The Austrian Classroom
From the 10th to the 16th century, the Austrian Empire grew to include Germans, Magyars, Slavs, and Latins. During the reign of Charles V in the 16th century, its far-reaching borders caused it to be known as the empire on the which the sun never set.
In the 18th century, under the enlightened reign of Empress Maria Theresa and her son Joseph II, the empire experienced a social and cultural renaissance which resulted in far-reaching reforms and produced outstanding composers such as Franz Josef Haydn and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.
Elements of the Haydn Saal in Schloss Esterhazy at Eisenstadt, where Franz Josef Haydn served as Kapellmeister from 1766 to 1778, combine to form a unique Baroque elegance. Exhibits tracing the development of the multinational Austrian empire and the birthplaces of representative Austrian composers born with its borders between the years 1000 and 1918 define the room's historical perspective.
The ceiling paintings depict scenes from Roman mythology similar to those in the Haydn Saal. Lobmyer crystal chandeliers illuminate the white lacquer seminar furniture patterned after that in the formal dining hall of Vienna's Hofburg. Against royal red-tapestried walls and stately pilasters, the white porcelain stove stands on a parquet floor inlaid in a starburst design.
Hofburg Palace
The winter palace of the Habsburgs, this self-contained complex of palaces, apartments, stables, and churches reflects 700 years of Austrian imperial history. The first structures were built in 1279, and the final additions were completed as the Habsburg Empire finally crumbled at the dawn of the 20th century. Architecturally eclectic due to changing tastes and the desire of individual monarchs to leave their marks, the Hofburg is Vienna’s premier attraction. Housing the imperial apartments, two imperial treasuries, the national library, and the winter riding school, the entire Hofburg complex demands a full day for exploration.
