Vienna Golden Age Architecture Tour

Immerse yourself in Vienna's Golden Age of art and architecture
From US$544 privately
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Tour Details
Duration
3 hours
Product Type
Tour
Venues
Austrian Museum of Applied Arts
Photos & Highlights
  • Marvel at stunning works of the Viennese Golden Age in this architecture tour
  • Led by a local architect, scholar, or historian
Select a date
Tour Description
As the 1800s slipped away and a new century dawned, Viennese artists like Gustav Klimt and Otto Wagner envisioned a new aesthetic that broke with the past—naming their movement the Vienna Secession. During this 3-hour, immersive Vienna architecture tour with a local historian or architect, we'll explore Art Nouveau and the birth of Modernism through the eyes of the creatives who made it happen.

Vienna Secession

We'll begin our trip back in time to Vienna’s Belle Epoque with a visit to the Museum of Decorative Arts, which boasts a fantastic collection of early 20th-century furniture and design, including Gustav Klimt's preparatory drawings for one of his most famous paintings. Here, we'll discuss the social and economic context of Vienna in the first decade of the century, when industrial progress and global trade began unraveling the Austrian monarchical system. During our visit to the museum, we'll also encounter the work of architect Josef Hoffman and the Wiener Werkstätte, an artists’ collective focused on decorative arts.

Vienna Architecture of the Golden Age

Our tour will lean heavily on architecture to help us visualize the radical effects of the Vienna Secession, visiting some of the most important buildings from this period. Otto Wagner left a permanent mark on the city with masterworks like the Vienna post office, as well his subway entrances that rival the work of French Art Nouveau masters. We'll also take a ride on the subway, itself a product of this period and very reflective of the new emphasis on technology and functionalism.

Artistic Visionaries

Depending on time and interest, we may also include a visit to the Secession House, a major work of Jugendstil architecture that features Klimt's “Beethoven Frieze.” Originally conceived as an exhibition hall, this space allows us to consider the exchange of ideas between the avant-garde in various cities across Europe as the continent teetered on the edge of World War I. At the end of our time together, we'll have a deeper understanding of the history of Vienna’s 20th-century artistic revolutionaries and the climate in which they created some of their greatest works of art and architecture.

(Looking for a general overview of Vienna? Try our Vienna Walking Tour. Looking to explore a different era of history? We suggest our  Schönbrunn Palace Tour).
Where You'll Start
107 Reviews (4.81)

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Reinhard provided us with a wonderful education on Vienna’s architectural history in the late 1800s to early 1900a. His juxtaposition of art, science, innovation, politics and personalities was fascinating. The art and furniture we discussed at the start of our day at the MAK enhanced our appreciation of the architecture we viewed during our walk. And we loved Reinhard’s passion and joy as he shared his knowledge! His explanation of Klimt’s Beethoven Frieze was memorable…his warmth and enthusiasm made the work come alive. We highly recommend a visit with Reinhard!
Reinhard was extremely informative and a superb guide. Thank you!
Very well informed. One of the best leaders we have had on our tours with Context.