Peace Pagoda Vienna (= Friedenspagode Wien)

"A Peace Pagoda is a Buddhist stupa designed to provide a focus for people of all races and creeds, and to help unite them in their search for world peace. Most (though not all) have been built under the guidance of Nichidatsu Fujii (1885-1985), a Buddhist monk from Japan and founder of the Nipponzan-Myōhōji Buddhist Order. Fujii was greatly inspired by his meeting with Mahatma Gandhi in 1931 and decided to devote his life to promoting non-violence. In 1947, he began[1] constructing Peace Pagodas as shrines to World peace.

The first Peace Pagodas were built as a symbol of peace in the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki where the atomic bombs took the lives of over 150,000 people, almost all of whom were civilian, at the end of World War II.

By 2000, 80 Peace Pagodas had been built around the world in Europe, Asia, and the United States."


That is what Wikipedia says ... but it is a very good explanation. Why do I want you to know that?? Because since 1983 there is also a peace pagoda in Vienna and it is very worth to visit. You can reach this buddhist temple if you take the bus line 76A (so you can combine it with your visit at the cemetery of the no names f.e.) and take the exit "Lindmayer/Friedenspagode" and then take the only bridge over the street and train tracks, and then right, pass the restaurant "Lindmayer" (you can stop there then for a break - it is not really cheap but it is nice sitting next to the Danube) and head straight for a view minutes (you will see the peace pagode early enough).

You can get more background information at the official homepage (unfortunatelly it is only in German) or take a look on the pictures I made a view days ago.

And do not forget to bring your incense sticks with you :o)