Europe trip

Once the tallest structure in the world, the Eiffel Tower is probably Europe's best known landmark and Paris's most famous symbol.
Eiffel Tower, Paris
You couldn't possibly visit Paris without seeing the Eiffel Tower. Even if you do not want to visit this world famous structure, you will see its top from all over Paris. The tower rises 300 meters tall (984 ft); when it was completed at the end of the 19th century it was twice as high as the Washington Monument, at the time the tallest structure in the world.

1889 World Exhibition
The Eiffel Tower was built for the World Exhibition in 1889, held in celebration of the French Revolution in 1789.
The construction was only meant to last for the duration of the Exposition, but it still stands today, despite all protests from contemporary artists who feared the construction would be the advent of structures without 'individuality' and despite the many people who feared that this huge 'object' would not fit into the architecture of Paris.
Eiffel Tower at night, Paris
Today, there is no such aversion anymore among the Parisians, and one could not imagine Paris without the Eiffel Tower, in fact it has become the symbol of the City of Light.

Gustave Eiffel
The man behind the Eiffel Tower was Gustave Eiffel, known from his revolutionary bridge building techniques, as employed in the great viaduct at Garabit in 1884. These techniques would form the basis for the construction of the Eiffel Tower. He was also known for the construction of the Statue of Liberty's iron framework.

The structure took more than two years to complete. Each one of the about 12,000 iron pieces were designed
Eiffel Tower in the evening
separately to give them exactly the shape needed. All pieces were prefabricated and fit together using approx. 7 million nails.

The Tallest
Inaugurated March 31, 1889, the Eiffel Tower would be the tallest structure in the world until the completion of the Chrysler Building in 1930.

London's Tower Bridge is one of the most recognizable bridges in the world. Its Victorian Gothic style stems from a law that forced the designers to create a structure that would be in harmony with the nearby Tower of London.

Bridge History
Plans for the Tower Bridge were devised around 1876 when the east of London became extremely crowded and a bridge across the Thames in that area of the city seemed a necessity. It would take another eight years - and lots of discussions about the design - before construction of the bridge started.

The bridge, designed by city architect Horace Jones in collaboration with John Wolfe Barry, would eventually be completed in 1894. Five contractors and nearly 450 workers were involved in the construction of the 265 meter long bridge. It took 11,000 tons of steel to build the framework. At the time many people disliked its Victorian Gothic design, but over time the bridge became one of London's most famous symbols.

Mechanics
Tower Bridge opening
Tower bridge raising
The proximity of the harbor and its location in the direction of the sea required for the bridge to allow the passage of large vessels. Hence the decision to create a moveable bridge which can be opened to accommodate boat traffic. The mechanism to open the bridge is hidden in the two towers. Until 1976, when the mechanism became electrified, steam power was used to pump water into hydraulic accumulators which powered the engines.

Each deck is more than 30 meters wide and can be opened to an angle of 83 degrees. When opened the bridge has a clearance of almost 45 meter. It used to open almost 50 times a day but nowadays it is only raised about 1,000 times a year.
Tower bridge at night
Tower Bridge at night
Bridge lifts are pre-scheduled (for cruise ships, etc) so visitors can check the bridge's website to find out when it will rise and lower.

Visiting the Bridge
Taking photographs of the Tower bridge is a favorite London tourist activity, but you can also go inside the bridge, where you'll have a magnificent view over London from the walkway between the two bridge towers.

Inside the bridge is the Tower bridge Exhibition, a display area that encompasses the walkway and the two famous towers where you can observe the Victorian engine room. Visitors can learn about the history of the bridge via photos, films, and other media.

Currently the bridge is undergoing a renovation project that should be completed in 2012. The Tower Bridge may close for several months during the renovations sometime in 2010.

The Clock Tower of the Palace of Westminster, commonly known as the Big Ben, is one of London's most famous landmarks.

The name Big Ben actually refers to the clock's hour bell, the largest of the clock's five bells, the others being used as quarter bells.

Big Ben
There were two bells cast as the clock tower's hour bell. A first, a 16 ton weighing bell was cast by John Warner and Sons in 1856. Since the Clock Tower was not yet completed, the bell was hung temporarily in the Palace Yard. The bell soon cracked so it was recast in 1858 in the Whitechapel Bell Foundry as a 13.5 ton bell. Unfortunately soon after this bell was placed in the belfry in July 1859, it cracked as well. This time, instead of yet again recasting the bell, the crack was repaired and a lighter hammer was used to prevent any more cracks.

