Features
An Unconscious Network – How Freud’s Disciples and Ideas Conquered the World
An Empire fell. Psychotherapists became divided by borders. Then the turbulent history of 20th century Europe spread them – and their ideas – even fu...
Business
The Way the World Works: Economics vs. Reality
Here: A cost-of-living-crisis in England, the US, some parts of Europe, because energy prices have risen by around 50% and cost-of-living index by ar...
International
Russian Roulette – the Kremlin’s Game in Ukraine
With renewed discussions on the Minsk Accords scheduled for 17 February, a look at the unintended “accomplishments” of Putin’s aggression
Features
The Schindlers of Maria-Theresien-Strasse
One of my favorite places to have lunch with a touch of elegance is Das Schindler. It is a low-keyed, modern restaurant bar, roomy and inviting with ...
Features
The Frozen Few: Ice Swimming in Vienna
With past lockdowns boosting its popularity, ice swimming invigorates while extending the season on the shores of the Danube.
Diplomacy
Iran Allows Reinstatement of IAEA Surveillance Cameras
The IAEA's Rafael Mariano Grossi asserted the agency's political neutrality amid hopes that the Iran nuclear deal might be revived.
Art
Egon Schiele and the Cult of the Self
A sampling of the breakthrough artist Egon Schiele’s wrenching self-portraits and an eclectic selection of 12 others to follow.
Features
The Ongoing Controversy Over Austrofascism, Explained
An explanation of the complicated history behind a small museum, the new interior minister and the collective memory of Austrofascism.
People
Vienna-Based IPI’s Barbara Trionfi Addresses Nobel Press Freedom Celebrations
The director of the Vienna-based International Press Institute shared the stage for the awarding of the first Peace Prize for journalism since 1935.
Features
The Bright Stillness of Salzburg Under Lockdown
A series of photographs explore Salzburg under lockdown—an unusual glimpse of a city known for its scenic views and cultural tradition.
Long Reads
Environment Minister Leonore Gewessler Cancels Lobau Tunnel Construction Project
Vienna's controversial Lobau Tunnel project has been cancelled. While the mayor and others condemn the move, environmental activists rejoice.
Diplomacy
Austria (and Vienna) Have High Quality of Life But Unfriendly Locals: Expat Insider Survey
Every year, the InterNations' Expat Insider surveys thousands of expats all over the world, who score their new home countries across several categor...
Features
How Did Nikolo and Krampus End Up Together?
Every year on December 6, St. Nicholas surprises Austrian children with presents - while Krampus threatens with whips. How did this unlikely pair end up working together?
International
Foreign Ministry Trying to Get Austrians Back From Africa
In view of the new coronavirus mutation Omikron, Austria is trying to get them around 200 registered Austrians who are currently on vacation in southern Africa back home.
General
Moscow Announced the First Meeting of Sergei Lavrov and Linhart
In an interview with the Russian state news agency RIA Novosti, Linhart said that he was looking forward to getting to know his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov personally.
International
The Business of Exporting Austrian Wines
By fine-tuning their methods, the Austrian Wine Marketing Board is expanding the market, while Brexit and Covid rein in success in the UK.
Business
Vienna’s Business Immigration Office Helps Foreign Workers Get Residency and Work Permits
The City of Vienna has brought MA 35, AMS and the Vienna Business Agency’s Expat Center under one roof in what consultant Friedrich Bruckner calls a major “cultural shift”.
City Life
Guide to Shopping on Sundays in Vienna
While Austrian law requires most stores in Vienna to lock their doors on Sundays and holidays, there are a few exceptions allowed.
Interviews
INTERVIEW: Vienna-Based Team Engineer Coronavirus “Super Antibodies” in a Tobacco-Related Plant
Dr. Herta Steinkellner’s work could lead to a new, effective treatment for COVID-19 – and demonstrates the power of plants to produce highly complex human proteins.
Long Reads
One Year After the Vienna Terror Attack of 2020, Most Austrians Not Afraid of Another Attack
One year on, two-thirds of Austrians are not expecting further terror attacks. At the same time, the government intensifies its activities targeting “political Islam”.
