Hidden Vienna: Discover the secrets of the Hofburg and catacombs!

Hidden Vienna: Discover the secrets of the Hofburg and catacombs!

There is much more to discover in the city of music and historical splendor than the eye can guess at first glance. The documentary "Terra X History" sets off on the exciting journey to hidden locations in history in Vienna. Unnoticed by the millions of tourists who regularly visit Stephansdom, the Ringstrasse and the Hofburg, there are countless secrets hidden.

The Hofburg, which was the power center of the Habsburgs for over 700 years, plays a central role in this. Special rulers such as Maria Theresia and Emperor Franz Joseph give this historic place additional weight. Their premieres begin in the oldest parts of the Hofburg, which were built in the 13th century. But the castle is by no means just a mere tourist attraction with its 2600 rooms and 18 tracts.

the underground labyrinth

Under the Hofburg there is an impressive labyrinth of corridors and cellars, some of which extends four floors deep. Under these courses there are legends about secret connections, such as the around Empress Sisi and a sugar baker. The rumors about a connection between the Hofburg and the former emperor residence are also exciting, but have not yet been confirmed. Rather, the underground connection between the Federal Chancellery and the Hofburg is currently the best known. The KURIER explains ...

in Vienna, the basements have become a significant part of the city history. Many of these underground rooms were built in the 16th and 17th centuries after the Turkish siege to protect the city and also to promote the associated wine trade. In the Esterházykeller, which has been serving wine since 1683, visitors can go on a journey into the past. Under the Leopoldine wing of the Hofburg is also the plaster cellar, where historical characters like Empress Sisi receive once a year.

The secrets of the catacombs

But not only the basements under the Hofburg have it all. The catacombs under the St. Stephen's Cathedral are an extensive underground cemetery, which also houses many victims of a plague epidemic from 1679. The Stephans Cathedral is considered the heart of Austria and with its sarcophagus rooms, which are dedicated to Habsburg rulers, draws numerous people interested in history according to the courier ...

The most important burial site of the Habsburg is the Capuchin crypt, where the rulers were buried three times: in St. Cathedral for the Bodies, the hearts in the Augustiner crypt and the corpse in the Capuchin crypt. There was even an invoice for Mozart's dead mass that offered interesting insights into its financial situation.

A look at the channeled city

Another big secret is the Viennese sewage system, which was famous by the film "The Third Man". Vienna's sewer network extends over 2500 kilometers and transports half a billion liters of wastewater a day in dry weather. This underground world, which is also known as the "city under the city", has developed around 1900 and is still an exciting field of research for historians and archaeologists who work closely with "Terra X History". …

whether it is the mysterious corridors under the Hofburg, the fascinating catacombs of St. Stephen's Cathedral or the old channels: Vienna has a lot to offer for everyone who is ready to take a look behind the scenes. The history of this city is deeply anchored in its roots and is waiting to be explored by curious spirits.