Volksgarten (People's Garden), Vienna

The People's Garden (Volksgarten) is a public park in the Inner City (Innere Stadt) of Vienna that forms part of the expansive Hofburg Palace complex. It was established in 1821 over the remnants of city fortifications destroyed by Napoleonic forces in 1809. Officially opened to the public in 1823, the garden holds the distinction of being the city's first public park.

At its center stands the Theseus Temple (Theseustempel), a neoclassical structure, originally designed to house a sculpture of Theseus defeating a centaur, which was later moved to the Museum of Fine Arts.

Among other noteworthy features within the park are the two historical coffee houses – Cortisches and Cafè Meierei – where notable Austrian composers, Johann Strauss Senior and Joseph Lanner, performed.

Moving towards the park's northern section, you will come across a prominent statue of Empress Elisabeth sculpted from a massive (8,000-kilogram) block of marble. At the southern end of the park is a monument depicting the Austrian writer Franz Grillparzer seated deep in contemplation, holding a book in his left hand.

The park is also renowned for its beautifully manicured rose gardens, containing over 3,000 rose bushes representing about 400 different cultivars.

A very cozy and lovely place to visit a bit of rest or a picnic, this garden is a favored green space for relaxation and cultural immersion in the heart of Vienna.