A SMILING HANOI CITY

Hanoi - a very friendly town. As a mother gives her child a smile from the first moments of his life, Hanoi and always smiling people. Since the walls of pagodas smiling Buddha in pink halo, lotus in the lake, Chrysanthemums, Gladioli, peonies - all this is also the variety of smiles and kindness Hanoi land. Friendly shake crowns of coconut palms, and the house itself seemed to radiate light and warmth. Simple and comfortable, they are deprived of the vagaries of the architectural and eastern primness, but in every stucco decoration on the roof of the Vietnamese architects have sought to put only one meaning - the kindness and hospitality. Stone tails of dragons on the roofs of houses - a symbol of peace and tranquility of its residents, as long dragon - lord of water - has the great virtues. He faithfully served the people, and always defended them, and himself Hanoi a few centuries ago was called "Thanglongom" - "City of the dragon fly. "

Much water has passed under the bridge in the Red River, since its banks appeared Thanglong. In IX century the Chinese government Gao Bian laid temple here, which is now protected by the state as a monument to antiquity. After 200 years old Vietnamese Emperor Thaye Ho Lee began to build a city, but the swampy grounds of the city walls rushilis. An old legend tells that one day the emperor in a dream saw a white horse, who left the church. Horse proskakal around several villages and left again into the temple. Save the plot, marked signs of horse hoofs, the Emperor ordered for the territory to build a wall, which turned out to be very strong. The temple has since become known as the "Bat Ma" - "white horse".

Original title was supposed to bring the city fast flowering and happiness, but he fell hard lot: not just for its long history the city has been destroyed. Especially Thanglong severely injured in the XIII century, three invasions from invaders who invaded from the north, but eventually unwanted invaders gained a decent response. To this day people come to the "Temple of Two Sisters" to honor the courageous women of the tribe Chyng, who, as the ancient legend, rebelled against the invaders. The temple was built in the style of a Chinese pagoda and was formerly decorated with gold statuettes of Buddha, but then they disappeared. On the dark walls of the temple have only magnificent reliefs depicting a furious tiger, voznosyaschegosya to the sky dragon, stork with a lotus flower in its beak and an elephant, snake violate feet.

The place of pilgrimage in Hanoi is Dongda quarter with its famous Banyanovymi hills, which, according to legend, appeared on the spot where in 1789 was divided the 200 thousandth the Chinese army.

Thanglong began with the fortress, the history which has already more than 1000 years. Now from the remnants of the fortress remain only the north gate in a stone wall can be seen deep, pochernevshuyu time chuckhole - footprint of the kernel, released the French artillery in April 1872.

Photo — «A Smiling Hanoi City»

Since then, the street adjacent to the old fortress, called "street wounded heart. "

Near the fortress, in the heart of Hanoi, stretches Lake returned the sword. " It is almost regular shape, the water in the magnificent blue color and a transparency that can be seen from the shore, as long crawl along the bottom of the black turtle. The lake was formed at the site of the old Red River channel, which is now running slightly north. Middle of the lake is a turret, which is called the "Temple of turtles, and which is connected with an old legend, where historical facts are so closely intertwined with a poetic fiction that it is impossible to separate them.

These events occurred in the days when the feudal lords of Chinese dynasties Low invaded the land of Vietnam from the north. The people led by a fisherman Le Loy rebelled, but the Chinese were better armed, and the Vietnamese army lost.

When a peasant army went into the mountains and set out on vacation, one of the evenings in camp to get threadbare Vietnamese. He was taken to the tent where the loya gathered around Le occurred too strong disturbing dumami.

- Le Loi - said the poor. - I - a simple fisherman and fish every day on his lake. And yesterday, a network hooked something heavy, and my finger′s breadth podtyanul it to the boat. Then, on the surface of the lake splyla a huge turtle, which was holding the sword in the teeth. Here it is, this sword! Overwhelm them, Le Loi, the enemies of our land! - A fisherman pulled from rags sverknuvshy lightning sword and bow handed him the leader.

