The relic of a bygone era or a tourist attraction? The Austrians would answer "Jehin" (this is when the affirmative "Ja" merges with its antinomanist "Nein", forming something like "neither yes nor no"). The transport function of the phiakra was stopped by the appearance of the first cars, but it is still used for transportation, but now not for the townspeople, but for the city's guests and ... newly married couples.

The name "fiacre" came in most European languages ​​in the 18th century and goes back to The name of the Parisian street of St. Fiacra, where the first parking lot of cab drivers was located. St. Fiakr is the patron saint of gardeners, cabbies and taxi drivers

During the dawn of the horseracing in the 70s of the 19th century, there were more than 1000 carriages in Vienna. Experts warned that if the trend of increasing their number does not slow down, the layer of manure in the streets will reach half a meter thick by the turn of the century.

Today in Vienna, about 150 fiacres, but the theme of manure on the pavements has not lost its relevance . City authorities insist on attaching the so-called "Pooh-Bags" under the horse's tail - sacks designed to protect the roads from pollution . These municipality orders are exhausted . ABOUT the division of the magistrate Nr . 65 regulates the issuance of licenses to the cabs (for which, in addition to having at least two horses, crew and stall, it is necessary to pass several exams among other things), the time of work, the duration and parking places, the prices for transportation, the clothes of coachmen and time rest animals .

Popular vehicle in Vienna

Vienna Fakkur

Each of the Fakras receives a red or green card . Holders of the green card have the right to travel on odd days of the month, red - on even days . Thus the city administration tries to solve the problem of lack of parking places, which does not cause enthusiasm from the cabs, especially those who have only one crew: they can only work every second day . In addition, the fichera remain in the arazhe in winter and in the rain . None of the 100 Vienna cabmen on the list of the richest Austrians got . But in Vienna there is a Fiakerplatz square and a monument to the FIAR officer . Since 1984, cabs are allowed to work for women . To date, a third Viennese coachmen - ladies .

Unlike the Venetian gondoliers, the Viennese cabmen do not sing (the only exception is the characters of Richard Strauss from the opera Arabella), but they can conduct a small excursion, sometimes even in several languages.

Since prices on cabotage services are regulated by the city, bargain does not make sense. A 20-minute coach ride costs 40 EUR, a 40-minute ride costs 60 EUR, a long walk through the Ringstraße Boulevard Ring is 95 EUR

The places of the stands of the ficres: Stephansplatz, Heldenplatz, Michaelerplatz, Peterspaltz, the square in front of the Albertina Museum and Burgtheater.

Author - Irina Zukker