Augarten, Vienna

Augarten Park is Vienna’s oldest Baroquegarden.  For more than a century it served as an imperial garden until 1775 when it was opened to the public.

As visitors enter through the main gate, they are welcomed by vast open lawns intersected by wide pathways lined with flower beds.  Grand tree-lined avenues offer shade for walkers, while hidden wooded areas with narrow winding paths provide a sense of seclusion, creating a beautiful contrast between the manicured sections of the park and the wild, untamed woods beyond.  A quiet stroll through the woods reveals the lively sounds of birds chirping, flitting from branch to branch in an energetic, impatient dance.

To one side of the park stands the 18^th-century Augarten Palace, once an imperial residence, now home to the internationally renowned Vienna Boys’ choir.  Founded in 1942, after the disbandment of its 400-year-old predecessor, the choir performs more than 300 concerts a year.

Nearby is the Augarten Porcelain Factory.  Founded in 1718, it is one of Austria’s oldest porcelain manufacturers and is celebrated for its exquisite craftmanship.  In the late 18^th century, it gained fame when new gilding techniques were discovered.  By the 1920s, artists modernized the designs with Art Deco influences, and by the 1950s, geometric patterns replaced floral motifs.  Despite these changes, the factory continues to produce fine, handcrafted porcelain, blending contemporary design with centuries-old techniques.