Best Historical Destination in Europe

Europe has many cities to offer for a vacation. So many, in fact, that even if months were available one could simply not visit them all. As a result, guidebooks usually place cities into groups and create trip itineraries based on the kinds of cities users want to visit. But for majesty and history, one city trumps them all: Vienna.

Nestled at the foot of the Alps between Eastern and Western Europe, Vienna reflects a turbulent past while boasting of a luminous future. The capital city of the once great Holy Roman Empire as well as the second capital of the notorious Nazi regime, Vienna is a city busting at the seams with history. Find below why Vienna is the place to go to enjoy history at its best.

Schönbrunn Palace 

If Queen Victoria of England was called the grandmother of Europe, then Holy Roman Empress Maria Theresia of Austria is the great-grandmother. Orchestrating marriage after marriage (including the marriage of her daughter, Marie Antoinette, to French King Louis XVI), Maria Theresia not only built the Habsburg dynasty to its greatest size, but also built it's greatest palace, Schloß Schönbrunn. It was initially inspired by Versailles, but ultimately surpassed it in size (and some say even beauty!).

Kunsthistorisches Museum 

Many great European cities have art museums and, in that regard, Vienna is no different. But the KHM, short for Kunsthistorisches Museum (English: Museum of Art History), part of the 21 museum complex “Museums Quartier,” houses some of the greatest works of art in the world. Staples of the collection include Breughel, Rembrandt, and Raphael, to name a few. Recent rotating collections have included the famous Arcimboldo, whose paintings often famously parodied Habsburg lifestyles.

Imperial Vaults 

Near the center of Vienna is the final resting place of nearly every Habsburg. These morbidly beautiful vaults contain the sarcophagi of fallen Holy Roman Emperors, their consorts, and issue. Famous Habsburgs not buried in the vaults include Marie Antoinette (beheaded in France and buried in mass grave) and the infamous Franz Ferdinand, barred from the vaults for marrying below his social class.

Arsenal 

This World War I/II museum is adjacent to Vienna's Südbahnhof, making it a little out of the way for most, but what it holds inside is well worth the trip. Along with authentic Nazi propaganda preserved from the World War II, Franz Ferdinand's car (complete with bullet holes) along with his clothing from the day he was shot are in the heart of this very Viennese museum. The trip to southern Vienna is worth it just to see these two pieces of history.

Stephansdom/St. Stephen's Cathedral 

At the very center of Vienna is this beautiful masterpiece. This church is the most famous in Vienna and contains important historical references concerning Catholicism throughout the Holy Roman Empire as well as secret meeting places for the Austrian resistance during World War II. A guided tour is an absolute must, but the right guide must be chosen or the best material will be missed.

Schatzkammer 

Located in a hidden part of the Hofburg Palace, the Schatzkammer holds the Holy Roman Empire's most sacred jewels. Among the collection are Charlemagne's original crown (he was the first Holy Roman Emperor), the Holy Lance, and the bed Napoleon's son was born in. Though not as visited as one might think due to its location, this is the absolute best historical destination in all of Vienna. It's also centrally located (within the Hofburg complex).

So whether you're in Vienna for business or pleasure, there's no excuse not learn about one of Europe's most important family dynasties as Vienna is Europe's Best Historical Destination.