Landstraße

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Landstraße (literally "country road" in German) is the third district of Vienna. It has 81,281 inhabitants (2001) in an area of 7.42 km². It has existed since approximately 1200 AD. In 1192 the English king Richard the Lionheart was captured in the Erdberg neighbourhood after the unsuccessful Third Crusade.

To tourists, it is mostly known for the 18th century castle and gardens of Belvedere, the residence of Eugene of Savoy which today houses the Austrian Gallery. Another residence was built by the Russian envoy to Vienna, Count Razumovsky. A more recent point of interest is the Hundertwasserhaus block of flats (apartment block) designed in a dream-like style by the architect and painter Friedensreich Hundertwasser.

Austrian Chancellor Metternich (1773–1859) once remarked that "The Balkans begin at the Rennweg" — which was then a mere road in Landstraße out of Vienna towards the east...

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Last updated on Tuesday February 26, 2008 at 08:39:54 PST (GMT -0800)
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