Vienna Highlights: The Great Plague Exploration Game

St Rupert’s Church is 13 centuries-old and is made from stone taken from an ancient Roman settlement. Home to the oldest stained-glass window and the oldest bells in Vienna, the church is dedicated to St. Rupert of Salzburg, the patron saint of the Danube's salt merchants. Though the church went through several renovations, one window, which depicts Christ on the cross with the Madonna and Child standing below, has been standing since the 13th century in the vaulted apse. The church houses a series of atmospheric concerts of ancient music in the summertime, with evening performances in July. Here you will have to look around to find the answer to a question to advance to the new location and learn the story of this cafe. It's fun. You will love it:)

The tavern Griechenbeisl is one iconic musical landmark, because Mozart, Beethoven, and Schubert dined here at one point. You could check out the framed signatures of the famous persons who have been served in this place by visiting the Mark Twain room (celebrities also include Luciano Pavarotti and Johnny Cash). Situated near the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, the restaurant is one of the oldest in Vienna and got its name (‘Greek Inn’) from the Greek tradesmen and the Levant travelers who settled in that area. Here you will have to look around to find the answer to a question/challenge/puzzle to advance to the new location and learn the story of this place.

One peculiar and incredibly old mural to check out can be found on Bäckerstrasse, a street with charming interior courtyards. In the 15th century, many houses presented religious and historic portraiture, but some were decorated with humorous imagery. Found on the façade of the Hasenaus (“Hare House”), the mural shows a wolf and a cow that wears spectacles playing a game of backgammon. Some say the scene is actually part of a previous painting depicting medieval life, while others think that the mural is an allegory for the conflict between Protestants and Catholics.

The Bäckerstrasse has beautiful 17th and 18th century façades, such as No. 2, surmounted by a 17th-century tower, No. 8, Palace of Count Seilern (1722) and No. 16, At number 7 the "Schwanenfeld Haus", with a beautiful Renaissance courtyard, with its arcades and galleries.

You will get to this place by following a clue and solving a puzzle. Once there, you will get indications on how to continue the game, while also learning about the place you've discovered.

Probably extremely intriguing at first sight, the legendary Nails Tree Vienna (Stock im Eisen), located on the corner of Karntner Strasse, has once been thought to be the work of Satan. In reality, the hundreds of nails that have been stuck into the tree’s trunk over the course of generations pertain to a tradition: hammering nails into the tree was believed to bring good luck. The mid-section of this Medieval tree trunk stands on a 1.5-meter high pedestal and is surrounded by an iron ring with a lock dummy. You will get to this place by following a clue and solving a puzzle. Once here, you can spend as much time as you wish until starting to follow the next clue.

An iconic landmark of Vienna, St. Stephen’s Cathedral (Stephansdom) has been standing since the 12th century and it’s one of the most important Gothic buildings in Austria. The tower room, which offers a breathtaking view of Vienna, includes 13 bells. You’ll be amazed by the colourful roof, which is 38m high and is made of 230,000 glazed tiles that form various patterns. The mosaics showcase the image of a double-headed eagle, which was the symbol of the Austrian empire during Habsburgs’ rule. The other two eagles, on the north side of the roof, each carry coats of arms that represent the City of Vienna and the Republic of Austria. Here you will have to look around to find the answer to a question/challenge/puzzle to advance to the new location and learn the story of this place.

A stop at Café Frauenhuber on Rauhensteingasse will give you a taste of the Viennese coffeehouse culture. Besides being the oldest coffeehouse in Vienna (dating back to 1746), this welcoming and unpretentious place is also known for having had W.A. Mozart and L. van Beethoven play table music for the dining guests several times between 1782–1791. With a past reputation of one of the most peaceful coffeehouses in Vienna, Frauenhuber still preserves the atmosphere of a traditional Viennese coffee shop.

With over 50,000 drawings and over 1 million master prints on a rotational display, the Albertina Museum has been part of the history and culture of Vienna since 1805. Situated in the largest Habsburg residential palace, Hofburg Palace, the Albertina displays four collections, dedicated to modern art, graphic art, architecture, and photography. Notable works of art include paintings and sculptures from different artistic currents: Impressionism, Fauvism, German Expressionism and Russian avant-garde. Visiting one of Austria’s most popular museums allows you to see Monet’s The Water Lily Pond, and to experience the luxury of the imperial Habsburgs as well. Here you will have to look around to find the answer to a question/challenge/puzzle to advance to the new location and learn the story of this place.

The current home and workplace of the President of Austria, the Hofburg Palace has been the heart of power in Vienna since the 13th century. As a former residence and seat of government of the Habsburg emperors until 1918, the palace still reflects the Imperial past through its richly decorated Imperial apartments (a total of 24 rooms), the Sisi Museum (dedicated to Empress Elizabeth), and the lavish silver collections. The National Library can also be found in the Hofburg Palace. Built in the 19th century, the Hall of Ceremonies continues to be used nowadays for Viennese balls. Here you will have to look around to find the answer to a question/challenge/puzzle to advance to the new location and learn the story of this place. This is where the city game ends and you can continue exploring the city at your own pace.