Bosnian in Vienna
Should Bosnians Be Recognized as a Minority in Austria?
With 150,000 people of Bosnian descent in Austria, the community is one of the biggest of the country. Efforts are now underway to get Bosnian Austrians officially recognized by the law as an ethnic group.
News
Motorway Expansion at Odds With Climate Goals, Say Austrians
Most Austrians consider motorway expansion and other highways development to be at odds with climate goals: 63% are in against it.
News
Trains Could Replace 80 Percent of Short-Haul Flights
A Greenpeace report shows most European short-haul flights can be easily replaced by train journeys - and calls for some routes to be banned
News
Van Der Bellen on Climate Change: “I Will Not Be Quiet”
President Van der Bellen spoke on the importance of fighting climate change in his traditional televised speech on Austrian National Day, October 26.
General
Why Were Austrian Kindergarten Employees On Strike?
Thousands of kindergarten teachers on strike this week said staff and children deserve better conditions - because early childhood education is education.
Features
Practical Guide to Men’s Mental Health in Vienna
Each of us thrives on our social relationships, knowing our family is safe and healthy and having a routine and productive life. COVID-19 upended eac...
News
Ludovic Ferrière, Vienna’s Interplanetary Explorer
International scientist and curator of the acclaimed meteorite collection at Vienna's Natural History Museum, Ludovic Ferrière is bringing the wonder of shooting stars to the public.
April 2016
Graz: Where it’s Easy Being Green
Regarded for ages as the modest cousin of the great Habsburg capital, Graz, despite its charm, was used to keeping a low profile. Thrown into the s...
Diplomacy
Iran to Give IAEA Access to Video Cameras in Nuclear Power Plants
The IAEA and the Iranian nuclear agency are making progress on monitoring the country’s nuclear program.
Cover Story
Wine, Wine, nur du Allein
Austria ranks 13th worldwide for social drinking – our author’s personal journey on growing up in a country where alcohol comes not by the glass but in economy-sized two liter bottles
Diplomacy
Afghan Ambassador to Austria: “This will set our country back a century.”
Editor’s note: A few days before Kabul fell to the Taliban, Afghanistan’s ambassador to Austria, Manizha Bakhtari, agreed to an interview with Metropole, answering pre-approved questions in writing, under the condition that none touched upon deportations.
People
“Hello Grief and Welcome”
South-African Liani Drury (49) is a mom, an artist, a university lecturer, a seamstress, a coach, and a citizen of Vienna. Above all, she is a grief counsellor who overcame her own loss through a journey of healing and hope.
Print Editions
Ludwig Wittgenstein & the Limits of Language
Having enthroned the power of logic, the Austrian philosopher also saw how much lay outside it, and the need for nonsense to stretch the imagination.
International
A Newcomer Describes What Learning German Is Really Like – The Inside Story
Becoming Viennese means learning to understand everything from “Schau ma mal” to “Strudel mit Schlag”. But in truth, no one's experience is the same.
Features
Paul Pizzera’s 5 Quirks of the German Language
The cabaret performer writes the music and lyrics for Pizzera & Jaus. He spoke to Metropole about black humor and the benefits of therapy – he also told a few dirty jokes.
People
Meet Mouddar Khouja, Secretary General of the Austro-Arab Chamber of Commerce
Mouddar Khouja first came to Europe in 1981. In 1985, he moved to Vienna, where he has been helping the Austrian-Syrian business community thrive.
Home is where the Herz is
The Magic of Aleppo
We take you on an enchanting journey to a city as it was before the war - bridging history and civilizations for more than 5,000 years.
Cover Story
Linguistic Minefields
Words have always been dangerous. Now, with social justice
warriors on the prowl, they can make or break careers.
Features
Marjorie Perloff – An Alternative Language of Modernism
From The Vienna Paradox to The Edge of Irony, the distinguished literary critic and professor emerita examines the seminal literature and thought of Austria’s interwar period.
International
The Pandemic Set Off a Wave of Reverse Migration in Europe
As opportunities dry up in the West, COVID-19 has compelled many to return to Central and Eastern Europe in search of a brighter future.
