A trip to remember in Vienna

From 15th to 18th October, 25 Lower and Upper Sixth Psychology and Philosophy & Theology pupils travelled to Vienna to explore the city’s remarkable intellectual and cultural heritage, following in the footsteps of Viktor Frankl, Sigmund Freud and Ludwig Wittgenstein.

On arrival, we visited the Viktor Frankl Museum, where pupils enjoyed the interactive exhibits and Frankl’s reflections on finding meaning in life, even in the face of great suffering. This was followed by a visit to the Jewish Museum, a moving start to the trip.

Friday began at Hundertwasser Village and Wittgenstein House, the modernist building the philosopher designed for his sister, before a tour of the Habsburgs’ grand rooms at Schönbrunn Palace. A guided walk past St Stephen’s Cathedral, the Hofburg and Heldenplatz rounded off the day.

Saturday brought the highlight for many: the Narrenturm, continental Europe’s first psychiatric hospital. Pupils were fascinated by the tour of its pathological specimens, which prompted lively discussion about how understanding and treatment of illness have changed. In the afternoon, we visited the Sigmund Freud Museum at Berggasse 19, where Freud lived and worked for nearly fifty years. Pupils learnt about his significant contribution to contemporary Western thought and his influence on key movements of the 20th century, from psychotherapy to Surrealism and modernist literature. The day ended with an evening of rides and dinner at the Prater.

On our final morning, we attended an orchestral High Mass of Haydn at St Augustine’s Church, a memorable experience in the former court church of the Habsburgs. We then visited the Upper Belvedere to see Gustav Klimt’s masterpieces before heading home.

We are very proud of the pupils’ curiosity, engagement and maturity throughout. Thank you to Mr Parker, Mrs Parker and Miss Harry for giving their time, and a special thank you to Mrs Bullard for her support in organising the trip.

Mrs Henry