Le Loi defeated Chinese invaders hordes, drive them to the Vietnamese land and became the ruler of the country. In honor of the great victory he had arranged a celebration at the lake, where the tortoise lived. In the blue and yellow boat Le Loi and his approximate payment at mid-lake, and suddenly in front of the boat′s nose was the ruler of the old tortoise and said:

- You, Le Loi, was sent a sword to defeat enemies. Your duty is made, you have won. The sword that only the terrible invaders, and now return it to me.

Sword described above the water half, caught a turtle in his mouth and plunged into the water.

In honor of the legendary emperor, a fisherman in the middle of "Lake returned the sword" was erected Jade Pagoda Gok Dream, which spread from the coast of light curved bridge. Near the pagoda towers over the water and the graceful "Temple of turtles," and together, these structures are remarkable monuments of the ancient Vietnamese architecture, although their sense of architectural forms and the influence of China.

Its current name - Hanoi - the city received in 1839, and it means "the city between the rivers". Actually Hanoi itself - this "inner city", where a relatively small area is about 1000000 people. Labyrinth of the close of business street of Hanoi begins at the northern shore of Lake returned the sword.

" This is the most densely populated district of the city: here, for every square kilometer, built houses not more than three floors, account for 20-30 thousand people.

The network of streets "Imperial City" finally established by the beginning of XX century, but many houses were built even earlier - on the ground bamboo and straw huts. Feudal rulers of Vietnam prohibit simple for people to build homes that even remotely resembled a building "Imperial City". The law of Emperor Gia Long and prescribes that: "The houses of ordinary people can not have two or two-story roof, they can not be painted different colors to decorate or relief. "

New features have appeared in the guise of Hanoi in the late XIX century, when the French captured the city and destroyed the imperial palaces, and on the ground of ancient pagodas built Post and Telegraph. With the arrival of colonialists in Hanoi has emerged "European" and "native" parts. Wealthy merchants and artisans have ceased to pay attention to the former imperial regulations and were built in a new way. At the broad, stone slabs vylozhennyh streets of European cities ", one after another grew fashionable mansions and luxury hotels, the rich shop and other buildings, where smashed shady green parks and squares . . . Hanoi then began to rise sharply up, place in the city is not added, and the living space was the only way to expand.

The lower floor of the building remained unchanged, but the superstructure above them to incorporate the most luxuriant imagination of architects and owners of self-purchase miniature balconies at different altitude platform under a canopy, with railings and fences, stucco ornaments . . . For example, in a number of Sail is still worth a house, which is a very intricate design. The house that you called Duong - "house butchers": it is indeed built butchers who moved from province to Hanoi. Ledges of the houses are decorated with fine sculpture depicting whole scenes where numerous pieces of ceramic glaze poured dark green shades . . .

"native" part of Hanoi, where the curves of streets were so narrow that they could hardly drive a cart, it will become black and dirty. This area was smoked opium and wine shops, even to the French rule the Vietnamese did not know even the taste of alcoholic beverages. On the border between "European" and "native" parts of the French-built prison, Sha Tien.

In 1940, the French have replaced the Japanese invaders, who also cared little about the improvement of Hanoi. Only in September 1945 when the country gained its independence, the Vietnamese began to beautify and improve its capital, carefully preserving its historic monuments. Many streets still have medieval names: Road street carts, street paper products, street fried fish, etc.

Street Khamthien long been considered a street astrologer, writers and scientists.

Photo — «A Smiling Hanoi City»

During the raids in December 1972, she suffered more than others, but in the first months of peace has become restored and transformed. Carefully preserving its ancient architecture, the working-masons artfully patch holes in the brick walls. Of course, to restore the entire quarter, as it existed centuries ago, it is not possible. And then hanoytsy decided to fill the crater, is paving a wide avenue, and on both its sides to break the alley that would lead to "Memorial to those who died in the street Khamthien.

