1.Bezirk / 1st district, Vienna

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Tourists fill the Graben or the Kohlmarkt without knowing that some Viennesse who work in the city sip a nice cup of coffee or a nice glass of wine in Julius Meinl am Graben. Viennesse do their shopping in Julius Meinl Am Graben and then kill time here either to rest a bit or just to have a drink with their friends or colleagues before heading off somewhere else. The supermarket caters to the affluent Viennesse not only because of the remarkable prices of the goodies but because of the fine selection of almost every edibles from cheese to marmalade to coffee to oil, etc.

Why go there? Aside from the great atmosphere, you will enjoy looking at the Graben and passers-by.

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This is the first stop of our walking tour with Michael. In front of the cathedral, but by the side, you will see a tree log in a plastic "case". In that log there are plenty of nails. The story of those nails is that whenever someone left Vienna (when the city was young and smaller) to improve their crafts, they'd hammer a nail on a tree that was where the log is today. Next door, there is a door ornament, sort of like a sculpture, that shows a guy with a hammer . Those who speak German say that the name should be Eisen im Stock but I don't know why (yet!).

Sorry for the bad picture of the log, it was basically impossible for me to take a better shot.

Address: Stephansplatz.

Inside the old city centre quarter (District 1) one can also find the oldest and original buildings of the Vienna University. The modest buildings are spread over several buildings and still contain certain divisions of the present day University. One of the original first University parts is immediately next to the Jesuit church.

Also a place that some people do not want to miss is the house where Mozart lived in Vienna and created few of his masterpieces. In the old house there is a small museum about his turbulent life, as many know that Mozart did not only love music.

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Vindobonum. This was the original name of the first city that was here along the banks of the river Donau (Danube). It was a fortified Roman town that eventually grew out to become present day Vienna. Now one would say that nothing reminds of those days, but this is so untrue. Underneath the "Hohe Markt" (High Market) one discovered traces of Vindobonum and these archeological digs can be visited in the cellars of a warehouse complex here.
Above ground there is another remarkable item from history. Against the walls of bridge shaped connecting part between two buildings, a theatrical clock draws your attention every quarter of an hour. Then it plays it's music and shows the visitor some pretty pictures of ancient times.

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The old city centre district of Vienna (also known as district 1) is a very pleasant place to walk around in (or get lost). Strawling through the narrow alleys and streets one should not forget to now and then "dive into" the innercourts of the large houseblocks. This might lead to wonderful suprises, as here is where the people live and they too (like yourself) like to have a wonderful home surrounding. The courts are often surprisingly green or contain balconies filled with flowerpots, hanging from the fences. Sometimes tunnel shaped alleys (gasses) run underneath the buildings and suddenly make you come out on a whole new place within the old city centre.

By one of the exits from Stubentor underground station (U3), on the Wollzeile opposite Plachutta, there is a sculpture of the city of Vienna as it apparently using to be with its bastions and of course the all-dwarving Stephansdom. This is something that a lot of people will miss seeing - but if you are in the area pause for a couple of minutes to have a look.

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The fountain, of marble and bronze, was built in the year 1732, from Josef Emanuel von Erlach.
The construction of the well was planned already since 1702, from the Emperor Leopold I.
He promised the construction of a column, for Saint Joseph, if his son, Joseph I, should return safely from the war.
Charles VI replaced the project with a marble fountains, designed by J.E. Fischer von Erlach, that symbolizes the sacred nuptial group, showing Josef, Mary and various prelates.
A canopy with a representation of the trinity of crowned bronze rises over the group.

Address: 1, Hoher Markt, Vienna