Fallen Empire: From Vienna to Dubrovnik

The Austro-Hungarian Empire was shaped, both physically and culturally, by the many ethnic and linguistic groups that crossed through, invaded, and settled the area around Vienna, and the empire’s incorporation of neighboring states, from parts of present-day Poland to swaths of the Balkans. In this program, we will examine the tangible traces of the former Austro-Hungarian Empire in visual arts, architecture, film, food traditions, and literature. From our base in Vienna, students will get to know the empire’s historical and cultural complexity through city walks, museum visits, cooking classes, and excursions to culturally significant sites. To understand the cultures of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, we will also explore Prague, Budapest, Krakow, Salzburg, Slovenia, and Croatia.