http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/ Welcome to Been there. Your tips on the places you know - that you love, live in or have just visited - are what make this guide. http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/33840 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/33840 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/24037 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/24037 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/22434
There's a stunning domed church in the centre and after strolling past ornate graves of politicians you've never heard of a discreet sign points to the "Musiker" almost shyly hidden away.

Schubert, various members of the Strauss family and two big names beginning with B: took my breath away. Monument to Mozart, whose grave is mysteriously "lost" somewhere in the St Marx cemetery.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/22434 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/12950 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/12950 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/12891 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/12891 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/5760
The Kapuzinergruft (Capuchins' Crypt) lies is in the depths of the Capuchins’ Church (also known as the Church of St Mary of the Angels) and contains the bodies of over 100 members of Austria’s former imperial family – the famously lippy and chinny Hapsburgs.

The administration of the building remains in the hands of the monks, so your visit gets off to a suitably spooky start as a heavily becowled figure emerges silently from behind a curtain to collect your entrance fee and, crooking a bony finger, leads you down to the stygian gloom of the crypt itself (OK – I might have seen too much Scooby Doo in my youth).

And there the whole gang are. Not buried, you understand, but just lying about in their coffins. Sarcophagi are arranged in neat rows as if the Hapsburgs are saying “we may be dead and our empire may have crumbled to nothingness – but we’re not about to let our standards slip”.

The most elaborate tomb belongs to Emperor Franz Josef (the one with the unfeasibly large whiskers who reigned for ages and died in the middle of the first world war). He is flanked by his wife, the Empress ‘Sissi’ and his son Rudolf – tragic principal in the notorious Mayerling affair. Round the corner is Empress Maria Theresa to whom Haydn dedicated a symphony and her son Emperor Josef II – the so-called ‘enlightened despot’ – whose own contribution to Vienna’s musical life was to lambast Mozart for producing “too many notes”. “What a despot!” Mozart was heard to remark (or something very like that).

It is more than a little macabre but visit the Hapsburg stiffs in the Capuchins’ Crypt – where history comes, um, alive.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/5760 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/5728 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/5728 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/5717 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/5717 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/5657 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/5657 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/5414 Many tourists visit the "Ringstraße" every day, to see the most important and historical buildings. The townhall of Vienna, the "Burgtheater", the parliament and many other buildings make the imperial times come alive.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/5414 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/3839 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/3839 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/7548 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/7548 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/7448
Hidden in Wien-Hietzing, it is one of the creative centres of early 20th century art. Gustav Klimt (1862 - 1918), the main representative of Viennese art nouveau and co-founder of the Wiener Secession had his studio there during the last six years of his life. Only in summer 1998 was the existence of this studio undoubtedly proved, which led to the foundation of the Gustav Klimt Memorial Society. Soon after Klimt´s death, the original studio house was furnished with a second story and turned into a villa.

The Klimt Villa was declared as a protected zone in 1999, which was enlarged in 2000, but still has not been placed under protection like a historic monument. However, the original concept of the ensemble Klimt used - his studio, his reception room and the side rooms together with the adjacent garden and park - have survived nearly completely.

It must be pointed out that a great number of Klimt´s most important works were created in this studio. Here Klimt portrayed many ladies of society and finished painting some of his wonderful landscapes (especially Attersee motifs).]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/7448