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 meets the eye. The documentary “Terra X History” takes you on an exciting journey to hidden historical locations in Vienna. Unnoticed by the millions of tourists who regularly visit St. Stephen's Cathedral, the Ringstrasse and the Hofburg, countless secrets lie hidden. Tele.at reports that…

The Hofburg, which was the center of power for the Habsburgs for over 700 years, plays a central role. Special rulers such as Maria Theresa 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 tourist attraction with its 2,600 rooms and 18 wings.

The underground labyrinth

Hidden beneath the Hofburg is an impressive labyrinth of corridors and cellars, some of which reach four floors deep. Among these corridors there are legends about secret connections, such as those surrounding Empress Sisi and a confectioner. The rumors about a connection between the Hofburg and the former imperial 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 Courier explains...

In Vienna, the cellars have become an essential part of the city's history. Many of these underground rooms were built after the Turkish sieges in the 16th and 17th centuries 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 Leopoldin wing of the Hofburg there is also the plaster cellar, where historical figures such as Empress Sisi visit once a year.

The secrets of the catacombs

But it's not just the cellars under the Hofburg that have it all. The catacombs beneath St. Stephen's Cathedral are a sprawling underground cemetery that also houses many victims of a plague epidemic in 1679. St. Stephen's Cathedral is considered the heart of Austria and attracts numerous history buffs with its sarcophagus rooms dedicated to Habsburg rulers , said the courier...

The most important burial site of the Habsburgs is the Capuchin Crypt, where the rulers were buried three times: in St. Stephen's Cathedral for the bodies, the hearts in the Augustinian Crypt and the corpses in the Capuchin Crypt. There was even an invoice for Mozart's funeral mass, which offered interesting insights into his financial situation.

A look into the canalized city

Another big secret is the Vienna sewer system, which was made famous by the film “The Third Man”. Vienna's sewer network stretches over 2,500 kilometers and transports half a billion liters of wastewater every day in dry weather. This subterranean world, also known as the “city beneath the city,” developed around 1900 and remains an exciting field of research for historians and archaeologists who work closely with “Terra X History.” According to Tele.at...

Whether it's the mysterious corridors beneath the Hofburg, the fascinating catacombs of St. Stephen's Cathedral or the ancient canals: Vienna has a lot to offer for anyone who is willing to take a look behind the scenes. The history of this city is deeply rooted in its roots and is waiting to be explored by curious minds.