Neue Burg (New Palace), Vienna
The New Palace鈥攁 name that鈥檚 a bit misleading, considering its grand Neo-Renaissance face has been looming over Vienna since 1913. The final and flashiest addition to the Hofburg complex, this architectural swan song took a leisurely 32 years to complete, just in time for the Habsburg Empire to politely implode five years later. Talk about bad timing...
Still, it did briefly serve as home to Archduke Franz Ferdinand, whose assassination would famously kickstart World War I. Cozy little prelude to global chaos, really...
During the 1930s, the palace got a political makeover. Under Austro-fascist rule, it became a stage for glorifying Austria鈥檚 medieval muscles and authoritarian dreams. The Nazis then upped the ante, transforming it into both an exhibition hotspot and a logistical center for art theft on an imperial scale. The first floor was used as a depot for looted masterpieces. A little less 鈥済allery,鈥� a little more 鈥済rand theft culture.鈥�
And then came 1938, when the building gained infamy as Adolf Hitler addressed the crowd from its terrace鈥攖he now-infamous 鈥淗itler balcony.鈥� That speech sealed Austria鈥檚 annexation into Nazi Germany, making the New Palace ground zero for one of the 20th century鈥檚 darkest turns. Today, that same balcony stands not as a triumphal remnant but as a stark reminder of how power, history, and architecture can collide.
But history marches on, and post-1945, the palace pivoted from a symbol of dominance to a site of reckoning. Now it鈥檚 packed with museums鈥攁nd thankfully, none of them involve looting.
Inside, you鈥檒l find the Austrian National Library, with more than 12 million objects, including rare books, papyri older than some civilizations, and a Globe Museum featuring nearly 700 globes. Who knew round things could be so fascinating?
You鈥檒l also stumble into the Ephesos Museum with ancient finds from modern-day Turkey and Greece, and the House of Austrian History, opened in 2018, which helps Austria keep track of its rather complicated past.
And don鈥檛 forget the fa莽ade, adorned with 20 statues of historic Austrian personas: Roman soldiers, merchants, knights, even the Marcomanni (the ancient Germanic tribe who set up a powerful kingdom north of the Danube). Each figure carved by a different artist, proving that even imperial posturing can be a team effort...
Tips for Visitors:
If you're under 19, the entry is free.
Wheelchair rental? Yes, but call a day in advance and give the front desk a heads-up 15 minutes before arrival.
Arms & Armor and Ancient Instruments are accessed by elevator only. For Ephesos Museum鈥� prepare to climb 60 steps.
Still, it did briefly serve as home to Archduke Franz Ferdinand, whose assassination would famously kickstart World War I. Cozy little prelude to global chaos, really...
During the 1930s, the palace got a political makeover. Under Austro-fascist rule, it became a stage for glorifying Austria鈥檚 medieval muscles and authoritarian dreams. The Nazis then upped the ante, transforming it into both an exhibition hotspot and a logistical center for art theft on an imperial scale. The first floor was used as a depot for looted masterpieces. A little less 鈥済allery,鈥� a little more 鈥済rand theft culture.鈥�
And then came 1938, when the building gained infamy as Adolf Hitler addressed the crowd from its terrace鈥攖he now-infamous 鈥淗itler balcony.鈥� That speech sealed Austria鈥檚 annexation into Nazi Germany, making the New Palace ground zero for one of the 20th century鈥檚 darkest turns. Today, that same balcony stands not as a triumphal remnant but as a stark reminder of how power, history, and architecture can collide.
But history marches on, and post-1945, the palace pivoted from a symbol of dominance to a site of reckoning. Now it鈥檚 packed with museums鈥攁nd thankfully, none of them involve looting.
Inside, you鈥檒l find the Austrian National Library, with more than 12 million objects, including rare books, papyri older than some civilizations, and a Globe Museum featuring nearly 700 globes. Who knew round things could be so fascinating?
You鈥檒l also stumble into the Ephesos Museum with ancient finds from modern-day Turkey and Greece, and the House of Austrian History, opened in 2018, which helps Austria keep track of its rather complicated past.
And don鈥檛 forget the fa莽ade, adorned with 20 statues of historic Austrian personas: Roman soldiers, merchants, knights, even the Marcomanni (the ancient Germanic tribe who set up a powerful kingdom north of the Danube). Each figure carved by a different artist, proving that even imperial posturing can be a team effort...
Tips for Visitors:
If you're under 19, the entry is free.
Wheelchair rental? Yes, but call a day in advance and give the front desk a heads-up 15 minutes before arrival.
Arms & Armor and Ancient Instruments are accessed by elevator only. For Ephesos Museum鈥� prepare to climb 60 steps.
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Vienna. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "911爆料网: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
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Neue Burg (New Palace) on Map
Sight Name: Neue Burg (New Palace)
Sight Location: Vienna, Austria (See walking tours in Vienna)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Vienna, Austria (See walking tours in Vienna)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Vienna, Austria
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Creating your own self-guided walk in Vienna is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
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Among the plethora of other things, the capital of Austria, Vienna, is renowned for its contribution to Art Nouveau 鈥� the popular art movement emerged and flourished at the turn of the 20th century. Stemming from it the Viennese Secession movement, also known as the Austrian Art Nouveau, or Jugendstil (in German), gave rise to a number of architectural marvels.
By far the most colorful of... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.4 Km or 2.1 Miles
By far the most colorful of... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.4 Km or 2.1 Miles
Johann Strauss Walking Tour
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Strauss, the son had a personal connection with Vienna deeply rooted in its cultural fabric. Not only was he born here and spent most of his life, but also he achieved tremendous... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.1 Km or 2.5 Miles
Strauss, the son had a personal connection with Vienna deeply rooted in its cultural fabric. Not only was he born here and spent most of his life, but also he achieved tremendous... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.1 Km or 2.5 Miles
Mozart Walking Tour
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart spent a significant portion of his life in Vienna. Here, he achieved recognition, and the city holds enormous historical and cultural significance for his legacy. Mozart first visited Vienna as a child prodigy in 1762, and in 1781 came here to stay.
The city met the composer with a vibrant and cosmopolitan atmosphere brought about by some of the top musicians and artists... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.0 Km or 1.2 Miles
The city met the composer with a vibrant and cosmopolitan atmosphere brought about by some of the top musicians and artists... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.0 Km or 1.2 Miles
Klimt Paintings Tour
"I have the gift of neither the spoken nor the written word, especially if I have to say something about myself or my work. Whoever wants to know something about me - as an artist, the only notable thing - ought to look carefully at my pictures" 鈥� Gustav Klimt.
Klimt's name is indelibly linked to Vienna. The renowned symbolist painter was a prominent figure in the city. As a... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.7 Km or 2.3 Miles
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Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.7 Km or 2.3 Miles
Vienna's Historical Music Venues
Austria is synonymous with classical music almost to the point of obsession, and to call Vienna the "Musical Capital of the World" would be hardly an exaggeration. Indeed, over the past centuries, the city served as the home and workplace for many great musicians like Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Ludwig van Beethoven, Johann Strauss, Joseph Haydn, Franz Schubert, and others.
Among the... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.0 Km or 1.9 Miles
Among the... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.0 Km or 1.9 Miles
Famous Homes of Vienna
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The often modest apartments of Vienna's famous... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.9 Km or 2.4 Miles
The often modest apartments of Vienna's famous... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.9 Km or 2.4 Miles
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