eastern part of an island, in the Danube, to the north of the suburb of Leopoldstadt. It is divided into the upper and lower Prater. The high street of the Jagerzeile is the principal avenue which leads from the city to the wood. It terminates at a point called the Praterstern, and is continued across the wood to the Danube. From this point another avenue leads to the Lusthaus, a restaurant. Thence again, a bridge crossing the river leads to the race-course. The enormous edifice constructed for the WORLD'S FAIR of 1873 was in the Prater. The entrance was on the Great Avenue, about half a mile from the Praterstern. Amongst the STATUES and COMMEMORATIVE MONUMENTS are:

The equestrian statue of Joseph III. on the Josephs Platz, erected in the reign of Francis I. The Emperor is represented on horseback, stretching out his hand and blessing his people.

The Franzen's monument, in the inner court of the Palace, was raised in 1846, by Ferdinand I. The granite is adorned with bronze bas-reliefs, representing Science, Coinage, Christian Art, Industry, Mining Science, Agriculture, Commerce, &c.; at the four angles are seated the statues of Religion, Fortitude, Justice and Peace. The pedestal supports the statue of the Emperor Francis, 17 ft. high.

The equestrian statue of the Archduke Charles, in the outer Burgplatz, was erected in 1860. The Archduke is represented at the battle of Aspern, at the moment when he lifts the flag to lead the Grenadiers to the attack. At the four angles of the pedestal are eagles with the Imperial cipher.

In the same place is the equestrian statue of Prince Eugene of Savoy.

In the Palace-park is the equestrian statue of the Emperor Francis I. of Germany, husband of Maria Theresa.

In the Volksgarten, opposite the castle, is the temple of Theseus, a reproduction of the temple of Theseus at Athens, built in 1823, after the designs of Nobile. It contains the colossal group in white marble of the combat of Theseus with the Minotaur, the chief work of Canova. Napoleon ordered this group for the City of Milan. It was afterwards purchased by the Emperor Francis.

The column of the Trinity, on the Graben-platz, was erected in 1679 by the Emperor Leopold I., on the cessation of the plague. The column, of white Salzburg marble, is 71 ft. high; on the pedestal is a rock supporting Religion; a cherub overthrowing the Monster of the plague; and some bas-reliefs representing episodes of Biblical history. the summit of the column is the Emperor kneeling; and angels rising towards heaven, or the throne of the Trinity.

On

The monument in the Holemarkt was erected in fulfilment of a vow of Leopold I. The Emperor had promised to erect this monument if his son Joseph returned safe from the war against France, and he did return as the victor of Landau. The Emperor died before the fulfilment of his promise, but the Emperor Joseph caused the monument to be erected, after the designs of Fischer of Erlach, in wood. Charles VI., in 1732, had it executed in marble and bronze. It consists of a canopy supported by Corinthian columns, under which is a group representing the marriage of the Virgin.

Vienna has many fine fountains and bridges, none of which demand special description.

Since the disastrous campaign of 1859, and more especially since the terrible calamities suffered by the Imperial forces in the summer of 1866, the commerce and population of Vienna have increased to an extent that appears almost miraculous to those who were acquainted with the city 20 years ago. With its suburbs the Austrian capital numbers more than a million of inhabitants; its Opera House and Conservatoire are unrivalled in Europe; and the Rings, when completed, will be the finest streets in the world. The municipality does not, however, limit its enterprise to mere embellishment; it has recently undertaken a costly and magnificent system of water-supply, now being carried out; and has, moreover, with the aid of the Duchy of Nether-Austria, commenced the great work of regulating the Danube in such wise as to enable Vienna to receive and transmit an enormous quantity of raw produce and manufactured goods by water. Quays and warehouses form a part of this gigantic project, the inauguration of which took place a short time back in the presence of the Emperor.

The neighbourhood of Vienna, on the right bank of the Danube, is very charming. All the interesting points may be visited by omnibus or rail.

SCHONBRUNN, the Imperial summer palace, is situated at half an hour's distance south-east from Vienna. This palace, formerly a hunting lodge of the Emperor Matthias, was enlarged and finished in 1775 by the Empress Maria Theresa. Napoleon occupied it in 1805 and 1809; its apartments were more recently occupied by the Duke of Reichstadt, his son, who died there the 2d of July 1832. The fine double staircase, the theatre,

and the orangery of 740 trees, are remarkable. The palace contains 1,500 chambers; behind it extends the large park, open to the public. The grand parterre is adorned with 32 statues, and a large basin with two fountains in front of the principal façade. At the bottom of the park, on a hill, is the Gloriette, a colonnade which commands a charming view. There are also in the grounds a Roman ruin; and the Schöne Brunnen, or beautiful fountain, which gave the name to the palace, with a group representing an Undine, by Beyer, and the monument of Maria Theresa. A Zoological and a Botanic garden are connected with the park.

Across the park is the village of Hietzing, which contains a great number of villas and country houses, amongst others, the villa of the Duke of Brunswick; it also contains a theatre, and several public gardens. Near Schönbrunn is also the village of Penzing.

At Baden are some alkaline and sulphurous springs and baths, frequented from the middle of May to the middle of October.

LAXENBURG is an Imperial summer-palace, which is reached by a branch of the southern railway in of an hour. Its divisions are distinguished as the "old castle," dating from 1693; and the "new castle," or Blue House, from the 18th century. It was the favourite abode of Maria Theresa, Joseph II., Francis I., and is a residence of the present Emperor. The church contains a picture by Van Dyck, and in the apartments are admirable pictures by Canaletto, and a group of Meleager, by Beyer.