Home is where the Herz is
Damascus – Beyond History & Imagination
The city has seen it all, yet it remains as charming as ever. It’s small alleyways tell the stories of past generations and its mosques and churches speak of prophets
Cover Story
A Life in Languages – Vienna’s Many Voices
From Czech to Turkish, a Babel of languages is heard alongside German on Vienna’s streets. With 42% having roots abroad and English in all schools, multilingualism is (again) the norm.
Diplomacy
The Art of Interpretation
Invisible, unseen, discreet: Professional interpreters bridge gaps and facilitate communication, and in Vienna, their work is often at the heart of the matter.
News
New High-Speed Rail Train Connection Between the Austrian and German Capitals
From Vienna to Berlin in under five hours – the Via Vindobona is part of Europe’s bid to expand railway lines and reduce short-haul flights within the region.
Bulgarian in Vienna
Meet Nadia Varadinova, Purveyor of Delicacies
Now in her 60s, the native Bulgarian had spent most of her life in Sofia, until unimaginable circumstances brought her to Vienna to transform the lives of others.
Bulgarian in Vienna
Meet Petar Naydenov, Bulgarian Opera Basso
It was for a place in the company of the Wiener Volksoper that Petar Naydenov came to Vienna from a theatre in Bavaria eight years ago.
Bulgarian in Vienna
6 Best Places to Visit in Bulgaria
Bulgaria is home to legends and myths, stories of centuries past, monuments of battles lost and won which all shape the landscape.
Print Editions
The Kamptal Is a Cyclist’s Paradise
One of the most charming valleys around Vienna, the easiest way to fall in love with the Kamptal is on a bicycle.
People
Meet Thomas Stelzer, Dean of the International Anti-Corruption Agency
“Corruption has been with us as long as mankind, but there’s been progress: If you can’t expect to get away with something, you might think twice about committing it.”
Bulgarian in Vienna
Meet Miglena Hofer & Severina Ditzov, the Founders of Austria for Beginners
The two friends decided to join forces. And in 2016, they set up the non-profit organization Austria for Beginners.
Print Editions
The Allure of the Alps
The lure of Alpinism is stronger than ever– but there’s more to it than just the ascent. It’s about discovering the world from above, and the things in yourself that got you there.
Bulgarian in Vienna
Meet Aneta Bulant-Kamenova, an Award-Winning Bulgarian Architect in Vienna
How a Bulgarian living in Vienna is building brides between countries and people ― figuratively and literally.
Aneta Bulant-Kamenovа
International
Merkel Defends Her Wirecard Lobbying Efforts in China
German Chancellor Angela Merkel testified before the German Bundestag last Friday regarding her actions on behalf of the now disgraced company.
Diplomacy
Promising Talks on Iran’s Nuclear Program Resume in Vienna
Ignored disruptions, cross-town shuttle diplomacy by the EU led JCPOA Joint Commission demonstrates good faith on all sides.
Bulgarian in Vienna
Meet Borjana Ventzislavova, Bulgarian Artist Who Spinning on Wheels Around
Raised bilingually in Sofia, and re-established in Vienna, artist Borjana Ventzislavova is a woman of many worlds.
Coronavirus
How the EU Got Its COVID Vaccine Program Back on Track
Just three months on from January’s low point, the European Union’s vaccination effort has rebounded, predicting 70% of adults protected by mid July.
Bulgarian in Vienna
Ivan Krastev – Stretched Between Two Worlds
When national governments closed borders and asked people to stay put at the beginning of 2020, Ivan Krastev and his family decided to go back to Bulgaria.
Ad
Fintech at Vienna UP’21: A Tale of Virtual Coins and Unicorns
Austria's fintech sector has recorded exponential growth in the last five years, with new startups seemingly popping up every month. These fresh and innovative companies are rapidly becoming an integral part of the financial system.
Coronavirus
Covid on April 19-25 | Over 2 Million People in Austria Vaccinated
The coronavirus is shaping our lives. Here’s what happened in regards to COVID-19 in Austria in the week of April 19 to April 25, 2021.