The sights of the Vietnamese capital is also the "Temple of Literature," devoted to Confucius. There a few yards, overgrown grass is thick, which hide the small ponds that once served as swimming pools for swimming, but now slow tinoy. A narrow path, vylozhennaya stone slabs, leading from one courtyard to another.

Everything in the "Temple of Literature" is hidden in the shadows shirokolistyh banana and huge mango trees, as claimed, peers of the temple. Some of the trees have died and are deprived of their bark and leaves as dry skeletons of the giants of the time. In depth yards smells of fresh hay, tinoy and haze from aromatic candles, day and night burning in a temple. Inside the temple building is dark and cold, thin tremulous light candles falls on the great bronze statue of Buddha. Before the Buddha is a table of the sandalwood tree with a cup of rice and bowls for fruit. Not a bronze stork (the symbol of happiness and calmness), standing on a tortoise (symbol of immortality), holds a lotus flower in its beak. You hang brass gong and two swords guarding the temple from evil spirits.

Since the XI century in the temple courtyard raised spiritual elite Vietnam. Around the Temple of stone tortoises support plate 84 with the names of the winners in the competitive examinations for the highest academic degree, and literary events that took place here since the founding the church and up to the capture of Vietnam by France. Before the slabs set higher graceful tower, served his time in the chair - with its scientists through a bamboo mouthpiece making speeches, poets read poetry, answered questions examinee Academic Council . . .

In Hanoi, next to each, not even the great lakes you can see a temple or pagoda. The symbol of the city is "pagoda on one column, erected in 1049. Legend tells that as the King Le Thanh Tong saw in a dream descended from the mountain goddess Guanin. The next morning the king ordered to build a pagoda in her honor, which is located near the square Byadin. Wooden buildings, rising amidst a small lake, a lotus shape, and inside the pagoda was sculpture of a goddess. The whole ensemble has expressed the idea that the lotus has always remained pure in the sea of sorrow . . .

Over the past decade, Hanoi, of course, much has changed. In 1970, the Vietnamese and Soviet architects have developed a joint project of reconstruction and construction of capital, which provided for a second city with preservation of "Old Hanoi".

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Geographic center of the city should be square Byadin, where the mausoleum of Ho Chi Minh. Hanoi takes care of the mausoleum: the floors are always upper room furnished rugs, ceremonial rooms shine purity kuritsya smoke fragrant sticks. In order both Ho Chi Minh Museum, which displays in the windows′ designs dreams "the Vietnamese leader about the future of the city - high-rise homes in the West Lake - modest, clean architectural proportions of buildings in the style of Le Corbusier.

But living in the capital, hanoytsy largely preserved features of rural life. For example, among the five blocks of new buildings is often possible to see gardens. Households have many companies and academic institutions. And in some central neighborhoods of the city begins with a morning roll roosters.

Today′s Hanoi, with its nearly thousand-year history, compared with the bright and vibrant city of Ho Chi Minh City, it is rather wise and slow, like an old tortoise. As an old man, quaking over the old family relics, Hanoi rejects any criticism about zaplesnevevshih the facades of their houses, tiled roofs and poluosypavshihsya pozelenevshih shutters "old town" with its dark-pescherkami housing cap and internal courtyards. Hanoi prognuvshimisya values and balconies with crannied columns, forged bars and rusty . . .

Each original capital of the world not only for its history and architectural traditions. In addition to these, every city has its own special sounds. Hanoi Street in the early morning are filled with deaf rustle of thousands of bicycle tires. Endless flow of workers and students, students and employees, young people and older people to roll their bikes on the plants and factories, in shops and facilities, schools and other educational institutions. They fill all the streets and squares of the city, and visitors seem incredible ability hanoytsev not only to avoid collisions, but also move seamlessly to one another. But prismotrevshis, easy to notice that the order in this movement is provided by a single rhythm - the rhythm of a peaceful, quiet life.

