Being inspired by Eric Weiner’s book The Geography of Bliss I picked up his next book right before my trip to Vienna, The Geography of Genius: A Search for the World’s Most Creative Places from Ancient Athens to Silicon Valley. The title itself is self-descriptive, so trying to not spoil anything will just tell that the author travels the world to find out how the places of genius were born – Athens in around 400BC, Florence during the Renaissance, Edinburgh in 18th century, Silicon Valley nowadays, and some more. But Vienna… Vienna was featured 2 times in the book, as unlike other places, Vienna had 2 periods of genius – the golden age of classical music coming with Haydn, Mozart, Schubert and Beethoven, and the next one hitting the city with science & arts – Freud and Klimt being the prominent representatives.
The city itself smells like music, pure and ingenious classical music. It’s in the air, it’s soaked in the buildings of Vienna, in its people, in its food. Feels like the city is constantly giving a concert, the orchestra never stops, and the audience keeps admiring. Vienna still has the spirit of the great composers who lived and composed here centuries ago.
Christmas in Vienna? That’s another story! The Holiday spirit just floods the city, the Christmas markets are everywhere, joy and happiness surrounds Vienna despite the cold and dark weather. People get together, celebrate life, create that amazing contagious mood, wait for something magical to happen.
I’m not Catholic myself, in fact not a religious person at all, but I like the way people celebrate Christmas in Europe. Maybe the Christmas we experience nowadays is far from its true meaning, maybe it’s more commercial now than pure religious, maybe it has been modified throughout centuries to survive in modern world, but I like its spirit anyway. It connects people, it reunites families, it brings joy to everyone. It also adds so many lights to the cities! I’m sure summertime Vienna would be as magical as it is in Christmas time, but the extra lights and the nice decorations add so much charm to the city.
Hopefully I’ll be back to the city of genuine music, the city that praises it like nothing else, the city that has its charm in every season. In my heart Vienna will always be associated with majesty, royalty, and of course with the Christmas magic 🙂
St. Charles’s Church and the Christmas market around
Schönbrunn Palace with its big Christmas tree
Vienna Art History Museum
Modern looks of Vienna
The sunrise from Danube tower. The river, the rising sun, and yet another Viennese morning
The house of Hundertwasser – Austrian artist and architect. His buildings are so different and so colorful, just adorable. He reminded me Gaudí, in fact I would call him Gaudí of Vienna
Rathaus Vienna full of lights
Christmas decorations from one of the Christmas markets
Lights over the Art History Museum
Mumok Vienna – museum of modern art
Night walks in Vienna
Ok, let’s end this in a colorful mood! 🙂
Vienna is truly magical and outstanding, Lucy! I loved your stunning pictures. When’s the best time of teh year to go in Vienna?
LikeLike
I wanna go!!
*delete if not allowed*
but hey, I am a new blogger and looking for people to have a read of my first blog, please have a look and like and comment too! thanks xx
LikeLike
Such utterly beautiful, striking photos. I’m so happy I found your blog!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks a lot, it’s so great to hear that! 😊 I’ve checked your blog too and now you have me as your follower. Can’t wait for more stories about magical India 🇮🇳
LikeLiked by 1 person
These pictures make Vienna look like everything! “The city itself smells like music” I love that! All round great post and photos Lucy 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Sindi! 🙂
LikeLike
Wow! Vienna looks lovely. So cultural and arty! I’ve never really thought to visit before but after reading this I will look into it! thanks for sharing 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow….the place sounds amazing. I haven’t visited Vienna but it sounds lovely. The pictures are breathtakingly beautiful. Thanks for sharing this.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you 🙂
LikeLike
I think you’ve described Vienna perfectly. I actually live here atm and totally agree with your spirit comment about the great composers.
Also love your pictures. Karlskirche is one of my favourite buildings in the world.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Mike 🙂
LikeLike
wow, we are visiting Vienna next month and I cannot wait. It is a city that we have wanted to visit for so long now and looking at your photos just makes me even more excited to explore.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sounds great, enjoy your trip! 🙂
LikeLike
Yes, Christmas is a wonderful period in Europe. Cities then look so beautiful and you can feel the special atmosphere – people are much nicer and life goes by so slow. Great post, thanks for sharing.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Milena! Absolutely agree, Christmas season is a great time to travel in Europe.
LikeLike
I loved Vienna. The grand palaces, the robust food, the quirky buildings, the history, the chocolates, the smokey cafes…
Highlight was tafelspitz at Cafe Plachutta. That was a memorable meal and a half!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sounds cool! I’ve missed that place, need to go back definitely! 🙂
LikeLike
Vienna is spectacular really. So much to see and do. Love the photos – especially the christmas lights!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Nicole 🙂
LikeLike
Thanks for bringing back to VIenna! I spent a full week there on my honeymoon, but that was summer and it was 27 years ago! So nice to see it all sparkly for Christmas!
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s wonderful! 🙂 So glad my article reminded you the nice moment you had there 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I have such a thing for those delicate sparkly lights! It reminded me of Larimer Square in downtown Denver, CO. I also quite loved those little artsy buildings and would love to see what the inside of them are like!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Just googled the Larimer Square images, it’s really gorgeous in Christmas time!
LikeLike
I really love Vienna and it is especially nice around Christmas for all the lovely markets. I especially like the Christmas market in front of the town hall. I have not made it to the Museum of Modern Art but it looks like a great place to visit. Enjoyed reading your post.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Christine 🙂 The market in front of the Town Hall was probably the biggest one, but somehow I managed to miss it 😀 Just visited on Christmas Eve night when everything was closed.
LikeLike