Only an aerial view
.. could include all Viennese 60 acres called
HOFBURG PALACE
The Hapsburg family grew this Empire
starting in the 13th Century
☛ until 1918 .. 'their own' LOSS of World War I
☛ .. After 640 years the Hapsburg "Monarchy" ended
☛ AUSTRIA .. ( Nation - State ) was born
Today .. Office of the Austrian President is here .. with 5,000 government employees
Visitors use this Entrance to . . Buy Tickets to
Museums . Vienna Choir Boys . Spanish Riding School etc.
Visitors use this Entrance to . . Buy Tickets to
Museums . Vienna Choir Boys . Spanish Riding School etc.
Horses and Carriages are reminders that this is no ordinary piece of property
Eye - wear on each horse reminds US to stay focused ..
The List of things
to SEE and DO here .. goes on and on
During those 640 years
MARIA THERESA
was the only "woman" to officially rule
THE HAPSBURG EMPIRE
Strong and effective .. during her 40 year reign .. 1740 - 1780
( as the most powerful woman in Europe )
she was either
pregnant or tending to . . each of the 16 new borns
Of the 10 who survived .. she arranged marriages to match . . political gain
MARIE - ANTOINETTE was given in marriage to the French Bourbon Louis XVI.
Her favorite daughter MARIA CHRISTINA was the only one allowed to marry for 'love'
When 2 mothers met to arrange the marriage for
son Franz Josef . .
( younger sister ) - 16 year old 'Sisi' - ( tagging along )
was the one he couldn't take his eyes off
( 19th century equivalent of Princess Diana )
Franz Josef and Elizabeth 'SISI' were "cousins"
Not planned .. But allowed
. . They were married nearby in the Augustinian Church
where
all Hapsburgs were married
all Hapsburgs were married
Franz Josef . . LOVED . . Sisi - Sisi . . RESPECTED . . Franz Josef
She was not enthralled with her role . . either as "wife" or as "Princess"
She kept busy maintaining her 20" waist and tending to her ankle - length hair
She gave birth to
3 daughters and 1 son Rudolf
At age 50 her waist was 21" ( see her silhouette below )
but
she began to stay out of the public eye - Her Teeth were bad
At this point no more photos were allowed . . .
Son Rudolf and his girlfriend committed suicide
at the family . . Mayerling Hunting Lodge
Sisi went into severe depression . . While her husband went about his duties
They became . . estranged
IF she had any "political" interest at all . . it was to . .
help Hungary gain "Independence"
. . from . .
" her own . . " Austrian . . Empire
She spent more and more time traveling - On one of these trips she is stabbed and dies.
The Apartments of Sisi and Franz Josef get lots of attention . . .
. . from . .
" her own . . " Austrian . . Empire
She spent more and more time traveling - On one of these trips she is stabbed and dies.
The Apartments of Sisi and Franz Josef get lots of attention . . .
Volumes are written about the Hapsburgs . . .
Their HEARTS are Vaulted
in the Augustian Church . . where they all were "married "
in the Augustian Church . . where they all were "married "
And their BODIES ( 150 of them ) are not far away
in the unassuming . . Capuchin Church
in the unassuming . . Capuchin Church
. . ( below ) . . In the Kaisergruft ( the Imperial Crypt )
( Visitors can walk freely .. among the crypts .. in several rooms .. softly lit )
This pewter double - coffin under the dome .. is the
Tomb
of MARIA THERESA ( 1717 - 1789 ) & her husband FRANZ I ( 1708 - 1765 )
Maria Theresa died several years after her Hubbie
. . They had some catching up to do !
Tombs vary in Size and Detail . . There's "one" that catches our eye
It belongs to Maximilian . . The brother of . . Franz Josef
who was supposed to
Govern / Reign . . over . . Mexico
We had seen the Set of China / dishware . . that never did make it to Mexico . . because
Maximilian . . was . . Assassinated !
In an honored place .. The Coffins of
SISI (Elizabeth) . husband FRANZ JOSEF . and son / heir RUDOLF
This man spends each day at Kaisergruft .. He seemed totally honored to have visitors.
He was so busy taking pictures on his camera and each of ours
we all left there with smiles
We four .. represent NORTH and SOUTH AMERICA
( These 2 gals are . . "Argentinian" )
The Spanish Riding School was having a "combined" event
You'll have to pretend you see white horses ( no photos allowed )
( not any ol' white )
.. These are Andalucian bred for intelligence and trainability ..
Italian and Arabian "bloodlines" tweak various characteristics
like Gait and Profile
They're always born black . fade to gray . emerge white in adulthood
( just like we do ! )
Shortly before the photo police came by . . We snapped the Vienna Choir Boys
A little more yet to come about Vienna .. Blog 17
_________ R & Wr _________
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