Vienna is located in the place of Austria, where the Danube broke through the narrow gates of Vienna, went to the plain. This plain has long attracted settlers, as "the land is bestowed upon the people and the bread and wine, and fruits," as he wrote in the middle of XVII century Austrian topographer M. Tseyler.

Vienna but is closely linked with the history of Austria, but existed long before the establishment of the Austrian State. Around 3000 BC, the territory of modern Austria, settled Veneto-illiriyskie tribes, based on the location of one of today′s districts of Vienna settlement and vozvedshie around strengthening. After them came here Celts, who in 16 BC was replaced by the Romans. In place of the current Vienna Romans were Celtic settlements Vindomina and built here one of their camps, the center at the site of present-Hoher Markt.

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The main camp of the Romans was a few more, but Vindobone (as the Romans renamed Vindominu) permanently garrison was one of the Roman legions. Geography Vindobony allowing Roman troops to not only reflect the Germanic raids, but its conquest by the attacks.

Over time around the military camp were grow trade and handicraft villages. In Vindobone willingly and long lived Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius, and here he died in 180 year. Over time, the Romans were driven out of here with new invaders, who in the area in general is often succeed each other, but most strongly to the capture of the land sought to Germanic tribes, who renamed Vindobonu in Veniyu. The current name of the Austrian capital was first mentioned in historical chronicles in 1030, but only in 1037 called the city of Vienna. Then she went into the possession of ducal kind Babenbergov - powerful rulers, the Austrian owner of many lands. But by then Babenbergi not yet lived in Vienna, because it was too open to attack Magyar.

In 1138 Heinrich Yazomirgott, margrave of the same type, built at the very gates of Vienna, then his palace, which almost immediately begins a rather opulent high life. When it does occur bookmark St. Stephen′s Cathedral and the building of the Benedictine monastery for them to Irish monks.

When Leopold VI Vienna took almost all of its current central area and is considered one of the most beautiful cities in Low German. Increased breadth of Vienna at the time stopped, and began an internal growth of the city. There are cloth, jewelry and other streets, as well as Dvoryanska, which were not allowed to live traders and artisans.

A strict line drawn between class and reflected on the external appearance of the city, each quarter, which had its own "face. " Thus, the "town status" Leopold VI stated that "hereditary citizens owning land property, enjoy the privileges to the merchants and burgers, but they are all together deny the right to sit in council for the craftsmen. " In the cathedral of St. Stephen′s can now be see a tombstone dedicated to the memory of Mayor C. Forlufa and two "advisers", executed in 1408 for Pork square by craftsmen who then defeated the "hereditary Burger. "

At the end of the XIII century Vienna passes under Habsburg rule, which is gradually joined her possessions, all new territory. In 1529 had to endure the first siege of the Turks who conquered Hungary, and thus opened a free way to the Austrian capital. Living in Vienna, burned all the suburbs and sryli castle on Kalenberg to deprive the Turks of every cover, and within 18 days, to withstand the siege until they do not come to the aid of reinforcements. Many German cities (such as Nuremberg and others) have then Vienna large donations to enable it to re-erect their strengthening.

After a half century, the Turks besieged Vienna again, but city residents, led by Mayor Liebenberg organized defense of its capital, in the walls which when taken refuge, and the population of the suburbs.

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Vienna withstand the siege, and beat all the attacks until assistance podospela Jan Sobieski.

Partly upheavals of history have meant that Vienna has never been a world center. On the one hand, national contradictions constantly fret empire, on the other - the city did not have free access to the sea. But maybe through this Vienna and retained its architectural integrity and homogeneity of antiquities, which are absent in most major European cities.

Old Vienna - this is a unique historical and architectural museum with the characteristics of the medieval town, narrow streets and dark broken by pushing each other houses and the churches. There is no free plots of land: but crowned by domes and canonical ostroverhimi cut spiers structure hoary antiquity sometimes lost among the magnificent baroque buildings, erected in the late XIX century, or in a bizarre combination of Gothic to Baroque.

