Vienna, one of the 10 big EU cities, is Austria's capital of everything. As a matter of fact, nothing else in Austria comes close: Its over 8 times bigger than the next biggest Austrian city and is by far the cultural/political/financial capital of the country. In the 19th century it was the capital of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and in the later half of the 20th century it became known as Eastern Europe's most beautiful and thus most internationally visited city. Vienna lies near the borders of Slovakia, Hungary, and the Czech Republic, but the city lends itself a more western feel than it's geography may indicate. The city has the royal empire feel of Paris, the structure and discipline of a German metropolis, the color palate of Eastern Europe, and certainly some aspects all its own. Central Vienna's wide-open cobblestone streets lie between impressive walls of well preserved architecture. Fountains, monuments, palaces and churches (if they are not under restoration) please the eye at every turn. If the spectacular façades and in Vienna fail to impress you, perhaps nothing will. Admire and enjoy.