51 Interesting Facts About Vienna, Austria That You Won't Believe

Did you know that Vienna bags the prize for the most habitable city in the world?

The city is also known as the 'City of Dreams', you know why? It's because of Sigmund Freud's famous book named 'Interpretation of Dreams' or 'Die Traumdeutung'.

Situated in Austria, Vienna is both the capital city as well as the largest city with an area of 160 sq mi (414.4 sq km). Also, among the nine Austrian states, Vienna is the one to hold the largest population. In fact, since 1995 the population has been increasing dramatically as Austria became a part of the European Union.

In the year 2021, the Vienna population stands at 1,920,949 individuals. The residents of Vienna are regarded as Viennese.

Vienna is perhaps the best destination that offers historical, cultural, as well as culinary experiences. So, what are you waiting for? Start with this memorable journey right away.

You can also explore other countries with these enlightening facts about Belarus and facts about Botswana.

Quirky Facts About Vienna

Check out some of these unusual and lesser-known facts about Austria and its magical city for a wholesome experience!

Did you know that the famous psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud stayed in this city for a major part of his career? The apartment where the Father of Psychoanalysis remained for almost 50 years is now the Sigmund Freud Museum. Psychoanalysis was popularized in Vienna.

In 1900, the first snow globe was invented in this Austrian city by Erwin Perzy. The invention of the iconic snow globe was quite the result of an accident.

While working on the techniques of enhancing the luminosity of lightbulbs, Perzy added semolina flakes and water that led to this accidental invention. Later in 1905, he partnered with his brother to inaugurate the Original Vienna Snow Globes which is still operational.

What is Vienna famous for?

Vienna is best noted for its rich culture. The city is renowned for three things namely food, wine, and music! Can anything be more appetizing?

The largest Austrian city is renowned across the globe for its wine production. Along with thousands of acres of vineyards, Vienna possesses 320 vintners within the city limits!

Weißburgunder, Grüner Veltliner, and Rheinriesling are some of its famous varieties of white wine. If you want to indulge in tasting the best wine then you can visit a heuriger or just follow Vienna’s wine trail.

Now, have you tasted the delectable wiener schnitzel? This Vienna food is the most popular Austrian dish, making it the national food.

The name of this traditional Austrian dish translates to 'Viennese cutlet'. Other than wiener schnitzel, the Austrian pastry named 'kipferl' implying 'crescent' is also extremely famous.

The Viennese bakers prepared this dish as a celebration of Austrian victory against the Ottoman Turks in the battle of 1683. The crescent shape of the dish has been derived from the crescents that ornamented the enemies' uniforms.

At the wedding ceremony of Marie Antoinette and King Louis XVI in 1770, this pastry was introduced to the French by Antoinette.

With some variations, the French famously use the term 'croissant' for this dish. Some other creations of Vienna are the Pez or pfefferminz (peppermint) and the sacher torte.

This cultural hotspot is a leading European music center. In fact, it's regarded as one of the music capitals of the World.

Johannes Brahms, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Joseph Haydn, Johann Straus, Ludwig van Beethoven, and Franz Schubert are some of the world's famous composers who called Vienna home. Most of these houses belonging to the popular musicians have been converted into museums.

So, be sure to visit one of these apartments. The first musical museum of its kind, the House of Music offers an unforgettable experience of Viennese music and sound with its interactive musical sessions.

Vienna is the birthplace of both classical music and waltz. Every year, Vienna hosts more than 450 balls.

On the other hand, the Vienna State Opera has kept the classical culture alive through its productions throughout the year. The Academy of Fine Arts in Vienna is one of the best training centers that helps budding artists in pursuing their careers in several aspects of arts.

Things To Do In Vienna

If you're planning a holiday in the Austrian capital of Vienna then these things should definitely be on your checklist so without any further ado let's plunge in!

Vienna boasts innumerable grand buildings that serve as major tourist attractions. Some of these structures have been listed below.

Stephen's Cathedral: Located in the city center, this cathedral church is the perfect example of Gothic architecture. The original cathedral was structured in the Romanesque style of the 12th century but it was remodeled during the 14th century when it was rendered the Gothic style.

The well-preserved remains of the Heathen Towers and massive gates are some of the significant features of the ancient architectural styles.

Schönbrunn Zoo: Famed to be the world's oldest zoo, the Tiergarten Schönbrunn dates back to 1782 when Emperor Francis Stephen constructed it as an imperial menagerie meant only for the royal members. The zoo with more than 700 species, has been recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You can tug your kids along and visit this magnificent zoo.

Ferris wheel: Not only does Vienna possess the world's oldest zoo, but it also has the oldest operational giant Ferris wheel named Wiener Riesenrad. Operational since 1897, this giant Ferris wheel is located in the Wurstelprater amusement park.

Town Hall: All year round several events such as film festivals and circuses are held over here but the Rathausplatz is converted from January to March Post-Christmas for seasonal events. It exhibits a magnificent ice-skating rink.

Hofburg: This imperial palace from the time of the Habsburgs is one of the major tourist attraction spots. It is the symbol of the imperial power of the rulers of the Austrian Empire before World War II.

Vienna History

The glory of Vienna is incomplete without its historical sheen. Here are some significant historical facts about the Austrian capital.

According to records, the earliest settlements in Vienna dates back to 500 BC during the Old Stone Age with the Celts who inhabited the areas along the Danube River. Around 15-16 BC, the Roman emperor, Tiberius achieved success in the occupation of the Alpine foothills.

Gradually, several Roman garrisons were established in the Celtic town named Vindobona. The town emerged as an important trading center with around 15,000 residents.

In the 18th century, a significant battle was fought between Marcus Aurelius and the tribes of Germany that led to the death of the emperor. Invasions in the fifth century ultimately wiped out the Romans although Vindobona retained its importance.

Between 1156 and 1246, the Frankish Brabenberg dukes occupied the city. The city was entirely fortified with walls during the 13th century.

The Babenberg dynasty was overthrown with the death of its last make heir. After the fall of the Babenberg dynasty, the next major ruler was Rudolf I.

This marked the beginning of the reign of the Habsburg rulers which extended for 600 long years. However, after World War II, Vienna was broken up into four sections.

It was occupied by the UK, the US, the Soviet Union, and France. The first Viennese district, that is, the inner city, remained under the control of all four but this segregation, as well as occupation, ended after the Austrian State Treaty was signed in 1955.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for facts about Vienna, Austria then why not take a look at facts about Dublin, or facts about Guyana.