Vienna: the trendy, organic Euro 2008

Austria has no coastline. But that’s not a problem! All summer long, Vienna guarantees a “bathing, beach and palm tree” atmosphere worthy of the Costa Brava. Fine sand and sports such as beach volleyball and beach soccer, as well as fire shows and dances, are on the agenda of the “Sand in the City” event. A spa and wellness area, whirlpool baths, a swimming pool and a massage area await you. This oasis filled with deckchairs also offers 14 beach bars.

 

In summer, the banks of the Danube Canal (closer to the city centre than the Danube itself) also turn into urban shores with their bars, cafes and restaurants, deckchairs and even a place to swim, thanks to the Badeschiff (bathing boat). This old Danube barge contains a swimming pool (the Austrians’ favourite sport) and an upper deck for sunbathing.

 

A stone’s throw from here, near the Urania (an observatory dating from 1910), the Strandbar Herrmann is one of the top Viennese trendy spots: until the end of September, this outdoor bar, which is slightly futuristic despite its rustic wooden decor, successfully goes for Ibiza-style ambience and benefits from an unobstructed view of old Vienna.

 

Alongside the rather affected classic restaurants, Vienna now has loads of cafes and restaurants that benefit from ultra modern and functional settings and serve quality cuisine.

 

A case in point is the Milocafe-restaurant in the Architekturzentrum Wien, whose construction was entrusted to two French architects. A tribute to the universal genius of architecture, the place combines a variety of materials and techniques.

 

Vienna boasts some excellent hotels. As for designer and boutique hotels, there is no shortage of good places. Das Triest was, for example, Terence Conran’s first foray into hotel creation.

 

The Altstadt, which opened in 2006, has 49 rooms and plays the hand of neo-Baroque refinement with its dark striped wallpaper and chandeliers from Prague.

 

The 40 rooms of the Do & Co hotel occupy the upper floors of an architecturally controversial building, Haas House, a post-modern shopping arcade designed by Hans Hollein.

 

 

There are, of course, some superb historic luxury hotels. Built in 1845 and restored in 2003, the five-star Coburg is a prime example of its kind, with its rooftop swimming pool and spa and its luxurious suites that combine technology and refinement.

 

Opposite the Staatsoper, the Bristol is over one hundred years old and has always been in league with the world of music, from Caruso to Joan Baez.

 

A particularly typical example of the magnificent architecture of Ringstraße, the Imperial is aptly named: its luxurious rooms, furnished with antiques, give a taste of imperial Vienna.

 

The Sacher Wien is another legendary address, which witnessed the birth of the famous Sachertorte, a chocolate cake filled with apricot jam invented by Franz Sacher in 1832 for the prince of Metternich.

 

 

 

 

 

Vienna’s parks are already set for Euro 2008, as witnessed by the 240 giant statues of footballers and the football trees put in place by the office in charge of green spaces. Vienna has, in fact, decided to make its involvement in this Euro 2008 environmentally friendly, and its stadium has thus received an ecological seal of approval attesting to efforts made in carbon dioxide emission reduction.

 

The Ernst Happel Stadion is located at the heart of the Austrian capital, in Prater Park, on the banks of the Danube.

 

Built in 1931 on the old private hunting grounds of the imperial family, this stadium, originally called Prater Stadion, was used during the Second World War as a barracks and a detention camp for Austrian Jews.

 

Extended after the war to reach a capacity of 90,000 spectators in 1959, it underwent a first facelift in 1986: the standing places were done away with, bringing its capacity to 50,000 seats and making it the biggest stadium in Austria.

 

At the end of 1992, the Prater Stadion was renamed Ernst Happel as a tribute to the legendary Rapid Vienna footballer, who went on to coach various European football clubs and also Austria’s national team.

 

A further renovation was undertaken in 2005, in anticipation of the European Championship. It was then decided to cover the stadium with an elliptical roof made of steel, which gives it a futuristic look. A glass security post was integrated into the stand, offering an unobstructed view of the stadium, and a video surveillance system can scan the entire enclosure. The pitch is equipped with a heating system, there are two giant video screens as well as a 1,600 m² press centre and air-conditioned VIP boxes that can accommodate 900 people. Capacity has increased to 53,000 seats. The city of Vienna and the federal Austrian government have invested a total sum of over thirty million euros in this last renovation.

 

For those not lucky enough to have a ticket for the stadium, the city has put in place an immense 1.2 km-long fan zone, from the Town Hall square to Heldenplatz, via the Ringstrasse. 100,000 spectators will be able to follow the matches here, relayed to 9 giant screens. There will also be a boutique selling fan paraphernalia on Heldenplatz.