The hour bell was probably named after Benjamin Hall,
Big Ben Clockface
Clockface
the First Commissioner of Works. Some sources however claim the bell was named after Benjamin Caunt, a British heavyweight boxing champion.

The Clock
The clock was the largest in the world and still the largest in Great-Britain. The clockfaces have a diameter of almost 25ft (7.5m). The hour hand is 9ft or 2.7m long and the minute hand is 14ft (4.25m) long.
The clock is known for its reliability, it has rarely failed during its long life span. Even after the nearby House of Commons was destroyed by bombing during World War II, the clock kept on chiming. The clock's
Big Ben, London
mechanism, designed by Edmund Beckett Denison, has a remarkable accuracy. The clock's rate is adjusted by simply adding small pennies on the shoulder of the pendulum.

The Tower
The tower was constructed between 1843 and 1858 as the clock tower of the Palace of Westminster, now better known as the Houses of Parliament. The clock tower - its official name is Saint Stephen's tower - is 316ft high (96m) and consists of a 200ft (61m) high brick shaft topped by a cast iron framed spire. The clockfaces are 180ft / 55m above ground level

Views
Unfortunately the clock tower is not publicly accessible, but if you're looking for views over London the London Eye is currently the best option.

Schönbrun Palace is the former summer residence of the imperial family. Ever since it was completed in 1780 during the reign of Maria-Theresia, the palace was the favorite residence of the Habsburg monarchs.
The palace lies about 6km (4 miles) from the center of Vienna but is easily reached by the underground. The whole area, including the expansive garden,
Schönbrunn, Vienna, Austria
Schönbrunn
occupies about 176 hectares or 435 acres and you'll have to set aside at least a half day for a visit to Schönbrunn's magnificent palace and garden.

History
After emperor Maximilian II acquired the site of the current palace - then known as Katterburg - in 1569 he converted the existing castle into a hunting lodge. The story goes that his son, Emperor Matthias discovered a beautiful spring while hunting here and he exclaimed 'So ein schöner Brunnen' (what a beautiful spring), which led to the name Schönbrunn.

In 1695, after the Turkish destroyed the hunting lodge, emperor Leopold I
Schonbrunn Palace, Vienna, Austria
Schönbrunn Palace
commissioned court architect Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach with the construction of a palace that was to outshine Versailles. Due to costly wars, Fisher von Erlach's proposed complex of multiple wings and terraces set on a hill (now the site of the Gloriette) was too expensive and the emperor had to settle for a more modest design. Construction started in 1696 but it was only partially completed when Leopold I died in 1705.

Even though his successor Joseph I spent much of his time in the completed section of the complex, little progress was made until the mid 18th century when Maria Theresia commissioned court architect Nicolaus Pacassi with the completion of the palace.
Courtyard of the Schonbrunn Palace in Vienna
Courtyard
In 1918, Charles I renounced involvement in state affairs, effectively ending the reign of the Habsburg monarchy, after which the palace became state owned.

The Palace
A main gateway flanked by two obelisks leads to the vast courtyard, decorated with two large fountains, one with allegorical figures depicting the rivers Danube, Inn and Ems and the other with sculptures representing Transsylvania, Galicia and Lodomeria. Right ahead is the main palace building of the complex, with the large garden behind. To the right is the Schönbrunn Court Theatre, built in 1767 in Rococo style.

Orangery at Schonbrunn, Vienna
Orangery
Gates on the right and left open up towards the garden, from where you have a view over the whole complex. On the left seen from the garden is the Wagenburg (Coach Room), which houses the imperial collection of coaches, sledges and carriages. To the right is the Orangery, where plants and flowers were housed during wintertime to protect them from inclement weather.

The central palace is 175 meter (574 ft) wide and has a symmetrical Baroque façade. All buildings were painted in a typical light yellow/ochre pattern, a combination that was soon copied by many residences around the country.

Interior
During its heyday, some 1,000 people lived in the 1441 rooms and halls of the complex. 40 Of these rooms - grand state apartments and the rooms of Franz-Josef and Elisabeth (Sissy) - are open to visitors.

