New Walking Tour Explores Vienna’s Schönbrunn Palace

Context, organizer of critically acclaimed walking tours, expands its program in Vienna with Gilded Ambition: a Tour of Schönbrunn Palace, a walk within the spectacular interiors of the Habsburgs’ summer residence and a close consideration of the interwoven history of the Habsburg Monarchy.

Built at the end of the 17th century by Emperor Leopold I, Schönbrunn Palace is situated within an expanse of glorious gardens, and home to almost 1500 exquisitely preserved rooms, many of which are open to the public. The palace provides a unique platform for understanding a complex history, and exploring the lives and loves of a long line of Habsburg monarchs. Each room is adorned with ancient artwork and fine furnishings that reveal an intricate and compelling storyline about those who lived there.

Gilded Ambition guides visitors through the lives of successive Habsburg monarchs, uncovering narratives and provoking discussion and consideration of this hugely influential family. Led by a local expert, the 2.5-hour walking seminar goes beyond standard show-and-tell tours, to instill a deeper understanding of the complex narratives and geopolitical influences revealed by the palace and its interior.

The tour also connects the past with the present, revealing how the Habsburgs’ legacy, as manifest in Schönbrunn Palace, continues to speak to modern day Vienna, its culture, its people and their outlook.

“Schönbrunn Palace is Austria’s most popular tourist attraction, yet we wanted to create a unique way to experience it.” says Natalie Holmes, Context’s Central Europe manager and co-creator of the tour. “The tour joins the dots between this magnificent monument, its complex historical significance, and its modern-day legacy.”

Gilded Ambition: a Tour of Schönbrunn Palace lasts 2 1/2 hours and is available daily. Group walks cost €65 per person, plus €14.50 (adult), €8.50 (child 6-18) for palace entry. Private tours cost €280 per party. As with all Context walking seminars, groups are led by a credentialed expert and limited to six (6) people maximum.

Founded by National Geographic writer Paul Bennett and designer Lani Bevacqua, Context Travel, which is based in Philadelphia, is a network of English-speaking scholars and professionals, including art historians, writers, architects and gastronomes, who organize and lead walking seminars in twenty-four (24) world cities, including: Florence, Rome, Venice, Naples, Paris, London, Edinburgh, Madrid, Barcelona, Berlin, New York, Philadelphia, Boston, Washington, D.C., Istanbul, Athens, Beijing, Shanghai, Vienna, Prague, Budapest, Amsterdam, Tokyo, and Kyoto. A certified B Corporation, Context Travel was named one of the fastest growing American companies in 2011 by Inc Magazine. Travel + Leisure has called Context one of the top European tour companies for its innovative approach to travel and the depth of its programs. To learn more about Context, visit the website at: www.contexttravel.com.

See also:

On the Danube Bike Trail: Seeing Vienna by Bike and slideshow

Jewish Heritage Preserved in Vienna, Austria and slideshow

 

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New London Walking Tour Delves Into Legacy of England’s Legal System

Context, organizer of acclaimed walking tours, is expanding its programs on culture and history with an innovative tour delving into the development and eccentricities of the English legal system.

During the new walk, Of Inns and Wigs, Understanding Legal London, Context experts and former barristers take visitors through the Inns of Court; a labyrinth located just off the busy Strand dotted with secluded squares, alleyways and courtyards. This hidden area, where tourists would not normally wander on their own, has been home to the legal profession since the Middle Ages and is when students of law first came to study and live.

In addition to tracing the evolution of the legal system, the walk features many architectural gems of the heart of London including the 12th-century Temple Church (once the headquarters of the medieval Knights Templar and later remodelled by Sir Christopher Wren), the Tudor gateway at Lincoln’s Inn to the Georgian splendors of New Square and the Victorian grandeur of the Royal Courts of Justice.

