Biedermeier, the beauty of simplicity

If you are a big fan of Biedermeier, Vienna has the perfect exhibition for you at Albertina, one of the most important museums in the world. Albertina "is also the largest Hapsburg palace in the centre of the former K.K. Monarchy’s (royal and imperial monarchy) capital Vienna."

You might want to read up on the World of Biedermeier (as I previously posted), but the big fans are loaded with all the necessary documentation.

Tip of the hat to the Economist for the exhibition information. Oh, and if you want to buy the chair in the picture, go here.

The best Vienna is Prague

"The best Vienna is Prague," says location manager for The Illusionist Jaroslav Vaculik, as quoted in the December 2006/January 2007 issue of Budget Travel Magazine. (For the record, The Illusionist was apparently filmed on location in Prague, yet it is set in Austria)

Ouch. He must be receiving lots of hate-mail, in German, nowadays.

How about if you could have the best of both worlds?

Here's to a great price for a 6-night train package combining both Prague and Vienna!
If you travel in the low season (i.e. January - March), you will pay roughly $645 (you might want to add your own taxes, depending on your departure airport).

The World of Biedermeier

While I clearly had no idea what it was about when I came upon the book World of Biedermeier, I must say I am now tempted to travel to Vienna, Berlin, and Potsdam, where the authors have thoroughly explored numerous castles and royal residences, baths, museum attics in their quest for the ultimate Biedermeier guide.

Their goal (beautifully accomplished) was to bring together everything Biedermeier - furniture, decorative ornaments, paintings, porcelain, crystal, and fabrics. The result was a 416-page reference book filled with astonishing detailed photographs.

After you check the book out, you might also embark upon a trip to Germany or Austria. And while you are there, why not splurge with a detour to Prague as well?

Here's a trip idea from EuropeanDestinations: Berlin-Prague-Vienna for 9 nights

Royal Gardens of Europe: The Age of Leisure

Mainly, a chapter on royal weekend escapes .

Aranjuez - Aranjuez, Spain (just south of Madrid)

Sanssouci - Potsdam, Germany (former residence of Prussian king Frederick the Great)

Drottingholm - Stockholm, Sweden

Schonbrunn - Vienna, Austria

La Quinta del Duque de Arco - Madrid, Spain

Schwetzingen - Mannheim, Germany

You have to read the book. I almost packed up tonight, these gardens are amazing!