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Overview
The fin de siècle Vienna of the early 1900s featured Freud and the secession artists whom he so inspired; the heyday of the coffee-house wits; a time when the Viennese were enjoying the newly built grandeur of the Ringstrasse; a time with Vienna in the vanguard of cultural and scientific development, yet the first seeds of political turmoil were being sown that would see the great Empire blown apart on the battlefields of WW1.
Then there's the Vienna of 'The Third Man': a desolate city of tall buildings throwing long shadows down narrow streets; a city cast in melancholy, but retaining a wistful elegance and winning a hint of romantic danger on the front-line of the Cold War.
Interesting times, all of them. But today's Vienna offers much more than history. For a while, Vienna was a city living off its past. It was somewhere to go to experience Culture (with a capital 'C'). It was about tradition and nostalgia. But as the Cold War was coming to an end, things began to change. A new, more confident generation, brought up in a democracy and excited about the future, began to exert more influence. Events like the Donauinselfest (Danube Island Festival), which has become Europe's biggest open-air festival, were instigated. There was the great old stuff to do, but there was a desire to create some new, too. Events like the Viennale film festival and the Vienna Festival Weeks became more ambitious and international. The Vienna Jazz Festival and the Vienna Marathon attracted new guests to the city.
Austria joined the European Union in 1995, and the city became even more international. And as the Union expanded Vienna became a key city in the middle of old and new members – many of whom had strong historical links to the city. As Vienna has grown in prosperity, it has widened its horizons and welcomed change and diversity.
Today's Vienna shows great balance between old and new, classic and modern. The wealthy can dine at fine restaurants; stay at some of the world's grandest hotels; view the sites from a horse-drawn carriage; and get seats to listen to one of the world's greatest orchestras, playing in one of the world's leading opera houses. At the same time, students can have the time of their lives in beautiful parks; enjoying free music festivals; visiting the bars, clubs and Heurigen; and, if they like, queuing to stand and watch the same great orchestra play at the same great venue.
Today's Vienna is safe but not staid, dignified but not dour. It is a marvelous city for tourists looking to experience a place of wonderful culture; whether they want to capitalize the 'C' or not.