“The English legal system and its codes have always fascinated foreigners,” notes Petulia Melideo, head of Context’s UK operations. “This walk grants a unique window into this secretive world, but also explores its quirks such as barristers’ ubiquitous horsehair wigs and the codes of court.”

Of Inns and Wigs, Understanding Legal London lasts three hours and is available Monday through Friday. Group walks cost £70 per person. Private tours cost £280 per party. As with all Context walking seminars, groups are led by a credentialed expert and limited to six (6) people maximum.

Founded by National Geographic writer Paul Bennett and designer Lani Bevacqua, Context Travel is a network of English-speaking scholars and professionals, including art historians, writers, architects and gastronomes, who organize and lead walking seminars in twenty-four (24) world cities, including: Florence, Rome, Venice, Naples, Paris, London, Edinburgh, Madrid, Barcelona, Berlin, New York, Philadelphia, Boston, Washington, D.C., Istanbul, Athens, Beijing, Shanghai, Vienna, Prague, Budapest, Tokyo, and Kyoto. A certified B Corporation, Context Travel was named one of the fastest growing American companies in 2011 by Inc Magazine. Travel + Leisure has called Context one of the top European tour companies for its innovative approach to travel and the depth of its programs. More information atwww.contexttravel.com.

 

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New Vienna Walking ‘Seminar’ Explores Sigmund Freud’s ‘City of Dreams’

Judenplatz, the old Jewish Quarter in Vienna, where the Misrachi-Haus museum today houses the excavation of the medieval synagogue, destroyed in 1420, and where there is a Holocaust Memorial. A new walking “seminar” examines Sigmund Freud’s Vienna © 2014 Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com

A new walking seminar explores the life and work of Sigmund Freud, through his complex and fascinating relationship with the city of Vienna.

Context, organizer of critically acclaimed walking tours, expands its program in Vienna, with City of Dreams, Freud’s Vienna, a new walking tour that traces the life and work of Sigmund Freud and his relationship to Vienna.

The founding father of psychoanalysis, Sigmund Freud spent most of his life in Vienna. His work in the field of psychotherapy remains highly influential, and today carries weight across a range of philosophies and disciplines. Such is the gravity of Freud’s legacy that Vienna has become known as the City of Dreams.

City of Dreams, Freud’s Vienna explores the places Freud lived and worked, to discover how the Austrian capital inspired his work, and how, in turn, his presence influenced the city. Though a successful doctor with a loyal local following, Freud’s story took a dark turn in the 1930s as the Nazis came to power. As a Jew, he and his family faced increasing persecution and were finally forced to flee following the German occupation of Austria.

As well as uncovering the charismatic psychoanalyst’s life, the tour takes an in-depth look at the wider socio-political upheaval that took place during Freud’s 47 years in Vienna. Led by a local scholar, City of Dreams, Freud’s Vienna, pays particular attention to the fate of Vienna’s Jewish community during World War II, and, in its aftermath, collective attempts at coming to terms with this difficult period of history.

“Freud spent the majority of his life in Vienna, and the interrelationship between him and the city is a fascinating story that we’re excited to tell,” says Natalie Holmes, who co-created the walk. “The tour not only covers the history of psychoanalysis and its inventor, but is also a journey into the collective conscience of the city itself.”

City of Dreams, Freud’s Vienna lasts three hours and is available daily. Group walks cost €70 per person. Private tours cost €305 per party. As with all Context walking seminars, groups are led by a credentialed expert and limited to six people maximum.

Founded by National Geographic writer Paul Bennett and designer Lani Bevacqua, Context Travel is a network of English-speaking scholars and professionals, including art historians, writers, architects and gastronomes, who organize and lead walking seminars in twenty-three (23) world cities, including: Florence, Rome, Venice, Naples, Paris, London, Edinburgh, Madrid, Barcelona, Berlin, New York, Philadelphia, Boston, Washington, D.C., Istanbul, Athens, Beijing, Shanghai, Vienna, Prague, Budapest, Tokyo, and Kyoto. A certified B Corporation, Context Travel was named one of the fastest growing American companies in 2011 by Inc Magazine. Travel + Leisure has called Context one of the top European tour companies for its innovative approach to travel and the depth of its programs. To learn more about Context, visit its website at:www.contexttravel.com.