The large park is one of the finest in Europe, and is traversed by the River Schwechat, which forms a lake with several islands.

On one of the islets is the Franzenburg, a small castle built in true mediæval style. It contains a hall of arms, a collection of objects of art, a chapel, &c. Amongst the objects of art may be specially mentioned the armour of Charles V. and Philip II., and 17 marble statues of princes of the house of Hapsburg.

ROUTE 153.

VIENNA TO DRESDEN, BY BRUNN AND PRAGUE.

(Note.—The direct line to Prague, avoiding Brunn, is nearly 38 miles shorter than the line here described, but the express trains occupy the same time by both routes. There is nothing of interest on the shorter route via Gmund.)

370 miles: 1st class, 27 fl. 65 kr; 2nd, 20 fl. 83 kr.; 3rd, 14 fl. 3 kr.

EAVING Vienna we pass Florisdorf and Wagram, near which latter the great battle of the 5th and 6th July 1809, took place between the French and Austrians. From Ganzerndorf (19 miles) a branch goes to Presburg and Pesth. Near Durnkruth, we obtain a view of the lesser range of the Carpathian mountains. We now go near the River March, the boundary between Hungary and

Austria, and passing Hohenau, ascend the valley of the Thaya, and reach LUNDENBURG (52 miles). Here a branch line goes to Olmutz. On the left, near Saitz (61 miles), rises the lofty belvedere in the park of Prince Liechtenstein. Crossing the viaduct, we reach Raigern. Here is an ancient Benedictine monastery, founded in 1048 by Duke Bretislaw, with a handsome church, and a good library. BRUNN (95 miles). (Hotel: Grand Hotel.) This town, the capital of Moravia, is situated near the confluence of Schwartzawa and the Zwittawa. The Castle of Spielberg, now a prison, was the place of confinement of Baron Trenck and Silvio Pellico. Trenck died here in 1749. Pellico, with other Italian patriots, was confined here from 1822 to 1830. The Church of the Capuchins contains the tomb of Baron Trenck. The Dikasterial Gebaude, formerly an Augustine convent, is now government office. The Mora

a

vian National Museum contains a

library, and a collection of antiquities. Brunn is celebrated for its extensive cloth manufactories. Leaving Brunn, we pass some places of no interest, and reach Zwittau (139 miles), a walled town, having a considerable trade in cloth and linen. About 14 miles from Pardubitz (189 miles) is the field of Sadowa, the scene of the great battle fought in 1866 between the Prussians and Austrians. (Branch line to Koniggratz and Zittau.) Kolin (215 miles). On the right we see an obelisk raised in 1842 to commemorate a victory gained by the Austrians over the Prussians under Frederick the Great in 1757, during the Seven Years' War. Passing some other places of no interest, we reach

PRAGUE (256 miles) (Hotels: see "HOTEL LIST").

Cabs Two persons, 40 kr. the course; each quarter an hour after, 15 kr.

The capital of Bohemia, and, next to Vienna, the principal town in the Empire of Austria. It is the seat of an archbishopric, and the residence of the principal officials of Bohemia. The nobles of Bohemia reside here during part of the year. Its site is a regular basin cut in two by the river. Viewed from the bridge, no city in Germany surpasses it in the grandeur of its appearance. It consists of four quarters, two on each side of the river, the Alstadt and Neustadt on the right, and the Kleinseite and Hradschin on the left bank. The Alstadt (the old town) lies along the right bank towards the north. Its streets are narrow, but being the principal seat of business. it contains the best shops. The Neustadt encloses the Altstadt on the north-east, east and south-east, and was formerly separated from it by walls and a ditch, which has been filled up. On the opposite side of the river, occupying the bank and the northern portion, is the Kleinseite, the abode of the Bohemian nobility, and the site of several remarkable palaces. The other quarter, the Hradschin, to the west and south of the Kleinseite, occupies the side of a steep hill, and contains fewer houses than the other quarters, but surpasses them in interest in consequence of the public edifices which it contains.

On quitting the railway station, and entering the Altstadt (old town), we pass through the Pulverthurm (Powder Tower). This tower is in the Gothic style; it was built in the 14th century, by the citizens of Prague, in honour of King Ladislas II. It was formerly one of the eight gate-towers which gave access to

the old town, and separated it from the Neustadt. The Pulverthurm adjoins, on the north side, the Konigshof, an ancient Royal palace, now a barrack; this tower gives access to the Zeltnergasse, one of the principal streets in the old town. On the left stands the Palace of Justice, formerly the house of the commandant-general of the garrison. The Zeltnergasse leads to the Grosse Ring, the principal square in the old town. Here the ancient kings of Bohemia gave fetes and tournaments, and here, in 1621, twenty-seven chiefs of the Protestant party were executed. In the centre is the Mariensaule (Mary's column), erected in 1650, by the Emperor Ferdinand III., after the unsuccessful siege of Prague by the Swedes. Here is also a monumental fountain, erected under the Emperor Rudolph. The Rathhaus is on the west side of the Grosse Ring, and stands on the site of a more ancient one, built in the 14th century, of which there only remain the chapel, the great tower, and the southern facade containing the council chamber. The present structure was erected between 1838 and 1849, and is in the Gothic style. The principal facade is adorned with the statues of six kings of Bohemia.

The east side of the Grosse Ring is occupied by the Kinsky Palace, the largest building in the old town, and the church called Teynkirche, the facade of which is masked by some old houses with arcades.

The Teynkirche is a Gothic building, built in 1407 by the German merchants of Prague, on the site of the old church, founded in the 9th century, of which the baptistery still exists. The towers, erected by King Podiebrad, are very fine; their