Coronavirus
Austria to Open Up on May 19
Schools will resume in-person instruction on May 17. Starting on May 19, restaurants and hotels can reopen, culture and sports events can take place again – for those who are tested or vaccinated. Here are all the details
Bulgarian in Vienna
Law, Folklore, and Music – the Many Faces of Nina Wasilewa-Zanechev
Moving to a new country brings many challenges. Here’s how community advice and music help Bulgarians settle in.
Ad
Biotech and Medtech at Vienna UP’21: Innovation That Saves Lives
Vienna is becoming an international hub for the health and life science industry, which generates €3.4 billion in revenue. At Vienna UP'21, meet the biotech and medtech players whose innovations save lives and transform public health
Features
‘Mein Kampf’ and the Troubling Artifacts of History
While formally illegal in Austria, finding 3rd Reich memorabilia in Viennese antique shops is relatively easy as the war generation passes away.
Bulgarian in Vienna
Being Bulgarian in Vienna
For those moving west from Bulgaria, Vienna has become a favorite destination - a "Bulgarian village" in its own right.
Coronavirus in Austria
Covid on April 12-18 | Over 340,000 Vaccine Jabs in a Week
The coronavirus is shaping our lives. Here’s what happened in regards to COVID-19 in Austria in the week of April 11 to April 18, 2021.
Features
Austrian Catholics Criticize the Vatican’s Ban on Same-Sex Marriage
Members of the Church are speaking out against the Vatican’s decision to bar priests from sanctifying homosexual unions.
Culture
Vienna’s Gartenbaukino Undergoes Extensive Renovation
Seeking to restore its 1960s allure, the iconic cinema is currently remodeling, partially financed by a cinephile crowdfunding campaign.
Coronavirus
Rudolf Anschober Resigns as Health Minister, Citing Exhaustion
After 15 months leading Austria’s response to the pandemic, the widely respected leader stepped down on April 13.
Bulgarian in Vienna
Meet Lubomir Vassilev, Entrepreneur, Inventor & Change Maker
“Nothing is impossible for those you love”
Ad
Creative Industries at Vienna UP’21: Where Art Meets Business
The creative industries are a leverage for the whole economy, making Austria’s creatives a competitive force on a global scale. At the innovation festival, Vienna UP'21, the sector and the people in it are front and center
People
Meet Florian Skrabal, Editor-in-Chief of Investigative Media Outlet Dossier
“Politicians think we don’t like Vienna. In fact, the opposite is true: We’re critical because we love this city that much."
Coronavirus in Austria
Covid on April 5-11 | Over 2 Million Vaccine Jabs Given
The coronavirus is shaping our lives. Here’s what happened in regards to COVID-19 in Austria in the week of April 5 to April 11, 2021.
Features
LieblingsFisch – Shop Plump Trout and Bouillabaisse in the Leopoldstadt
Finding good fish to cook at home just got a lot easier. A new stand on the Karmelitermarkt is a good place to go.
Features
In Memoriam – Dr. Odette Jankowitsch-Prevor
An internationally renowned nuclear lawyer and pillar of key treaties on nuclear safety, she was “the best of Europe.”
Features
The Governing ÖVP Further Rocked by ÖBAG Scandal
Recovered chats reveal Chancellor Sebastian Kurz and Finance Minister Gernot Blümel’s involvement, previously denied, in the appointment of state holding CEO Thomas Schmid.
Bulgarian in Vienna
Ilija Trojanow – Writing Multilingually in One Vernacular
Language is our wealth, our tradition – and a tool to understand the world.
Bulgarian in Vienna
Meet Bojidar Kassabov, a Robotic Surgeon in Vienna
For Bojidar Kassabov, everything began in October 1999. An agreement between Austrian and Bulgarian universities gave him the chance to study medicine in Vienna.
Coronavirus
“Osterruhe” in Vienna – Cooperation (Mostly) Holds as More Are Vaccinated
Public life has been halted once again by strict lockdown. But as numbers continue high, many question if the measures are really working.
