If you get off the tram on the Ring these days, this sweet, heady scent will greet you immediately. Nature has finally awakened at the end of April and is bathing the city in vibrant purple hues. Looking for the perfect spot to soak up some spring sunshine? Then head straight to the Volksgarten in Vienna ’s First District to see the lilacs in bloom.
Between white columns and purple blossoms
The sprawling park surrounding the imposing Theseus Temple is currently the best spot for flower lovers. Between late April and mid-May, the shrubs here are in full bloom and exude their intense fragrance. Especially against the temple’s dazzling white architecture, the purple clusters look absolutely stunning in your snapshots.
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If you want to take a little break after a long walk, you’ll find plenty of wooden benches right in front of the shrubs. From there, you’ll have an unobstructed view of the Hofburg or the nearby Burgtheater. Just grab a coffee to go, sit in the sun, and enjoy the bustling activity in nature.
Lost knowledge about the lilac blossoms in Vienna
When you think of the Volksgarten today, the nearly 3,000 impressive rose bushes immediately come to mind. But that hasn’t always been the case in the park’s long history. When Emperor Franz I had the grounds opened in 1823 as Vienna’s first public park, the famous Rosarium didn’t even exist yet.
Originally, the park’s vast flower beds were almost entirely planted with lilacs and rhododendrons. It wasn’t until after the destruction of World War II that the planting was fundamentally changed, shifting the focus to today’s sea of roses. Even though the exact number of lilac bushes is significantly lower today than in the past, the massive, old shrubs still bear witness to the garden’s true historical roots.
