, which Sufis have used in their spiritual practices long before the Austro-Hungarian Empire appeared.

Viennese coffee is a splendid and unique drink, which has no match in the whole world! But the tradition of drinking coffee has not appeared without any reason – it came to Austria again from the East, probably from Turkey, where the coffee culture had already seen many centuries in its lifetime. Some historians suggest that inhabitants of Vienna got acquaintance with grain elixir during wars of conquest, held by Ottoman Empire in Europe. In course of the battles the army of Turkish sultan was obliged to seize the occupation of Vienna and retreat. In Vienna they have left a big quantity of coffee – one enterprising Polish profited by this booty. He fell in love with this drink, as soon as tasted it, and was the first to open café in Vienna

However, already before Turkish people, coffee was consumed in a very limited quantity by Sufis. They used it in spiritual practices as a powerful drink, facilitating the development of concentration and broadening of consciousness.

The life of Vienna is intertwined with Oriental world up to now. By some quirk of fate, Austria, having resisted the pressure of the Turkish with lasting success, now is in partial occupancy of them. About 70% of all taxi-drivers in Vienna are Turks, they are also the owners of some leading restaurants and shops. So, with the knowledge of Turkish language you won`t get lost here, indeed! Turks, who have settled and work in Austria, appreciate the order, cleanness, calmness and security that are characteristic to this marvellous country.

Having adopted many things, Austria, nevertheless, has been able to endow attributes of eastern heritage with new traits, and eastern notes found their unique sound in its Symphony….

Thus, incorporating Waltz, Austria was undoubtedly a pioneer in introducing the culture of performing this dance in high society. Furthermore, Vienna rightfully holds a status of musical capital. Here were born and developed all the main directions of Western-European music. Here lived and creatively worked Haydn and Mozart, Beethoven and Brahms, Shubert and Straus. Amadeus Mozart, representative of Viennese Classical School, wrote here «The Marriage of Figaro». Beethoven created the Fourth, Fifth and Seventh Symphonies. The famous rhythm of Viennese Waltz by its spreading in highest levels of society and variety of beautiful compositions is indebted to Johan Straus-the father and the son. Their waltzes and operettas are famous all over the world.

Viennese Symphony impresses as by its musical, so by its historical mystical and architectural artistic motives.

Vienna is a real keeper of magic relics. In the oldest part of the famous Hofburg Castle the Imperial Treasury, Schatzkammer, is situated. Besides the symbols of Habsburger`s power, among which are the Austrian Imperial crown and the relics of the Holy Roman Empire with its own imperial crown, coronation cloak and holy spear, the religious artifacts that belonged to Catholic church are presented. Other notable sights are the treasures of the Golden Fleece Order (the necklaces and chains with order symbolic) and Burgundy`s riches of the 15 century.

 

One of the most outstanding and mystic artifacts of the Imperial Treasury, which is, by the way, also linked with the Eastern world and confirms its mightiness, is Agate Bowl. It was brought to Vienna from Constantinople and dates back as far as 300-400 AC. The bowl was graved from the whole piece of agate and is the largest vessel as such, which has been preserved till present times. This artifact gained particular glory and value when the sacred inscription Xristo was revealed on its natural texture at peculiarly directed light. For this reason, many legends were composed where the Bowl was named as Holy Grail…

Another exhibit, which was in entire possesion of Habsburger family and was inherited strictly from one generation to another, has been the Horn of mythical Unicorn. It was presented to Ferdinand I by the King of Poland Sigismund II in 1540. In Middle Ages the horn was considered as allegory of Christ while its horn symbolized the divine force, allegedly posessing healing properties and enduing the owner with spiritual power. In 17th century it came out that Unicorn`s horn was actully the tusk of sea mammal, the narwhal, which lives in the waters of Arctic Circle, mostly near Iceland and Greenland. By the height of this horn, which is more than 2 meters long, one can estimate the impressive size of its owner…. Considered as antidote, «horns of unicorns» were exhibited in cabinets of curiosities and pharmacies of Renaissance epoch. They were sold all over Europe for mints of money.

 

The Emperor Ferdinand I left to three of his sons rich heritage, but among these numerous treasures the Agate Bowl and Unicorn`s Horn were regarded as the most valuable relics.

It was once and forever determined that these two relics would be always in posession of the eldest member of imperial family during unlimited period as «imprescriptible familial valuables» with no right to sell them or gift, unlike other treasures of Imperial Kamer. But beside these mystic artifacts the Treasure is renowned for other wealths, which are hidden in sombre sacred rooms, in glass showcases where the light, slightly gleaming over, accentuates their value, art of cutting, beauty of incrustation and impeccable finness.

Thus, in the gloom of treasury, on the central postament of one of the camers did reclined a large emerald. Being not initiated to its glorious history we were impressed by unique luminescence of the gem. From within and through the facets of the emerald a healing green and turquoise gleam was shedding. This light permeated the ephir of the air with yet undecipherable information of many millenia….

As if initiating us into some mysteries of the past, hypnotically appealing and influencing the glares, forwarded to it. Later we got to know that this emerald is one of the largest emeralds in the whole world and it was one of the most famous treasures of imperial heritage.

