Löwelstrasse, Vienna, Austria
The stately Löwelstrasse is tucked into the back of the Volksgarten, one block away from the Minoritenplatz. It is the home of the Embassy of the Principality of Liechtenstein.
Holocaust Memorial, Judenplatz, Vienna, Austria
York. Granada. Vienna. The list of Jewish persecutions in Western Europe is long and revolting. The massacre of those living around the Judenplatz during the early 15th century – when Viennese Jews were burned alive on a pyre at the Gänseweide (“Goose Pasture”) in Erdberg – is one example. The
Continue readingHolocaust Memorial, Judenplatz, Vienna, Austria
Minoritenkirche, Vienna, Austria 1
It may not have the Baroque panache of Graz’s Mariahilferkirche, but the Minoritenkirche (“Minorites Church”) has a substantial pedigree. The first foundation stone was laid in A.D. 1276 by the powerful Ottokar II of Bohemia. When Ottokar was killed in battle by the forces of Rudolf of Habsburg, the “little
Minoritenkirche, Vienna, Austria 2
You can forgive Vienna for the stubby bell tower on the Minoritenkirche. The more elegant spire was knocked off, not once, but twice, in the Austro-Turkish wars. At that point, I think everyone gave up on aesthetics. Palace Bonus: The Minoritenplatz (“Minorites Square”) is surrounded by aristocratic city-palaces, including the
Minoritenkirche, Vienna, Austria 3
The Gothic exterior of the Minoritenkirche has a distinctly Frenchified feel. Some sources have attributed its style to Jacobus Parisiensis (a.k.a. Fra Giacomo of Paris), the confessor to Duke Albrecht II. It was Duke Albrecht who added the Gothic Choir to the Stephansdom. Tympanum Bonus: If you look at the