This Shows The Perfect Inutility Of Fortifying
The Old Town Of Vienna Against A Foreign Enemy.
Indeed a capital city
should never be fortified; it generally contains too many things of value,
ever to be exposed to the risk of a bombardment.
It would seem, however,
that the object of the Austrian government in reconstructing these works
were to keep its own subjects at Vienna in check. But in this case it would
be much more advisable to construct a fortress on the heights of Kahlenberg
or of Leopoldsberg, both of which command the city and the whole expanse
below. The Turks were encamped on the Kahlenberg at the famous siege of
Vienna.
Vienna proper, the old town, is a Gothic city, but a very handsome one. The
streets are in general broad and well paved; but the Places or Squares
are small. With the exception of the Herrengasse, where the nobility
reside, the rest of Vienna is inhabited by shopkeepers and wholesale
dealers; and the shops are brilliant and well fitted up. The Kaernthner
Strasse, a long and tolerably broad street, and the Kohlmarkt present
the greatest display of wealth. Indeed the Kaernthner Strasse may be
considered as the principal street; this street and the Kohlmarkt have a
great resemblance to the finest parts of Holborn. The Graben also present
a fine display of shops and may be termed the Bond Street of Vienna. The
Sanct Stephans Platz where the Cathedral church of Vienna, called St
Stephans Kirche, stands, is the largest Place in Vienna.
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