Travel guide to Vienna, Austria

Vienna is Austria's capital city, and also, with its 1.5 million inhabitants, it's the biggest agglomeration of the country. It obviously is Austria's primary political, scientific, entertainment and cultural site. Austria's tourist reputation rests on two pillars: the Alps and Vienna.
The "Imperial City", as Vienna is often dubbed, suggests that the heyday of its long history fell during the reign of the Hapsburgs, especially under Emperor Franz Joseph, who ruled between 1848 and 1916. Arguably all of the city's premiere monuments come from the Hapsburgs' rule. Given they ruled Austria for an incredible 640 years, that comes as no surprise. The distinguished figure of Franz Joseph has become one of the trademarks of Vienna.
Vienna played an important role in the European history. The Turks' victorious march through Europe ended here in 1683, when the Polish King Jan III Sobieski brilliantly ended the Turkish army's siege of the city. In 1815, the European powers established a new political order in Europe during the Congress of Vienna, held after the fall of Napoleon (who, by the way, took the city ten years before). In 1938, the whole Europe watched German troops marching the Ringstrasse, Vienna's representative thoroughfare, after the Anschluss. To many people, however, Vienna has been immortalised in the acclaimed Orson Welles' film The Third Man.
Vienna is the city that effortlessly joins the old with the new. Modern glass facades that neighbour the majestic St. Stephen's Cathedral do not clash at all. Arguably the most interesting example of adjusting the monuments of the past to the needs of the present are four 102-year old gasometers that have been undergoing a thorough modernisation to fit state-of-the-art apartments as well as the shopping centres. The project is changing the character of once industrial district of Simmering.
It is very likely that the melodies from such geniuses as Mozart, Beethoven, or Schubert will accompany you while touring Vienna. Many famous composers were either born in Vienna or lived there for some time. Their music has become a substantial part of Vienna's cultural heritage. To experience it, one does not have to attend a performance from the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra (still, it's recommneded!). During the summertime, concerts are often held for the public in the city's parks.