Context Travel Launches Walking Tour Program in Amsterdam

Context, a critically acclaimed walking tour company whose, small-group, scholar-led “walking seminars” have revolutionized day tours in cities throughout the world, has just introduced a program in Amsterdam. Working with local historians, Context opens with 4 innovative tours to help visitors understand and appreciate Amsterdam’s rich history and internationally important legacy.

Offerings include an exploration into the city’s golden age of colonial expansion, taking in the site of a historic decision to start a small colony on the island of Manhattan. Another highlight is a walk around Rembrandt’s Amsterdam, featuring some of the artist’s favorite haunts as well as details about his connection to the Dutch dominance of world trade during the 17th century.

The recently reopened Rijksmuseum also features in the program, with a 2.5 hour guided tour led by art historians and focusing on the Dutch Masters. The Jews in Amsterdam walk completes the Central European set of thematically linked tours on Jewish history and culture.

“Amsterdam is the right fit for Context,” says Paul Bennett, Context co-founder. “Like many of our other cities, such as Paris, Berlin, or Beijing, it has a great historical narrative, and with the right interlocutor one can spend days here digging deep. We’re excited to develop an innovative program.”

Launched in July, walks are offered both privately on request and as regularly scheduled shared group walks. Private walks will start at €280 for the party, and group walks from €65 per person.

Context Travel (http://www.contexttravel.com/) is a network of English-speaking scholars and professionals, including art historians, writers, architects and gastronomes, who organize and lead “walking seminars” in twenty-one world cities, including: Florence, Rome, Venice, Naples, Paris, London, Edinburgh, Madrid, Barcelona, Berlin, New York, Philadelphia, Boston, Washington, D.C., Istanbul, Athens, Prague, Vienna, Budapest, Shanghai and Beijing. A certified B Corporation, Context was named one of the fastest growing American companies in 2011 and 2012 by Inc Magazine. Travel + Leisure has called Context one of the top European tour companies for its innovative approach to travel and the depth of its programs.

To learn more about Context, visit www.contexttravel.com.

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Context Travel Launches Two New Walks in Istanbul Geared to Families with Children

Context, organizer of expert-led tours in major cities worldwide, announces the expansion of its critically-acclaimed family program to Istanbul. The company will launch two new walking tours designed specifically for kids 12 and under, designed by museum educators and teachers.

Sultan’s Way takes children into Topkapi Palace with a trained Ottoman historian for a hands-on learning experience. Using the figure of the sultan and his life as the narrative thread, museum educators with Context have designed a series of fun, engaging activities for kids that introduce basic ideas of Ottoman history and reveal the extent and power of the Ottoman Empire, at one time the largest empire in the world.

Young Archaeologists of the Ancient Orient focuses on Istanbul’s famed Archaeological Museum, home of one of the world’s best collections of antiquities. Designed for families with children between primary and middle school, this kid-friendly walking tour asks children to put on their archaeologists’ hats and, using objects from Mesopotamia to the Ottoman period, tell a tale of ancient empires.

“Istanbul is a city of layers,” explains Ceylan Zere, manager of Context in Istanbul and a mother who raised her own son in the museums and monuments of the city, “It can be complicated and daunting, especially for parents of young children. These tours flip that dynamic around. They make the city accessible, reveal the richness of Istanbul, and take children back in time.”

Context’s Family Program employs museum educators, teachers, and other experts trained in such inquiry-based learning techniques as Visual Thinking Strategies (VTS) to create interactive tour experiences for children under 12.

Sultans Way Private tours  cost 575 Turkish lira and last 3 hours. Young Archaeologists of the Ancient Orient Private tours cost 535 Turkish lira and last 2.5 hours.