The Rococo style interior of the Schönbrunn apartments is much more luxurious than the rather sober apartments in the Hofburg.
Central facade of the Schönbrunn Palace, Vienna
Central Façade
Some, in particular the Millionenzimmer (Millions Room), are particularly sumptuous.
Other remarkable rooms include the round Chinese Cabinet, a room decorated with porcelain where empress Elisabeth held meetings with advisors and the Blue Chinese Room - decorated with blue Chinese motifs - where Charles I set his signature to hand over state affairs in 1918.
A much darker room is the Vieux-Lacque room, where Maria Theresia spent much of her time after she became a widow. The Spiegelsaal (Mirror Hall) was the setting for a duet of a young Mozart and his sister in front of Maria Theresia. Nearby is the Rosa Room, named after the artist who created the frescoes of landscapes on the walls.
The private rooms of Franz-Joseph and empress Elisabeth have less elaborate decorations.
Schönbrunn Park, Vienna
Schönbrunn Park
The emperor held audiences in the Walnut room, named after the wooden rococo paneling.

Schlosspark
The vast park is situated on a sloping site behind the palace, originally a hunting ground. It was laid out in 1705-1706 by Jean Trehet in a formal French style. Between 1753 and 1775, during the reign of Maria-Theresia, parts of the park were redesigned as a Baroque landscape by Ferdinand von Hohenberg.

The center of the park still consists of formally aligned flowerbeds
Najadenbrunnen, Schönbrunn Park, Vienna
Najadenbrunnen
laid out behind the palace and flanked by rows of statues. They lead to the large Neptune fountain. Around the flowerbeds are formal gardens arranged in a star shape around two fountains known as the Najadenbrunnen.

Behind the Neptune fountain a zigzagging path leads to the Gloriette, an impressive arcade on top of the Schönbrunn Hill. The area around the Gloriette is less formal and even has some forest-like areas.

Throughout the park are a number of monuments, buildings, and architectural follies such as a mock Roman ruin and a large obelisk.
Neptune Fountain, Schönbrunn Park, Vienna
Neptunbrunnen
The park was opened to the public in 1779 and to this day can be visited for free.

Neptune Fountain
One of the highlights of Schönbrunn is the Neptune Fountain or Neptunebrunnen, the park's most monumental fountain. It was built in 1780 by Franz Anton von Zauner, an Austrian sculptor. The baroque sculpture group depicts a mythical scene in which the sea goddess Thetis asks Neptune to allow her son Achilles a safe voyage to Troy.

Gloriette
Gloriette, Schönbrunn Park, Vienna
Gloriette
The crowning glory of the park is the Gloriette, a neoclassicist arcaded structure perched on top of the Schönbrunn hill. In the original plans of Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach for Schönbrunn, the palace would be built here, with large terraces on the slope towards the city.

Instead the Gloriette was built here in 1775 by Ferdinand von Hohenberg as a monument to the soldiers who had given their lives for the empire. From the Gloriette you have a magnificent panoramic view, not only over the park and palace, but also over the city of Vienna. The Gloriette is home to a café where you can relax after the uphill climb.

More attractions in the park
Palmenhaus, Schönbrunn Park
Palmenhaus
On the western side of the park is the magnificent steel construction of the Palmenhaus (Palm House), built in 1883. Inside, you'll find a number of exotic plants in different climate zones.

Nearby is the Tiergarten (zoo). Maximilian II already had a collection of exotic animals here, but the current zoo dates back to the 1752, during Maria Theresia's reign. The zoo is now modernized and is home to animals such as elephants, apes, hippopotamus, koalas and many more.

To the left of the Neptune Fountain is a mock Roman Ruin, built by Ferdinand von Hohenberg in 1778. Such ruins were all the rage at the time, and provided a romantic backdrop for theater productions. Nearby lie the Schöner Brunnen that gave the domain its name.
Obelisk, Schönbrunn Park, Vienna
Obelisk
A small pavilion, decorated with the statue of a nymph, is built over the spring.

Further east is one of the park's most impressive architectural follies: a tall obelisk erected on top of a monumental cascade. The mock hieroglyphs on the obelisk recount the history of the Habsburg family.

More sights in the park include a Botanic Garden; a Japanese garden; the beautiful Taubenhaus - a dovecote; the Najadenbrunnen - two similar fountains; the Meierei (dairy farm), now a café-restaurant; the labyrinth - a recreated version of the original 17th century version; and the Wüstenhaus, a hothouse near the Palmenhaus with plenti of cacti.

