the train crosses the Danube by an iron bridge, 430 yds. long
(p. 343), to (159½ M.) Budapest-Franzstadt (where express trains
do not stop) and the East Station at (163 M.) Budapest (p. 330).
58. The Danube from Vienna to Budapest.
Steamboat to Budapest in 12-15 hrs. — In the reverse direction the
Railway (RR. 56, 57), 5-9 hrs., is preferable, as the steamers take 22 hrs.
to ascend the stream. Return-ticket, valid for 14 days, 28 K. (steamboat
1st cl., railway 2nd cl.).
A small steamboat, starting at 7 a.m. from the steamboat-office by
the Franzens-Brücke, on the right bank of the Danube Canal (p. 6), conveys
passengers to the larger vessel, which starts from the Prater-quai below
the Kronprinz-Rudolf-Brücke (Pl. G, H, 2), also at 7 a.m., and awaits their
arrival at the Pratereck, in the main arm of the river. Passengers may
go on board the night before; berth 1 1½ K. Fare to Budapest 11 K. or
6 K. 90 h. — Restaurant on board; table-d'hôte at 12.15 p.m., 2 K. 40 h.
A Local Steamboat plying between Vienna and Pressburg usually
leaves Vienna at 5 p.m. and Pressburg at 6 a.m. daily (down stream in
3 hrs.), fare 3 K. or K. 20 h.
The right and left banks are denoted by r. and l. respectively. The
names of the steamboat-stations are printed in bold type. The usual hours
of arrival are given, provided the steamer starts at 7 a.m.
Scenery. The finest is between Deutsch-Altenburg and Pressburg,
between Nesmühl and Waitzen, and in nearing Budapest. The least at-
tractive part of the route is from below Pressburg to below Komorn.
Vienna, see p. 1. The small steamer passes under the Franzens-
Brücke, the bridge of the Verbindungsbahn or loop-line, the Sofien-
Brücke, the Kaiser-Josefs-Brücke, and lastly the bridge of the
Stautsbahn (p. 265). On the left lies the Prater, on the right rises
the Weissgärberkirche (p. 65), in the district of Landstrasse. Farther
on is the suburb of Erdberg, with its market-gardens. At the Prater-
eck, where the Danube Canal joins the main branch of the river, we
embark in the large steamer.
(7.30 a.m.) L. The Lobau, the longest (4½ M. long, 3 M. broad)
of the wooded islands which conceal the left bank. On that bank, a
little inland, lie the villages of Aspern, Essling, and Wagram, well
known by Napoleon's battles against Archduke Charles in 1809.
(8.10 a.m.) R. Fischamend; 1. Schönau.
R. Ellend, close to the river, and Haslau. — (8.26 a.m.) L. Orth
(the village lies a little inland). Then, r. Regelsbrunn.
R. Petronell. The handsome château belongs to Count Traun.
(9 a.m.) R. Deutsch-Altenburg, with a castle and sulphur-baths.
On a hill rises the elegant church of St. John, erected as a Roman-
esque basilica in 1213, and afterwards embellished with an early-
Gothic choir (14th cent.) and late-Gothic vaulting. The churchyard
contains a round Romanesque mortuary chapel ('Karner'), with an
elaborate portal, restored in 1822. Adjacent is a mound, 62 ft. high,
called the Hütelberg ('hat-hill'), which is said to have been heaped
up by the people in hatfuls to commemorate the expulsion of the
hated Turks.