At Cathedral Square about 140 meters up vzmetnulas slender tower of the Cathedral of St. Stephen, which is lovingly called "crowns" Shtefel. The center and the symbol of Vienna is the largest Gothic cathedral of Austria: he painted almost all of Viennese souvenirs and a constant delight to all who is able to assess the fine.

"Shtefel" was built, rebuilt and renovate over three centuries. His openwork tower seems particularly light next to the main building, but because of its magnificent panorama of open apertures: from the Danube and beyond it the plain in the east to the high hills of the Vienna Woods.

Steep, with a sharp tongue the roof of the church upper room furnished multi-glazed tiles and the walls are covered with beautifully carved designs: molded, carved, cast and forged jewelry created great craftsmen, most of whom have remained anonymous. In the Middle Ages, a Viennese journeyman, having achieved the rank of master, nail peg in a special wooden pole. And the masters in Vienna turned out so much that over time has evolved from a wooden pole in the iron. " It now stands near the "Shtefelya" as a symbolic monument to diligence, hard work and talent of the people who built one of the most beautiful cities in the world.

In 1945, the retreat from Vienna, fascists set fire to the cathedral, which blaze for about three days. Burned the roof, dropped 20-ton bell, part of the wall collapsed, were destroyed, many ornaments. He was killed and the famous organ, which played many of the world-famous musicians and composers. Old told that the Cathedral of St. Stephen′s rescued from complete destruction of young red-haired Russian lieutenant. There are burned and рвалиÑ�ÑŒ shells and bullets for it, along with his soldiers rushed to put out the raging Cathedral, where the water were only helmets and other helper tools.

From the west and south of the Austrian capital is surrounded by the famous Viennese Forest. This is a sloping spurs of the Alps and the highlands, which are becoming increasingly high and steep as the distance from the city.

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On their slopes situated curly groves, vineyards and some buildings. In weekdays, this area gives the impression of a beautiful quiet area, which is inhabited by only a troll voice all birds, but there are cars on the roads with tourists. In the same Sunday and public holidays here and the rush by the townspeople.

Most street parade is the Ringstrasse in Vienna, emerged at the site walls, surrounding the city during the Middle Ages. On both sides of the street Ring are the main governmental institutions of Austria. Here rises built in the Gothic-style City Hall, the spire of a figure of the Knight, who became a symbol and pride of the city municipality. When the construction of Town Hall, the clergy demanded that its spire was not higher than the spire of a cathedral nearby, so the Town Hall had to shorten to two meters. But this time the city donated a statue of the Knight, and thus won City Hall.

Scenic surrounded by greenery Vienna, situated on the shores of the "Blue Danube", is always full of charm. This river is related to many significant historical dates and events of the cultural life of Austria: the charm of the Danube Johann Strauss nurtured creativity.

Vienna and the music - the notion of indissoluble. You go through the streets of this wonderful city, and from the open windows of homes hear familiar melodies minuet VA Mozart, L. van Beethoven′s sonatas and waltzes Johann Strauss. The house now houses the Johann Strauss doggery "Liber Augustine, and although the mind is very nevzrachen, it traveled the world many famous people. In one of the rooms in the vaulted ceiling zucchini reproduced autographs of famous people. VA Mozart and Mark Twain, Johann Strauss and F. Shalyapin, S. Zweig and E. Caruso drank this beer from the massive steins with lids . . .

In one of the oldest houses in the tiny curve of street he lived and worked Franz Schubert. Tell that a balcony cabin Franz Schubert went to the yard, and when the composer was not money, he put up on the balcony railing to knock your pants pockets, so that creditors do not bother him in vain . . .

Vienna, for her smiles and luxury for the fashion and music world fame in XVIII century, dubbed "fun city". This definition is still behind it and to this day: the city looks really cool and attractive. If you were not even in Vienna, it is only to pronounce the name of the Austrian capital - and in your imagination zazvuchat captivating sounds of the waltz, Viennese zashelestit shady forest, pipe up in the sun, waves blue Danube . . .