The spear of fate is another article, carefully kept in Viennese Schatzkamer. The blade of the dagger sparks wıth gold, shimmering as with glory of Austrian royaume, so with its mightiness of today. After all, for the sake of these mysterious treasures of Imperial Schatzkamer numerous tourists come to Vienna nowadays.

Having explored the historic center of Vienna, we set off to Schonbrunn Castle. Apartments of the castle are luxuriously furnished, but their attire could not deeply impress us after Imperial Treasury, which amazed not only with its rich grandeur but also with alluring mystery.

However we were not able to resist the beauty of Schonbrunn`s garden – variety of plants and flowers does captivates! Among splendid trees the most eye-catchy were those that grew like high wall of fortress – in one line. They created an impression of us being in a fairy-tale, wandering along the spell-bound wall, behind which another dimension of reality existed and as if its energy didn`t allow the trees to grow further and wider.

 

The garden`s «rose portal» was also alluring – we had a feeling, that the way under the voted hall, entwined with fragrant roses, led to paradise. The combination of aroma-chromo therapies healed the body and the mind. These have been one of my most outstanding impressions….

The greenhouses of Schonbrunn impress by their variety of plants and trees from tropic parts of our planet. Here the endemics of South-American jungles are growing such as araucaria from Chili or Rafflesia poisonous. Named Palmenhaus, greenhouses have hosted lots of these high trees. Traditionally the largest palms of Palmenhaus have held the names of Austrian empresses: one of them was named Sisi, in honor of Franz Josef`s spouse.

Zoo park near Schonbrunn also deserves visiting.

You can meet a lot of animals with fancy names here. For instance, «zwergotter» сame out to be a charming «cuty» creature with five-pointed pads and imposing little moustache. It friendly jumped to the window and looked at us with expressive, piercing eyes. There was something divine and lovely in its name – «Gott» means the God in German. Later we got to know that such an unusual «zwergott» is just an otter, but of a quite rare sort. At that, according to the zoological dictionary, the main villain of the otter is considered to be human. 🙂

The huge pandas of Schonbrunn`s zoo were less communicative than eastern otters – spotty bears were more fascinated to consume bamboo rather than to speak with the visitors of the park. Actually, 80-125 kg weight pandas consume at least 20 kg of this plant in a day!

Having looked at all the animals, many of which were busy with their lunches, and gone through the whole zoo, we also became hungry and dropped in at Tirolenhaus. On the first floor of Tirolean-style house were situated the stables and incubators of chicks. On the second floor we revealed cozy farm restaurant with rooms, furnished in Austrian typical style. Everything in this house was made of wood, which endowed a marvelous healing aroma and associations of being in one`s native countryside. In the restaurant we got acquaintance with welcoming and hardworking Austrian, who was selling homemade bakery and local farm products: cheese, sausages, freshly baked bread, cakes from whole-grain flour with different mouth-watering fillings (fruity or with poppy seeds). He also sold cow, sheep and goat milk, poured in milk-cans, kefir, wonderful coffee, and – attention please, – the delicacy №1 – Austrian apples from South Tirol. Extremely juicy, half-sweet and crispy, slightly sour and with fairy-tale aftertaste!

For more classic atmosphere and more confectionary delicacies one can go to the café, situated near observation deck, not far away from the zoo. From here an astonishing view on Schonbrunn castle and beautiful Vienna opens.

To these sights of gastronomic experience in Vienna and its roundabouts, one should also add the restaurant Plachutta and café Harry&Harry in the city center. The latter will be ideally suitable for the breakfast as it suggest a wide range of morning meals.

Guests may start their day in best culinary traditions of different corners of the world: France, Austria. England, Japan, China, Russia, and other countries. Give yourself a treat and try an omelets with a slice of salmon, or pancakes. Alternatively you may choose classic Viennese brioches, French croissants, served with butter and marmalade. Or why not to enjoy Japanese miso soup with some pickles as well as some other victuals from overseas? Various sorts of tea and wonderful Julius Meinl coffee are definitely recommended to taste, too.

In Plachutta restaurant the special dish is considered to be Tafelspitz – boiled low-fat beef is served in bouillon with vegetables and roasted potatoes with spinach as side dishes. This meal was the favorite dish of the very Emperor and was often served for royal board. So, if you want to imagine yourself being the Emperor of Austro-Hungarian Empire, it is worth going to Plachutta restaurant and trying traditional dish of local culinary here!

But if someone wants to bite with real Austrian sausages instead of that – (s)he has to buy them in special Wurstelstand, stalls where they are sold in wide assortment. In restaurant menus, meanwhile, just one sort of them will be presented – Sacherwurstel, which resemble by taste and look ordinary Frankfurter sausages.

Well, of course, equally bright impressions will leave above-mentioned Austrian coffee – it is first-rate here! First degustation of Julius Meinl should be done without any milk added, to my mind – in order to feel the high-quality sort of the coffee, which has no bitter aftertaste and is remarkable for mild and tender tantalizing notes. We have got a chance to drink this coffee to our heart`s content in our next point of destination, where the Viennese Symphony continued in fabulous way.

In Wiener Waltz of Wonders have we whirled, travelling around marvelous capital of Austria. Discovering this country, we enjoyed the sound of its various motives – motives that will rest in the soul of each keen pilgrim in form of unforgettable impressions…..