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Sachertorte

 Wow, what a day! Vienna you do not disappoint. 

We’re back to our regular 20 000+ step days, exploring this beautiful city as much as we can. This morning started with a 10am visit at the Upper Belvedere Art Museum, which houses many masterpieces from over 800 years. 

Walking up to the Upper Belvedere Palace

The most famous of these masterpieces is Gustav Klimt’s “The Kiss”.This work was painted without a direct commission and incorporated actual gold leaf and silver, which makes me think that Klimt really poured his heart into this painting. “The Kiss” is of my favourite art pieces of all time, so it was a dream come true to see it in person!

Admiring “The Kiss”

I’ll point out a few other pieces that really stood out to me. 

The Embrace by Egon Schiele (1917)

Path in Monet’s Garten in Giverny by Claude Monet (1902)

Cottage Garden with Sunflowers by Gustav Klimt (1906) 

Dreams by Helene Funke - What are the women dreaming about? (1913)

Moth with Two Children (Family) by Gustav Klimt (1910)

The Evil Mothers by Giovanni Segantini - addressing the controversial subject of unwanted pregnancies (1894)

The Chef by Claude Monet (1882)

Napoleon at the Great St. Bernhardt Pass by Jacques Louis David (1801)

Farmers Wife by Franz Eybl (1836)

The Bride (unfinished) by Gustav Klimt (1918)

Overall, this gallery is a must see in Vienna! Not only for the art, but also for the impressive palace building, the lovely views, and the grand halls inside.

Beautiful view from the Belvedere Gallery

The grand halls ceiling 

After spending a few hours in the gallery, it was time for lunch. Although our grocery store wraps were nothing memorable, our dessert was. 

We went to Vollpension, an intergenerational café in the heart of the old town. They call themselves “Grandma’s public living room” and employ retired “grandmas & grandpas” along with youth to work along side each other. The concept is that the older generation can benefit from socializing and earning extra money, while the younger generation learns new cooking and social skills. Everything served is made with love using recipes from the “grandmas” kitchen… and oh boy can you tell. 

We had two DELICIOUS cakes. First, a classic Viennese Sachertorte, a chocolate sponge cake separate with apricot jam… so decadent and rich! Second, an apple-walnut cake which was very light and fluffy and had a completely unique flavour. I think we may have to go back tomorrow…

Chocolate cake & apple-walnut cake :)

After lunch we explored more of Vienna, stopping at quite a few impressive buildings. 

The 19th century Greek temple in the Volksgarden was so funny to come across, we thought we walked to Greece! We also enjoyed the beautiful roses in this garden. 

19th century Greek temple 

A huge variety of roses

I’m still not convinced that we didn’t walk to Greece as the Austrian Parliament Building is also straight out of Grecian times. It really does look like a place of power where important decisions are made, and Athena, the goddess of wisdom, guards over the building. 

The Austrian Parliament Building

Next, the Vienna City Hall took us right back into magnificence of gothic architecture. This was followed with the lovely Votive Church. 

Vienna City Hall

Exploring the city hall

Magnificent Votive Church

It may seem like we planned this walking tour of beautiful buildings, but honestly we just wander. Pick one thing we want to find and then see where the wind takes us… and that’s how we find these beautiful places!

One thing I did want to see though was the Hundertwasser Village. This social housing complex was created by an architect, environmentalist, and philosopher called Friedensreich Hundertwasser. In this building, he meant to get rid of ridged, industrial lines and create a building that was one with nature. 

Can you spot the ceramic face?

The interesting Hundertwasser Village

The interesting building meshing with the regular neighbouring building

It’s a very funky building, with lovely colours and interesting ceramic decorations, I’m glad we got to see it :) 

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