Home is where the Herz is

In the vivid and multicultural city we know, Viennese with Croatian roots have found a breeding ground where they can bring their ideas to life.

Whether a songwriter, a music producer or a presenter, many say that the people behind the scenes are the most important.

Born in Austria to Yugoslav parents, the author discovers he is a “citizen of the world.”

The playfulness and pitfalls of everyday Croatian slang: “We’ll help you tomorrow,” actually means “no way!”

Croatian sports legends: There are few countries in the world better known for their athletes than Croatia.

One thing that Austrians and Croatians have in common is best illustrated by a proverb: “People come together over food!”

Most Viennese know little about the long and fascinating history Austria and Croatia share. Here we start with the most decisive, a second Turkish siege, which is also one of the least remembered.

There are institutions in Vienna that both promote the integration of Croatians in Austria, but do not let them forget what makes them...

Turkish-born Ali Gedik's social consciousness has led him to Verein Wiener Jugendzentren, Winterquartier and Volkshilfe.

The savory smell of pita takes a lot of Bosnians back to their childhoods. The scent of this traditional food reminds us of better days, carefree memories, and pleasant meals with family and friends.

Derived from German “sprechen”, “šprehati” is colloquial Bosnian for speaking, one of many borrowed words that are now a vital part of the Bosnian language.

Austro-Bosnian director Nina Kusturica has put the issues of displacement on film, while challenging the orthodoxies of entrenched power.

The Bosnian language is still not sufficiently recognized as an important mother-tongue in Austria. A linguist wants to change that.

The Bosnian-Viennese second-hand label RahatLook fights against the fast fashion industry and makes it look cool.

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.

Bosnians and Austria share a fascinating, long-winded history. To them, Vienna is home, in more ways than one.

Community Lead Nihada Prnjavorac introduces Vienna's Bosnians, the focus of this month's 'Home Is Where the Herz Is' issue.

When they came to Austria, they were refugees. Today, these Bosnian politicians are actively shaping their new home.

Vienna’s theater scene is enriched by a multitude of actors, groups and playwrights who have roots in Turkey and a very diverse outlook.

For Vienna’s Turkish community, taking roots in the city has taken some time. But today, there’s no doubt that they are just as much home on the banks of the Danube as on the shore of the Bosporus.

How a passion for justice, a love for music and an entrepreneurial spirit brought Okan McAllister from the Bosporus to build social businesses in the city on the Danube.

From Vienna’s coffeehouses to its late-night kebab stands, the city on the Danube owes many of its finest traditions to Turkish culinary exploits.

When touring Vienna’s Altstadt, it's enough to lift your head just a little to see the cannonballs catapulted over the city walls by the Ottomans centuries ago. And there are other ancient secrets in store.

A Viennese Green Party politician with Turkish roots is working for positive change in Vienna, not only for migrants, but for the entire coming generation.

... without forgetting your roots. From facts to real lives – the tales of a guest worker family coming to Austria and how the generations and a migration biography evolved.

Even in Turkey, the society is not homogeneous including people of many culturally diverse backgrounds. Exactly this diversity is reflected in Turkish Vienna.

Community Lead Emre Günes introduces Vienna's Turks, the focus of this month's 'Home Is Where the Herz Is' issue.

A story of opening doors and hearts – and how this can change many people’s lives.

'Fatteh' comes from the Arabic language meaning crumble or lay bread over something.

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.

Centuries of Levantine hospitality have evolved into countless varieties of shawarma, falafel and kebab ... and much more.

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.

With all their good intentions, the integration courses of the ÖIF are a blunt instrument, lectures when they should be discussions and often counterproductive.

They have braved many challenges and left their country behind to build a new life. Here’s their story.

Community lead Majd Nassan introduces Vienna's Syrians, the focus of this month's 'Home Is Where the Herz Is' issue.

Arabic is today spoken by over 310 million people as their first language; another 270 speak it as their second language. In Vienna alone, over 40,000 people (or 2% of the population) are estimated to speak Arabic.

The Syrian-born poet Hamed Abboud deals with the experiences from war, flight and new beginnings with poetry and a dialogue with his readers

'Fatteh' comes from the Arabic language meaning crumble or lay bread over something.

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

The designer shakes up Vienna’s fashion world with flowing lines, style and ruffles.

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.

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.

Bulgaria is home to legends and myths, stories of centuries past, monuments of battles lost and won which all shape the landscape.

The two friends decided to join forces. And in 2016, they set up the non-profit organization Austria for Beginners.

But if you plan to cook Bulgarian dishes at home, you will definitely need a good Bulgarian shop to buy some typical products: On Pilgramgasse you will find a Bulgarian shop.

How a Bulgarian living in Vienna is building brides between countries and people ― figuratively and literally. Aneta Bulant-Kamenovа

Raised bilingually in Sofia, and re-established in Vienna, artist Borjana Ventzislavova is a woman of many 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.

Moving to a new country brings many challenges. Here’s how community advice and music help Bulgarians settle in.

Vienna’s Wittgenstein house has become a focal point of Bulgarian culture and arts – and much more.

For those moving west from Bulgaria, Vienna has become a favorite destination - a "Bulgarian village" in its own right.

They say geography is destiny – the defining coastlines of cultures and languages. But when you get right down to it, what really matters is the food!

“Nothing is impossible for those you love”

Language is our wealth, our tradition – and a tool to understand the world.

"How would a landscape with dinosaurs sound?"

For Bojidar Kassabov, everything began in October 1999. An agreement between Austrian and Bulgarian universities gave him the chance to study medicine in Vienna.

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.