Context Travel is a network of English-speaking scholars and professionals, including art historians, writers, architects and gastronomes, who organize and lead “walking seminars” in twenty-three world cities, including: Florence, Rome, Venice, Naples, Paris, London, Edinburgh, Madrid, Barcelona, Berlin, New York, Philadelphia, Boston, Washington, D.C., Istanbul, Athens, Prague, Vienna, Budapest, Shanghai, Beijing, Tokyo and Kyoto. Travel + Leisure has called Context one of the top European tour companies for its innovative approach to travel and the depth of its programs. To learn more about Context, visit: www.contexttravel.com

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Context Introduces New Walking Tour Offering Access to Budapest’s Baroque Palaces Not Ordinarily Open to Public

Context, organizer of critically acclaimed walking tours, expands its program in Budapest with Barons of Budapest, a new history and architecture tour that offers travelers exclusive access to the city’s Palace District, including homes and palaces not ordinarily open to the public.

The story starts in 1867, the year Budapest was crowned the twin capital of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and saw an influx of politicians, aristocrats, and entrepreneurs eager to develop the city. In an attempt to compete with Vienna and Paris, the great noble families of Budapest set about constructing palaces of Baroque opulence and splendor. Led by art historians and cultural experts, Context’s walk equips travelers with an understanding of the singular set of social and economic circumstances that made this boom possible, and explores a wealth of architectural masterpieces.

The experience takes in Pest’s 8th district, including the area behind the Hungarian National Museum. The scholars and experts who will be leading the walk—including professors from local universities and historians attached to local research institutions—investigate how the area, known as Józsefváros, evolved from an outlying agricultural zone to the epicenter of Budapest’s economic, political, and cultural blossoming. Detailed stucco work, carved woodwork, and rich interior furnishings provide the lavish setting for an exploration of themes of politics, upper class daily life and leisure activities, taking visitors inside the homes of Hungary’s 19th century aristocrats.

“The Palace Quarter is one of the most dynamically developing parts of Budapest. This tour offers a rare opportunity to see the interior of the palaces,” explains Enikő Békés, art historian and creator of the walk. “Being able to go inside provides a unique backdrop for visitors to learn about Hungarian history, and situate it within contemporary urban development.”

Barons of Budapest lasts two and a half hours and is available Monday to Friday. Group walks cost Ft9,900 per person. Private tours cost Ft47,000 per party. As with all Context walking seminars, groups are led by a credentialed expert and limited to six (6) people maximum.

Founded by National Geographic writer Paul Bennett and designer Lani Bevacqua, Context Travel is a network of English-speaking scholars and professionals, including art historians, writers, architects and gastronomes, who organize and lead walking seminars in twenty-three (23) world cities, including: Florence, Rome, Venice, Naples, Paris, London, Edinburgh, Madrid, Barcelona, Berlin, New York, Philadelphia, Boston, Washington, D.C., Istanbul, Athens, Beijing, Shanghai, Vienna, Prague, Budapest, Tokyo, and Kyoto. A certified B Corporation, Context Travel was named one of the fastest growing American companies in 2011 by Inc Magazine. Travel + Leisure has called Context one of the top European tour companies for its innovative approach to travel and the depth of its programs. To learn more about Context, visit the website at: www.contexttravel.com.

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Context Travel to Offer Guided Tours of Vienna’s Newly Re-Opened Kunstkammer

In celebration of the re-opening of Vienna’s Kunstkammer, Context Travel has expanded its offerings to include a two-hour guided visit to the collection in the company of local art historians.

After a closure for renovation that lasted ten years, the re-opening of the Kunstkammer today is set to be one of Vienna’s biggest cultural events in 2013.

