The Sun.
London, England, 1848-03-15 00:00:00

MARCH

BURFORD's PANORA 11IA of VIENNA

LEICESTER-SQUARE.

Mr. Burford's new Panorama of the City of Vienna
and the surrounding country was opened to the public
on Monday. The present Panorama is taken from the
church of St. Carlo in the suburb of Wiedon, on the very
verge of the Glaeis, which, with its fine trees and verdant
lawns, intersected by the Wien, forms the immediate
foreground of the view. Directly in front towards the
north-west, lies the Bourg or old city, the cathedral
nearly in the centre on the highest ground, proudly and
prominently presenting itself and its rich Gothic tower,
tar above the surrounding mass of buildings. Facing
the Glee's, and within the ancient walls, is the wide
extended facade of the Imperial Palace, with the
Emperor's garden, and the extensive grounds of the
Volksgarten in front, and a long line of fine houses facing
the ramparts ; behind is one dense mass of buildings,
churches, vast palaces, and immense public edifices, so
closely built, that the streets dividing them can scarcely
be defined. Towards the left, divided from the city by
the broad green girdle of the Glacis, are seen several of
the largest suburbs, and the view is closed by the lofty
Kahlenberg and other mountains, forming part of a vast
chain covered by forests and vineyards, that stretch far
towards the south until they fade in the distance. To
the right of the city the view extends over a similar
range of suburbs, to the refreshing foliage and cool
shades of the finely wooded Prater, and the many islands
of the Danube. Towards the south and east the eye com-
mands a vast extent of the suburbs of a somewhat
Italian character, in which several churches and public
buildings, and many magnificent palaces are seen; espe-
cially the Imperial galleries of the two Belvederes, and
the palaces and gardens of the Princes Lichtenstein,
Schwartzenberg, Metternich, and many others ; beyond
stretches an agreeable country, thickl' studded with
villages., villas, and pleasant retreats, and a vast plain
spreading in all directions, in soine parts to the very
verge of the horizon, in others bounded by the moun-
tains of Hungary. A multitude of objects of interest
and beauty present themselves at every point ; the
Danube, now united in one broad stream, is seen winding
its course in several parts, the famous villages of Aspern,
Essling, Wagram, and Schonbrunn, with the lovely
country around, backed by the Bruhl and Baden hills,
and the scarcely visible castle of Pressburg in the ex-
treme distance, all combine to complete the varied and
splendid scene.
Vienna is, perhaps, one of the most interesting of
European cities for its historical associations. John
Sobieski, Pi ince, Eugene, Maria Theresa, the Emperor
Joseph, and, greater than all, Napoleon, are the heroes
with whose memories Vienna is for ever associated. To
any admirer of Napoleon this panorama is peculiarly
interesting—here we see Essling and Aspern, the scenes
of his defeat, and Wagram, where five days aftewards
he more than retrieved his reverses by conquering
the whale Austrian empire, and dictating his own terms
of peace—Schonbrunn, where he resided while dictating
the treaty, and where twenty years later his only child
the Duke of Reichstadt died, it boots not to inquire how,
thus bringing to a termination the direct line of the
dynasty of Napoleon. As a work of art this panorama
is most beautiful, and as a faithful representation of a
locality rich in historical associations it is most in-
teresting.