Here is a list of notable Bulgarians that you may have heard of.

The affair between Bulgaria and Austria can be described in many ways. And Vienna is almost always at its center.

Community Lead Pavel Naydenov introduces Vienna's Bulgarian community, the focus of this month's Home Is Where the Herz Is issue.

Germany and Austria share many of the same values, and much culture and history. Yet, in spite (or possibly because) of that, the little brother staunchly holds on to a distinct cultural identity – most notably in language, which can sometimes make communication difficult.

On March 16, 2020, European politicians closed internal EU borders to stop the spread of the coronavirus. It was more than a formality: this massive restriction on interpersonal relationships did not go over easily.

He’s weird, he’s scandalous, and he’s influencing the German language like no Austrian rapper before. May we present the phenomenon that is Money Boy.

Why Austria is considered to be the capital of "feel bad cinema."

From 'Butterbretzn' to 'Fischbrötchen' - Here are the spots serving traditional German cuisine in the city.

When I make the case for 'Mett' to my Austrian friends, I’m usually met with raised eyebrows and disgruntled faces. While they seem to question my mental health, I promise 'Mett' is worth a try. Thus, I ventured fourth on a quest for 'Mett' in Vienna.

What does it mean to be German in Austria? A satirist, a local activist, a musician, a community manager, and a TV and radio star share their experiences.

Kraus sets her sights on educating audiences and widening the platform for women in the Austrian art world. In some ways, being German helped.

As a German, life in the city is not always easy. For those who get to know the city better, there’s plenty of wonders in store.

A fixture in the traditional 'Kaffeehaus' – the creation of German master joiner Michael Thonet became a legend of 19th-century design.

From football to Franz Ferdinand, Germans and Austrians always find plenty to (dis)agree upon.

Community Lead Vera Gasber introduces Vienna's German community, the largest immigrant group in the city, and the star of this month's 'Home is Where the Herz Is' issue.

A “boy throwing an eye on a girl,” or someone “cutting his ears to patch his ass” these are very common expressions in Serbian. In these illustrations, you can see the literal meaning of some of the most popular phrases in Serbian.

Appetizers Duvan čvarci (tobacco pork cracklings) Typical Serbian Dish from the West, these pork cracklings are special for two reasons: They cont...

Home to 23 national minorities, 4 official languages and three religions, this ancient Habsburg city on the Danube is the 2021 European Capital of Culture.

From the Vienna Boys Choir to the University of Music and Performing Arts, Serbian musicians bring a unique soulfulness to the Austrian musical tradition.

Actor Aleksandar Saša Petrović feels indestructible when he thinks in Serbian. A talk about movies, life and what it means to be Viennese.

You lose track of time at the family-run restaurant, in the 16th district, famous for its excellent food, authentic decor and positive vibes.

The Misaljević family combines love, family, chocolate and business – “the most important things in life” at one of the most visited tourist attractions in the Austrian capital.

From health and security providers to scientists and civil servants, these Serbians have become a key part of Austrian society.

A story of two couples and their children through the generations, with different histories and reasons for moving to and staying in Vienna.

Here are some of the most important Serbs that spent time in Austria.

In the 1600s, Vienna was a cultural center for the Serbian people. Today, the glorious past of the intellectual elite is coming back in large strides.

Publication Lead Alexandra-Anna Panić introduces Vienna's Serbian community, the focus of this month's Home Is Where the Herz Is issue.

Today, Poles abroad are in a very different situation than in 2004. Their average salary is increasing – and in Austria, it’s the highest of anywhere in the EU. Austrian Poles are also sending more money home than Poles living elsewhere in Europe, as trade increases bring the two countries economically closer

From the medieval central square and St. Mary’s basilica, wander the parks and gardens of one of Central Europe’s best-preserved cities, where the food always takes center stage.

Culture, attitudes and habits of thought are shaped by our mother tongue: Polish, a Slavic language, thrives in Vienna with the help of several institutions.

Polish artists bring Vienna’s streets, stages and dance floors to life

While, for many, the easiest way to the heart is through the stomach, with Poles, it’s through their native language. They don’t expect anybody to speak it, so just sprinkle in a Polish word here and there and you’ll win them over in no time.

So nice to meet you! You must come over for dinner so we can eat and drink properly, and start our friendship off on the right foot.

The vibrant Polish community boasts many savvy entrepreneurs. Metropole's Polish team chose three innovative ideas - in gastronomy, fitnesss and fashion - to illustrate the diversity of the scene.

From community organizing and trekking through the Alps to conducting top-notch research, these Poles enrich our city every day.

Our ongoing project “Home Is Where the Herz Is” was awarded the 2020 Jean Monnet Prize for European Integration for “celebrating diversity” and “giving a voice to Vienna’s immigrant communities.”

From first coming to Austria as a child to being elected to Parliament, Ewa Ernst-Dziedzic has always been a fighter.

Far from cliché of being cleaning ladies, over 20,000 these women start businesses, organize protests and defend minorities – making the city their home abroad.

Why do Poles come here and why do they stay? An exploration in five parts.

From the outlook on Kahlenberg, most people look down over the Vienna skyline, picking out buildings they recognize and admiring the majestic view. Poles do that as well, but they see more.

Lángos, csárdás, Puszta – Viennese have surely come across these words that found their way from Hungarian into the Austrian vocabulary. Remember them for the next time you want to impress your favorite Magyar.

It’s Friday afternoon at Praterstern. Eight strangers pile into a small van that commutes between Vienna and Budapest at least twice a day ‐ even during COVID, when regulations allow. It’s much more than hitching a ride.