The sprawling Hofburg complex was the bastion of the Habsburg monarchs, who ruled over Austria - and at times many other regions of Europe - for more than six centuries, from 1276 until the downfall of the Habsburgs in 1918.
Hofburg, the Imperial Palace in Vienna
Hofburg
Today the Hofburg (Court Palace) is a tourist magnet, and visitors flock to see the royal apartments, chapel, church, library, the Winterreitschule and the many museums that are housed in the complex, which consists of eighteen wings with more than 2000 rooms designed in a wide range of architectural styles, from gothic to baroque and neo-classicist. The mostly baroque exterior is nonetheless surprisingly harmonious.

Due to its vast size it is impossible to visit all the attractions in the Hofburg in just one day. Some of the highlights include the Kaiserappartements (royal apartments), the Schatzkammer (Treasury), the Prunksaal in the National Library, the Winterreitschule (Winter riding school), the Albertina Museum and the Neue Burg museums.

History
Construction of the Hofburg did not start with the Habsburgs, but with king Ottokar II of Bohemia, who was also the Duke of Austria. In 1275 he had a fortress built at the site of current Schweizerhof, a rectangular structure with four towers. After Rudolf I, the first of the Habsburg dynasty, ousted Ottokar II in 1276, he expanded the fortress. Today, there are no visible traces of this original structure left.
Amalienburg, Hofburg, Vienna
Amalienburg

Construction of the complex we know today started after 1533, when Ferdinand I decided to move his main residence to Vienna, making it the capital of the Holy Roman Empire. Construction of what is now known as the Alte Hofburg, was completed in 1552. The Schweizertor, the gate that leads to the Alte Hofburg, was built the following year. Ferdinand's son, Maximilian II, added the Stallburg to the complex.

Maximilian's son, Rudolf, decided he wanted his own palace and built the Amalienburg, detached from the existing structure. A courtyard, now known as the Innenhof or In der Burg separated the two palaces.

The Thirty Years' War caused a pause in construction activity, but in 1660 the expansion of the Hofburg continued with the construction of the Leopoldinischertrakt (Leopold Wing) by emperor Leopold I. This new wing connected Amalienburg with Alte Hofburg. Construction accelerated after the landmark victory over the Turkish in 1683. The official court architect, Joseph Emanuel Fischer von Erlach,
Reichkanzleitrakt, Hofburg, Vienna
Reichkanzleitrakt
designed the magnificent court library, the Winter Riding school, and the Reichkanzleitrakt. He also designed Michaelertrakt, a baroque wing which was only completed centuries later.

Another building frenzy started at the end of the 19th century, a time when the Habsburg monarchy started to show signs of decline. During emperor Franz-Joseph's reign from 1848 until 1916, the most recent additions to the complex were built including the Michaelertrakt - a wing with a monumental gate, the Michaelertor - and the Neue Burg, an enormous wing with a curved façade, facing Heldenplatz. Neue Burg was just a part of an ambitious project to build a new Kaiserforum, an imperial forum which would have connected Hofburg with the museum complex across the Ringstrasse via a series of triumphal arches. Alas, the outbreak of the First World War halted new construction.
Michaelertor, Hofburg, Vienna
Michaelertor
A mirroring wing opposite Neue Burg and the connecting arches were never realized.

Despite spending fortunes on the construction of the Hofburg, the Habsburg rulers rarely resided in the palace complex, especially after the Schönbrunn Palace was constructed in the 18th century. The palace was mainly used for official obligations and meetings with foreign dignitaries.

Touring the Palace
The most common way to enter the Hofburg is from Michaelerplatz. An ornate Baroque gateway, the Michalertor, connects the square with a large courtyard, the In der Burg, sometimes also referred to as the Innenhof. The monumental gateway is decorated with expressive statues of Hercules. Inside the wide passageway are entrances to some of the most famous attractions in the Hofburg:
In der Burg, Hofburg, Vienna
In der Burg
the Winterreitschule (Winter Riding School) on the left and the Kaiserappartements (apartments of the Emperor) to the right.

Entering the courtyard, you can see the Alte Burg - the oldest part of the Hofburg complex - on the left and Amalienburg - a renaissance palace with a clock tower - on the right hand side. The Leopoldinischer Trakt (Leopold Wing) is straight ahead and opposite is the Reichskanzleitrakt, ornately decorated with monumental sculptures (The Labors of Hercules) created by Lorenzo Mattielli. The central door in the Reichkanzleitrakt leads to the Kaisersappartementen and the Sissi Museum, one of the Hofburg's most popular attractions.

At the center of the courtyard - originally a parade ground - is a large monument dedicated to Emperor Francis I of Austria a.k.a. Francis II, Holy Roman Emperor.
Schweizertor, Alte Hofburg, Vienna
Schweizertor
The large monument was created in 1824-1846 by the Italian sculptor Pompeo Marchesi. The monument shows the emperor in classical Roman attire set atop a tall plinth, surrounded by four other statues.

