Tag: Austria
Photo of the Day 4/30
by Sean on Apr.30, 2009, under Photos
St. Stephen's Cathedral in Vienna, Austria
St. Stephan’s Cathedral stands in the center of Vienna, Austria in the Stephansplatz (Stephan’s Square). It was constructed with a Gothic theme in mind and this was largely initiated by Rudolf IV, a former Duke of Austria in the middle 14th century. It stands atop the ruins of two previous churches, one being a parish church consecrated in 1147. The beautifully contrasting colors surprised me because the rest of the city appears very old and unkempt!
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Photo of the Day 4/29
by Sean on Apr.29, 2009, under Photos
![](http://lh5.ggpht.com/_vPPqNXZgwDw/SMP60Va0YnI/AAAAAAAAAdg/J1hcuT5B46Y/s640/DSCF0818.JPG")
Vienna, Austria: The Hofburg Imperial Palace has housed the most powerful people in Austrian history, including the Habsburgs. It was where the Habsburg’s lived during the winter, while Schönbrunn Palace was their preferred quarters for the summer. It currently serves as the official residence of the President of Austria. This Palace was also where Marie Antoinette was born in 1755.
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Photo of the Day 4/28
by Sean on Apr.28, 2009, under Photos
Mauthausen, Austria: These stairs are the site of one of the most barbaric things ever done to man. Prisoners of the Mauthausen death camp were forced to carry heavy stone blocks up 186 steps from the stone quarry at the base of the site. It became known as the “Stairway of Death” because many times over people fell backwards due to the purposely odd design of the steps, which caused confusion amongst those who stepped on them. You can’t see the design now, since after the war ended the steps were re-constructed so visitors wouldn’t have the same fate.
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Photo of the Day 4/27
by Sean on Apr.27, 2009, under Photos
Salzburg, Austria: The Salzach River flows through Austria and Germany. It’s name comes from the German word Salz, which means “salt.” The shipping of salt down this river was an important part of the local economy until the 19th century, when railroads became the preferred method of transport.
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Photo of the Day 4/26
by Sean on Apr.26, 2009, under Photos
Salzburg, Austria: This picture was taken from the top of the Hohensalzburg Castle. The name translates into “High Salzburg Fortress” and sits on the Festungsberg Hill. With a length of 250 meters and a width of 150 meters, it is one of the largest medieval castles in Europe.
It was built in the 11th century to give ample warning of approaching intruders. As the centuries passed, different leaders added to the castle. In the 18th century, it was used in the Napoleonic Wars against the French, and in the 20th century, it was used as a prison. After being fixed up, it became a tourist attraction and remains open to the public with a cable car for easy access.
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