Wiener Neustadt was founded in 1194 with ransom money from the Richard the Lionheart captivity, and it grew as a Habsburg secondary residence, birthplace of Emperor Maximilian I (1459) and site of the Theresianische Militaerakademie (founded 1752, considered the oldest continuously operating military academy in the world). The city is 40 minutes from Wien Hauptbahnhof by direct train and functions primarily as a Vienna commuter city and a transit stop toward the Semmering. For travelers interested in Habsburg history beyond Vienna, the Burg and the Militaerakademie exterior are worth a 2-3 hour stop. Accommodation is affordable and less crowded than Vienna options.
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Wiener Neustadt
Wiener Neustadt was founded in 1194 with the ransom money paid for Richard the Lionheart's release from captivity, making it one of the few cities in Europe with a specific founding budget documented in historical sources.