Zoological gardens Lainz and the Hermesvilla
| Picturesque Vienna Woods, situated in
the very west of Vienna, are foothills of the Alps and contribute considerably
to the excellent quality of life in Vienna. Just within you can find
the 'Lainzer Tiergarten', a private hunting ground
of the Habsburg family in earlier times and a public park today. A walk in the park is not only a welcome outdoor exercise but also highly informative as you can admire a diverse fauna and flora. Definite highlight of our walk is the visit to Hermes Villa which was built as a present to Empress Sissi. Her husband Franz Joseph wanted her to have a private retreat and a place to feel at home when she first came to Vienna. The small palace was an architectural marvel and inspired many other romantic villas of its time. Hermes Villa did not live up to the Emperor’s expectations in providing Sissi with a hideaway and so his wife kept travelling around Europe. However, the romantic architecture and glorious interior of the villa cannot be blamed. At the Hermes Villa you can visit the Imperial apartments, Sissi’s gym or an informative special exhibition on Vienna’s cultural histories. In the last years, those exhibitions have been covering themes like the historical development of fashion, hygiene and even love in Vienna. |
Whole-Day-Excursions |
Half-Day-Excursions |
