Schwarzenbergplatz

Welcome to Schwarzenbergplatz, where Vienna’s old city walls once stood. When the walls were destroyed, the empty space was filled with beautiful buildings to line the small square. The large war memorial you can see behind the fountain was built by the Red Army at the end of World War II in 1945. Until 1955, a Soviet tank stood just in front of it! This memorial honours the Soviet soldiers who died during the Vienna offensive. If you didn’t know, Nazi Germany annexed Austria in 1938, becoming part of the Third Reich. The allied powers later entered Austria during the capture of Vienna. After the Nazis surrendered, Austria was divided into 14 Allied-occupied zones, and Vienna was split into five sectors, British, French, Soviet, and American. Its fifth sector was international, shared by all four powers. The occupation finally ended on May 15, 1955, when the Austrian State Treaty was signed at the Belvedere Palace, only 800 metres away, just behind the war memorial. Unfortunately, we don’t have enough time to visit today, but we highly recommend you go after you’re done with the tour! With such a magnificent exterior, you know it won’t disappoint! It’s one of the biggest Baroque palaces in Vienna, built as a home for Prince Eugene of Savoy. With French gardens that will take your breath away, the palace also houses a museum of Gustave Klint’s highly renowned paintings.