History of Vienna

The first known history of royal Vienna dates back 4000 years, and the first written records as historical proof have been dated to the 13^th century. The place where Vienna sits today was a meeting point for different cultures in the far past. Due to its geographical position, Vienna has had a significant impact on the political climate of the Old Continent. As one of the most developed cities of the time, it attracted people from all parts of the world, who flocked to Vienna to live, work and create within its bounds.

The history of Vienna is particularly interesting for its rich prehistoric story. The Celtic migration to the then-named city of Vedunia, which gave Vienna its name, is also an interesting story. Starting in the 1^st century AD, the Romans started moving into the area and built a castrum, which is a military stronghold, in the area to protect the city from attacks from the neighboring Pannonia.

In the Middle Ages, the street known today as Salvatorgasse used to be the center of the city. Vienna was the ruled by the Langobards, the Slavs and the Avars. During the reing of the Habsburgs in the 13^th century, the life standard of Vienna became better, which led to the construction of royal palaces, the opening of the University of Vienna, as well as the construction of Saint Stephen’s Cathedral.

In 1529, the Ottomans besieged the city, and with the Ottoman Empire’s border being a mere 150km away from the city, Vienna’s progress slowed down drastically. The city florished the most in the 13^th century, during Renaissance and Baroque, when major construction was conducted which was to turn Vienna into a royal city of art and music. The city experience significant population growth at this time as well, and the cultural bliss that this time brought in can still be felt to this day.

In 1804, Vienna became the capital of the Austrian Empire, a true symbol of the wealth and power in Europe. In 1815, the well-known Congress of Vienna was organized, where the political map of Europe was created. During the First World War, Vienna didn’t suffer any major destruction, but the economic crisis and poverty in general were very present among the people. During World War Two, a large-scale extermination of the Jewish population saw around 60 thousand casualties.

In 1944, a major aerial attack destroyed most of the city. In the 20^th century, many refugees fled to the city, the families of which still live in Vienna. People from Hungary, The Czech Republic, Serbia, Bosnia and Croatia fled to Vienna in search of a better life. Today, Vienna is a big, densely populated and urban city. It is the center of many important events and will forever be the cultural capital of Europe.

Vienna is a lavish and magnificent metropolis on the Danube river. It spreads over an area of 414,65 km², and has a population of 1.897 million people. The city center is characteristic for its many monuments, which made it a UNESCO World Heritage Site, along with the Belvedere and Schönbrunn castles. Royal Vienna makes its way to its visitor’s hearts and fulfills all expectations that they might have, and then some.