Ladee's Travels

The Belvederegarten  extends from the Upper Belvedere Palace, down a gentle slope, to the Lower Belvedere.  The gardens are done in a formal French style with graveled walks and jeux d'eau.  Jeux d'eau  is an umbrella term for the type of water features introduced in mid-16th century Mannerist Italian gardens and include water chains, water stairs, fountains, cascades, jets, pools and canals.  Pumps were invented and the fountains grew bigger and better.  Where can you find these in the US today?  Think of the resorts in Las Vegas with water shows dancing to music and laser lights!  The bedding had originally been patterned and then grassed over. The patterns are now being restored.  The center "stairs" are not for people. These are water stairs that come from the upper fountain.  A zoom view to see the fountain, the Upper Belvedere with the Christmas tree lights seen through the window.  Details on th...

My walk continued up a slight grade as Schwartenbergplatz changed to Prinz Eugen-Strasse. I entered the palace grounds and found my way to the ticket office.  I purchased a ticket for the Upper Belvedere gallery to see the Gustav Klimt works and the Lower Belvedere gallery to see "The Women of Klimt, Schiele, and Kokoschka" exhibit.  Circle to the other side of the larger building (past the not-yet-open Belvedere Christmas Market...did not come back to see it).  There are large gardens between the Upper and Lower Belvedere buildings.  The Upper Belvedere Palace was built in the Baroque style and was a summer palace for Prince Eugene of Savoy. Construction was completed in 1723.  Looking through the fog at the gardens between the Upper and Lower Belvedere.  And a snowman...This marble sculpture is by Manfred Erjahtz, is named Gefungen in der Gegenwart   (Trapped in the Present),  and explores a wintery subject: the snowman....

My mission for the day was to walk to the Belvedere to see the works by Gustav Klimt.  I looked at the map and it was less than a mile from my apartment to the main building. A brief note from the night before because I don't have enough photos to actually post an individual blog post:  I crossed the Opernring in front of the Weiner Staatsopera (Vienna Opera house). This was near the apartment. Cafe Museum where I met two IIBA Austria Chapter board members the day before.  The Hop On Hop Off tour buses stop a few steps from the apartment building main door.  You can buy tickets from the vendors standing near the bus.  And now let's start the walk to the Opera house.   The fog was hanging very low throughout the city and there was a slight drizzle.  I grabbed my umbrella and started off by walking on Walfischgasse and turning right on Schwartzenbergstrasse.  Yes, read the street names and feel my pain!  There is a little mall in...