The emperor looks in the direction of the Schweizertor, an old gate which leads to Schweizerhof (Swiss Court), the inner courtyard of the oldest part of the imperial palace. Its name is derived from the Swiss guards who were hired in the 18th century to protect the monarchs. Bordering Schweizerhof is Burgkapelle, a small chapel decorated in Baroque style. It is famous for the Wiener Sängerknaben (Vienna Boy Choir), who perform here on a regular basis. Another attraction at the small courtyard
Josefsplatz, Hofburg, Vienna
Josefsplatz
is the Schatzkammer (Treasury), a museum with a collection that will even impress the most museum-averse visitors.

An archway connects Schweizerhof with Josefsplatz, a square graced with a statue of Joseph II, created in 1807 by Franz Anton Zauner. Behind the statue is the Prunksaal, a monumental Baroque room. It is easily the most impressive room of the National Library, which is spread out over the Hofburg.

Following Augustinerstrasse from Josefsplatz brings you past the Augustinerkirche, which was originally built in the 14th century as the church of a monastery, but became enveloped by the encroaching Hofburg complex. In 1634 it officially became the royal parish church. Inside you'll find a magnificent Gothic interior.
Further south along Augustinerstrasse is Albertina, the southernmost section of the Hofburg. The palace is home to a popular museum, founded in the 18th century by Albert, Duke of Saxony-Teschen.
Neue Burg, Hofburg, Vienna
Neue Burg
The museum is entered from a raised terrace which overlooks Albertina square. A large equestrian statue of Archduke Albrecht dominates the terrace.

The most recent part of the Hofburg is the Neue Burg, an imposing wing built between 1881 and 1913 after designs by Gottfried Semper. It can be accessed from the Heldenplatz which is reached via a gate through the Leopold Wing coming from the Hofburg or via the Ringstrasse. Neue Burg is not only home to a number of museums but also contains the main reading room of the National Library.

Museums and other attractions
There's no shortage of things to see in the Hofburg, and most visitors to Vienna spend a large part of their visit inside any of the more than 2,000 rooms of the complex. A favorite is a tour along the Kaiserappartements, the imperial apartments. Before you enter the apartments you can also tour the Silberkammer - a silver museum - and the Sissi Museum, an exhibition on the most popular of all the Habsburg empresses. There are two entrances to the museums, one at the large inner courtyard and another one in the gateway through the Michaelertrakt.

Silbermuseum, Hofburg, Vienna
Silbermuseum
An impressive collection of silverware and golden and porcelain items are on display on the ground floor in the Silberkammer. The museum's piece de resistance is a gilded bronze table-centerpiece which stretches more than 10 meters long.
The Sissi Museum shows memorabilia, dresses, portraits and other items related to Empress Elisabeth, who is affectionately known as Sissi. She was married to emperor Franz-Joseph but became estranged and traveled across Europe for much of her life until she was killed in Geneva by an Italian anarchist in 1898.
Exiting the Sissi Museum you enter the apartments of Franz-Joseph, where the emperor used to spend much of his time. These apartments are modestly decorated, in line with the emperor's frugal reputation. Adjoining are the apartments of empress Elisabeth, including the bedroom, dressing room and exercise room, complete with wooden exercise equipment. Following are a number of rooms named after tsar Alexander I,
Imperial Crown, Scepter and Orb of Rudolph II, Hofburg, Vienna
Imperial Crown, Orb and Scepter
who stayed here during the Congress of Vienna in 1815. Of note is the dining room, laid out as it was during the era of emperor Franz Joseph.

Even more impressive than the luxury displayed in the Kaiserappartements is the Schatzkammer, a museum with an awesome display of crowns, scepters and other powerful (and expensive) symbols of the Holy Roman Empire. Highlights include the imperial crown of emperor Rudolph II, studded with diamonds, pearls and a huge ruby. It was created in 1602 by the Antwerp goldsmith Jan Vermeyen. Another highlight are the crown jewels of the Holy Roman Empire, with an octagonal imperial crown. There are also a number of curiosities in the Schatzkammer, such as a long horn from a unicorn and a relic of the Holy Cross. The Schatzkammer's entrance is at Schweizerhof, the oldest part of the Hofburg.

Albertina, Hofburg, Vienna
Albertina
For a totally different museum, head