On the Road is a weekday feature spotlighting reader photo submissions.
From the exotic to the familiar, whether you’re traveling or in your own backyard, we would love to see the world through your eyes.
Good morning everybody,
And we’re off to Europe – wahoo! I loves me some otmar on Friday.
Have a great weekend and we’ll see you Monday.
Back in the 19th century it became clear that the parish cemeteries of Vienna will not be able to cope with the projected growth of the city. Thus they built a large new one way outside the city, sized in a way that should be sufficient for the foreseeable future. For the full story, read the article on Wikipedia.
In Austria, the twin days of “All saints” and “All souls” Nov. 1st/2nd are the traditional dates where most people visit the graves of the ancestors. This years, we went as well.
It was a brilliant fall day, here are some of the pictures I took.
This cemetery is really big (590 acres). It has broad roads inside, private cars are allowed on all other days, and there is even a bus route of the Viennese public transportation system inside the cemetery.
Getting closes to the center brings the first glance at the Art Nouveau church. The graves there are upper class, showing more elaborate carvings and decorations.
There is also a section for the fallen Russian soldiers of WW2.
I love those Art Nouveau churches. This one was built from 1908 to 1911 to designs by the architect Max Hegele.
We’re still inside the church, this is the view up inside the dome.
This is one of the side portals.
Betty Cracker
Nice photos. That’s a gorgeous church. I visited Vienna back in the mid-90s and have very fond memories of the city. Would love to see it again someday.
Baud
I’ve never been to Vienna. Hope to make it one day.
?BillinGlendaleCA
@Baud: I’ve never been either, chances are never will.
JPL
Thanks Otmar for sharing your photos and story with us. Seeing your pictures reminded me how much I missed the On the Road blog when it was on hiatus.
Baud
@?BillinGlendaleCA:
Send Guliani an email saying you think the Crowdstrike server is in Vienna. They’ll fund your trip.
AxelFoley
Beautiful photos, Alain.
I’m gonna have to travel the world some day. Been around much of the U.S., but traveling the globe is on my bucket list.
JeanneT
Vienna is such a wonderful city to visit. I was there for a week, some years ago, but never got to the cemetery and really appreciate seeing the photos!
DocH
Vienna is gorgeous – I’d love to go back some day. Mandatory Central Cemetery film reference: The Third Man (final scene).
arrieve
I love Vienna and I love cemeteries, so this is a lovely start to the day. I always say that the list of places I want to visit never seems to get any shorter because I there are very few places I don’t want to go back to. Austria is a place I really hope to see again one day — it’s just magical.
MelissaM
Beautiful Vienna! Thanks, Otmar.
Elizabelle
Just beautiful, Otmar. Vienna is on the 2 to 3-year bucket list. Loved Salzburg.
The art nouveau church is stunning. And the sculpture accompanying the Russian graves: you recognize the style right off. Will have to check it out.
Weiden, in southeast Germany (eastern Bavaria) , has a church from the same period (St. Josef’s). Romanesque, with some almost Russian Orthodox iconography and Art Nouveau colors. Biggest church built in its region since the Middle Ages.
Vienna’s church is airier. Weiden is just five to six hours from Vienna by car; it’s fairly close to the Czech border. Great little town, if you ever find yourself in the area.
J R in WV
Thanks Otmar, your ongoing virtual tour of Europe is fabulous. If we were there, we would wonder what the name of that Castle was, and the lake, and those mountains. But you know what you take a photo of, and tell us a bit about it. Wonderful.
rikyrah
beautiful pictures…thanks…
otmar
@Elizabelle: if you like these churches, try to visit the Otto Bauer church at the Steinhof grounds in Vienna.
I haven’t been there in a while, let’s see if I can find some pictures in my archive.