Vienna begins installing Christmas lights across 30 streets

Vienna has begun installing its Christmas lights, with decorations due to be mounted in around 30 streets by mid-November, ORF reported Wednesday.

Crews are checking the cables before securing them high above the streets. On the Graben, a street in central Vienna, a chandelier weighing about 350 kilograms hangs from four steel cables, lead installer Michael Häupler said.

Kilometres of cable must be unwound and hung. The lighting costs around one million euros despite the use of energy-saving LED bulbs, with businesses on the streets paying the bill. This year, funding from the City of Vienna and the Austrian Economic Chamber has been cut by half. Dieter Steup of the chamber said the organisers were glad to receive the 50 per cent support, but may need to consider other funding models in future.

Restaurateur Peter Friese said the displays help create a festive atmosphere and uphold tradition during the busiest season for businesses. He added that tourists want to experience Vienna at Christmas.

Some visitors can already see the lights, and the Christmas market at Stephansplatz is due to open on November 6.