Context Travel will begin guided visits to the collection from March 18 onward, providing clients with advance tickets to enter into the Kunsthistorisches Museum and Kunstkammer without queuing. The Kunstkammer’s magnificent collection of 16th and 17th century objects, which includes Benvenuto Cellini’s famous golden salt cellar, fits firmly in Context’s niche of in-depth experiences for the intellectually curious traveler.

“We’ve been anticipating the opening of the Kunstkammer for some time,” says Alexa Brauner a Viennese art historian and docent for Context in Vienna. “The exact displays are still top secret. But since the works themselves are breathtaking, we’re extremely excited.”

Launching on March 18, the Context Travel  Kunstkammer Visit will be offered both privately on request and as regularly scheduled shared-group walks. Private walks start at €255 for the party, while group walks will start at €60 per person.

Context Travel is a network of English-speaking scholars and professionals, including art historians, writers, architects and gastronomes, who organize and lead “walking seminars” in twenty-three world cities, including: Florence, Rome, Venice, Naples, Paris, London, Edinburgh, Madrid, Barcelona, Berlin, New York, Philadelphia, Boston, Washington, D.C., Istanbul, Athens, Prague, Vienna, Budapest, Shanghai, Beijing, Tokyo and Kyoto.  To learn more about Context, visit: www.contexttravel.com/

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Context Travel New London Walking Tour Features Music Experts Who Explore History of Music and Entertainment in England

 

Context Travel has added a new walking tour of London that gives travelers a unique way to engage with the social history of the city.  Music for Kings: Handel and the Baroque Court focuses on the figure of George Frideric Handel and his role in the music and social scene of London in the 1700s. Beginning at the Theatre Royal Haymarket where the Messiah made its debut performance in London, and continuing in Piccadilly and Mayfair, the tour focuses on the world of 18th-century baroque London, when the British empire was expanding rapidly. As with all Context walking seminars, the tour is capped at six participants maximum and led by a scholar trained in classical music.

“This walk was designed for locals as well as travelers—people who want to look at the history of Britain through a different lens,” says Paul Bennett, co-founder of Context. “It is both obscure and yet incredibly central to understanding British history and society.”

This new walk joins a series of lifestyle and history walks that Context offers in London, making the company’s offering in this area the richest among local tour companies. The walk will be offered privately for GBP 260 per group or as a shared-group experience for GBP 65 per person.

Context Travel is a network of English-speaking scholars and professionals, including art historians, writers, architects and gastronomes, who organize and lead “walking seminars” in twenty-three world cities, including: Florence, Rome, Venice, Naples, Paris, London, Edinburgh, Madrid, Barcelona, Berlin, New York, Philadelphia, Boston, Washington, D.C., Istanbul, Athens, Prague, Vienna, Budapest, Shanghai, Beijing, Tokyo and Kyoto. A certified B Corporation, Context was named one of the fastest growing American companies in 2011 and 2012 by Inc Magazine. Travel + Leisure has called Context one of the top European tour companies for its innovative approach to travel and the depth of its programs. To learn more about Context, visit: www.contexttravel.com.

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Context Travel launches scholar-led ‘walking seminars’ of Tokyo, Kyoto

A girl with her father admires one of the dolls on view at the Tokyo National Museum. Context has a new walking tour of Tokyo that features the Tokyo National Museum © 2013 Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com.

Context, a critically acclaimed walking tour company whose small-group, scholar-led “walking seminars” have revolutionized day tours in cities across Europe and North America, is continuing its expansion into Asia with the opening of tours in Tokyo and Kyoto. Working with local historians, Context has opened with five innovative tours in each city, designed to help curious visitors understand and appreciate Japanese history and culture.

Offerings in Kyoto include a thematic walk on Japanese garden and landscape design that visits the Golden Pavilion, as well as a tour on Shinto and Buddhism in the historic Gion neighborhood. Context also offers a woodblock printing workshop with a well-regarded master of the craft as part of its ongoing “experiential tours” program in all cities where it operates. Context’s Kyoto experts include historians of 19th century Japan, architects, and culinary writers.

