The DC Tower – the ceiling of Austria.
Renowned architect Dominique Perrault had a unique location in mind when he designed the tallest skyscraper in Austria: a state-of-the-ar t vantage point on the banks of a mythical river. From its open doors lies the city of Vienna, a city that offers a Grand Tour beginning with its roots as imperial capital until its current state of full modernity. This is as true for its histor y as it is for its gastronomy, design and ar t. Welcome to the Austrian capital.
The DC Tower is the roof of Austria. The country ’s tallest skyscraper can be found in the financial district of Donau City (Danube City), just over five minutes on the underground from the Gothic St. Stephen’s Cathedral. Its rippling facade is made of faceted glass that evokes the tides of the Danube. The location is unrivalled, sitting next to one of the four European headquarters of the UN and on the banks of the Danube. At its doorstep you’ll find the so-called Danube Island (Donauinsel in German), which is one of Europe’s best urban parks that is almost unknown to travellers. This artificial island is 21 kilometres long and manages to cut the riverbed into two as it flows through the Austrian capital. It’s a green space that is full of river beaches and trails that are ideal for runners and cyclists, and it even has areas that are suitable for barbecues.
The Meliá Vienna is in a prime location between the 4th and 15th floors of the DC Tower. “This incredible, modern building provides our guests with astonishing views of the heart of Europe. You can enjoy hypnotic sunrises and sunsets from our 57 Restaurant & Lounge, which is situated on the 57th and 58th floors and stands tall at 220 metres. When you add 360º views into the equation, it turns into a quintessential landmark in the beautiful city of Vienna. Let’s not forget that our 253 exquisitely designed modern rooms also offer unbeatable views of the Danube”, says Bastian Becker, director of The Meliá Vienna. The hotel also boasts a 24-hour fitness centre equipped with brand new machines, a meeting room, access to private secretarial and translation services, external parking, airport shuttle and babysitting.
Just across the riverbank is the breathtaking St. Francis of Assisi Church. A few steps further is The Prater, another park on the banks of the Danube with a giant Ferris wheel immortalised by Orson Welles just 70 years ago in the film The Third Man. There is a whole museum dedicated to the film, which has a private collection belonging to two enthusiasts who managed to amass up to 2,300 original objects. The end of the film was shot in the great Vienna Central Cemetery in which classical music legends such as Beethoven, Schubert, Brahms and Johan Strauss are laid to rest. In Vienna, classical music is as engrained into society as Tango in Argentina or Fado in Portugal. The Philharmonic New Year's Concert in the Golden Hall of Musikverein takes place in the morning of 1 January. The event attracts an average of 50 million viewers worldwide and the beautiful Blue Danube Waltz is always played without fail just before the Director ’s New Year ’s greeting. Interestingly, in a city so devoted to its river, you can find several indoor swimming pools like Amalienbad that are authentic works of art.
“In Autumn, Vienna is one of the most beautiful cities in Europe. It reminds me of an Indian Summer with trees – so alive with their red and yellow colouring – that constantly invite you to walk through the numerous parks such as Stadtpark in the city centre, the more
hidden Türkenschanzpark and the stunning Schönbrunn Palace gardens”, says Bastian Becker. He adds: “Autumn is also an ideal time to enjoy the glorious Viennese wines in the countless classic wineries and rustic taverns that are just a few steps from the historic centre”.
Art lovers will find some of the best museums in the world in Vienna, like the Belvedere – a baroque palace-complex which houses the largest collection of works by Gustav Klimt, as well as the Albertina Museum and the Kunsthistorisches Museum of Vienna, which hosts the inexhaustible Habsburg treasures. There are even entire neighbourhoods that are dedicated to art. The Museumsquartier is a small neighbourhood that can be found in the heart of the city. It’s home to sophisticated art centres such as the Leopold Museum — a temple for fans of the Expressionist artist Egon Schiele — along with the Kunsthalle Wien and the Mumok. For its part, the Museum of Applied Arts (MAK), which is on the famous Ringstrasse, has been devoted to design and to the relationship between art and the everyday since 1871. Recently, it’s also become home to one of the most avant
ART LOVERS WILL FIND SOME OF THE WORLD’S BEST MUSEUMS IN VIENNA.