Castle Imperial in Vienna

You're standing on Vienna's Ringstraße, at Kärntner Ring 16. The grand building in front of you is the Hotel Imperial, one of the city's most elegant hotels. But it started life as something else entirely: a palace. Take a look at the façade. It's Italian Neo-Renaissance, with a central section that juts forward, balconies and a tall portal. Carriages once rolled through that portal into the palace courtyard. By the entrance stand four figures by the sculptor Franz Melnitzky. They represent wisdom, honour, justice and strength. Now look right up to the top. Those are heraldic animals from the Württemberg coat of arms.