Context’s Tokyo program includes a tour of anime, manga, and other forms of pop culture, focused on the Akihabara neighborhood, an epicenter of such otaku culture. The organization is also offering a walk on Japanese aesthetics in the Omotesando and Harajuku areas, as well as a visit to the Tokyo National Museum, and a three-hour Welcome to Tokyo program in which a local expert meets travelers at their hotel and assists them with the basic logistics of visiting this large, complex city.

“We have been blown away by the local scholars we’ve pulled together in Tokyo and Kyoto,” says Jessica Stewart, expansion manager at Context. “From an anthropologist in Kyoto who researches ghost possession and religious healing to a pop-culture expert in Tokyo who’s authored several scholarly treatments of this topic, we’ve gathered an amazing array of docents. Our clients, who’ve come to expect immersive experiences when they join our walks, are going to love Context in Japan.”

In both Tokyo and Kyoto Context offers walks privately on request and as regularly scheduled shared group walks. Private walks start at ¥32560 for the party, while group walks start at ¥7040 per person.

Context Travel is a network of English-speaking scholars and professionals, including art historians, writers, architects and gastronomes, who organize and lead “walking seminars” in twenty-one world cities, including: Florence, Rome, Venice, Naples, Paris, London, Edinburgh, Madrid, Barcelona, Berlin, New York, Philadelphia, Boston, Washington, D.C., Istanbul, Athens, Prague, Vienna, Budapest, Shanghai and Beijing. A certified B Corporation, Context was named one of the fastest growing American companies in 2011 and 2012 by Inc Magazine. Travel + Leisure has called Context one of the top European tour companies for its innovative approach to travel and the depth of its programs. To learn more about Context, visit: www.contexttravel.com

See:

Day One in Tokyo: Hitting Tourist Highlights and slideshow

Day Two: A day in Tokyo spanning all the days of Japan and slideshow

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Context Travel Develops Walking Tour With Local Scholars to Explain Greek Crisis

Working with local economists, Context Travel announces the launch of a walking tour that explains the Greek economic crisis in plain language. Lasting three hours and visiting major sites in Athens relative to the crisis, including Syntagma Square (location of the major protests against austerity), the Central Bank of Greece, and the Old Stock Exchange, the Greek Crisis tour aims to demystify and explain the complexity of Greek debt, political instability, and economic crisis for the culturally curious traveler.

“This is one of the most exciting tours we’ve launched in the last several years,” says Context co-founder Paul Bennett. “I hear all the time from our clients who visit Athens that they want to meet a local financial person, an economist, who can explain the Greek situation. They want to engage with a teacher on the ground who can help them make sense of the headlines. This is the tour that does it.”

The Greek Crisis begins in Syntagma Square, epicenter of the most recent unrest. Here docents from the Context network who are economists, financial experts, and university professors, paint a portrait of the historical underpinnings of the Greek situation, from the first debt defaults of the late 19th century to the accession to the EU to the mismanagement of the 2004 Olympics to today’s sovereign debt problems. The focus of the tour is on explaining the headlines in plain language and creating a forum for visitors to ask question and explore the causes and effects of the crisis.

The Greek Crisis will be offered privately for EUR 305 per group or as a shared-group experience for EUR 70 per person.

Context Travel is a network of English-speaking scholars and professionals, including art historians, writers, architects and gastronomes, who organize and lead “walking seminars” in twenty-two world cities, including: Florence, Rome, Venice, Naples, Paris, London, Edinburgh, Madrid, Barcelona, Berlin, New York, Philadelphia, Boston, Washington, D.C., Istanbul, Athens, Prague, Vienna, Budapest, Shanghai, Beijing, and Kyoto. Travel + Leisure has called Context one of the top European tour companies for its innovative approach to travel and the depth of its programs. To learn more about Context, visit: www.contexttravel.com

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