Bulgarian in Vienna
Meet Milena Paneva, the Human Factor That Makes the System Understandable
The Bulgarian law graduate works for the Austrian Trade Union Federation (ÖGB) and gives free consultations on labor and social security law in her mother tongue.
Bulgarian in Vienna
From Christo and Canetti to the Crypto Queen, Bulgarians Get Our Attention
Here is a list of notable Bulgarians that you may have heard of.
Business
Austrian Companies Wheeling and Dealing in Central and Eastern Europe
Austrian companies thrive all across Central and Eastern Europe. From kickbacks to bribes, booming business often also involves layers of corruption.
Bulgarian in Vienna
Bulgaria and Austria – a Story of Myths & Markets, Sanctuary & Secret Files
The affair between Bulgaria and Austria can be described in many ways. And Vienna is almost always at its center.
Features
Nobel Laureate Charpentier’s Breakthrough Was “Born” in Vienna
The Nobel-Prize-winning chemist Emanuelle Charpentier laid the groundwork for her stunning scientific discoveries at the Max Perutz Labs in the Austrian capital.
Coronavirus in Austria
CoV on March 29 – April 4 | Vienna Reports Record Numbers of ICU Patients
The coronavirus is shaping our lives. Here’s what happened in regards to COVID-19 in Austria in the week of March 29 to April , 2021.
Features
5 Austrian Easter Traditions
Austrians make the most of their many religious holidays – here’s how they celebrate Holy Week.
Features
The Stadtpark – Vienna’s Living Room
As the weather improves but 'Kaffeehäuser' stay shuttered, the Viennese learn to love park life.
Features
Austria Introduces Its Own Homegrown Vaccine – Schnaps
DATELINE Vienna, April 1, 2021: Inländerrum, Obstler, Marillenbrand and Zirbenschnaps supposedly found just as effective as AstraZeneca – and so much tastier!
Bulgarian in Vienna
A Country of Networkers
Community Lead Pavel Naydenov introduces Vienna's Bulgarian community, the focus of this month's Home Is Where the Herz Is issue.
Features
Meet Bettina Knötzl, the President of Transparency International Austria
“I’ve got what you might call ‘helper syndrome.’ Being a lawyer is not just a profession for me – it’s a calling.”
Print Editions
Crisis in the Chancellory – Managing a Pandemic the Austrian Way
Austria’s pandemic response upheld the country’s long tradition of opaque administration and little accountability – a special report.
Features
To Speak or Not to Speak
A recent survey found that every second Austrian prefers staying silent over voicing an opinion.
Features
Nibelungenviertel | A Legend on Every Street
Rather than elaborate historicism, the buildings are in the lighter, more playful Jugendstil style.
Coronavirus in Austria
CoV on March 22-28 | Over 1.5 Million Vaccine Doses Given
The coronavirus is shaping our lives. Here’s what happened in regards to COVID-19 in Austria in the week of March 22-28, 2021.
Culture
Who Was Anna Gottlieb?
Mozart’s Pamina is world famous, but the soprano who first breathed her to life has been forgotten.
Features
Erhard Busek – Lessons from Europe
March 25 marks the anniversary of the Treaty of Rome, as well as the birthday of the former Vice-Chancellor – an occasion to reflect on the European ideal.
People
Meet Susanne Reindl-Krauskopf, a Criminal Law Professor in Vienna
“Corruption will never be 100% eradicated. But it’s important to set parameters and structures that show people that in the end, corruption doesn’t pay.”
Features
A Search for Faith
An in depth look into Vienna’s religious communities during the pandemic.
Features
Racism Complaints at Record High
The heightened debate has led to a surge in reported incidents of discrimination in 2020, with online harassment actually doubling.
Interviews
Christoph Wiederkehr Tells Us How He Will Change Vienna for the Better
The new deputy mayor has ambitious plans to improve the schools and launch an independent office to fight corruption ... big ideas for the junior coalition partner.
Features
Vienna Welcomed 218 New International Businesses in 2020 Despite COVID-19
City officials remain optimistic as they try to find new ways to attract investors.