Central Cathedral of Vienna. The national symbol of Austria is St. Stephen's Cathedral. St. Stephen's Cathedral: architecture, relics and sights. Recovery and restoration
In Moscow - the Kremlin, in Berlin - the Brandenburg Gate, but what about in Vienna? The city center, the symbol of Vienna for many centuries, has been the main Catholic shrine - St. Stephen's Cathedral (Stephansdom). It cannot be confused with other European Catholic cathedrals for a very simple reason - of the two high towers with spiers due to him, only one was completed. As in St. Petersburg, Stephansdom belongs not to the Christian church, but to the city. What leaves its mark on his visit.
1. The cathedral was built three and a half centuries, and before us is the oldest of its built parts. These are Romanesque towers and a portal (1230-1245). And the first church on this site was built by 1147, when Yuri Dolgoruky first mentioned the name of Moscow in a letter. 
2. In the 15th century, they began to build high Gothic towers with spiers, but only the southern one was able to be built (pictured). In 1511, the construction of the cathedral stopped, and the north tower remained unfinished. 
3. Medieval Viennese length standards made of metal strips have been preserved on the wall of the temple. The circle on the wall was the standard for the size of baked bread. 
4. Entering the inside of the temple, a fence immediately catches your eye, dividing the hall into two zones. Anyone can get into the first zone, here you can sit down, pray and light a candle. But to enter the central nave and the main altar, you need to buy a ticket. Also, the ticket price may include a visit to the reliquary museum, climbing the north and south towers, as well as an excursion to the catacombs. This ticket is valid for several days. 
5. The central Gothic nave of the cathedral is dedicated to St. Stephen. 
6. On one of the columns is a pulpit of unique carvings. 
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9. The author of the pulpit was the sculptor Anton Pilgram (1460-1516), who depicted himself "supporting" the balcony on the north wall of the cathedral. 
10. The south nave is dedicated to the twelve apostles. It contains one of the three organs of the temple. 
11. There are a lot of small altars here, as well as a bed for imperial persons (on the right in the photo). 
12. All altars are decorated with sculptures of the apostles. 
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14. The north nave is dedicated to the Virgin Mary and is crowned with the Neustadt altar. 
15. Detail of an altarpiece from the 15th century. 
16. Many abbots of the cathedral are buried in the temple. 
17. And under this magnificent gravestone lies the body of Frederick III, Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire. The famous Prince Eugene of Savoy is also buried in the cathedral. 
18. Main altar. 
19. On the occasion of the New Year, he was decorated with Christmas trees and bouquets of flowers. 
20. Sculpture of the Virgin Mary crowning the altar of St. Stephen. 
21. The stained glass windows in the cathedral have been preserved for the most part. 
22. Antique glass in the doors leading to an ode of six chapels attached to the main room. 
23. A huge Romanesque window is located behind the main organ. 
24. The main organ of the cathedral was installed in 1960, the previous one died in a fire in 1945. 
25. It is decorated with figures of soaring angels and is the largest in Austria. 
26. The organ has 125 registers and 10 thousand organ pipes. 
27. It is controlled by four rows of keyboards and pedals. 
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29. After admiring the organ, we will pass the museum-reliquary of the cathedral. 
30. On the way, you can see close up the blocked window on the Romanesque facade. 
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32. Vaults of the hall. 
33. The reliquary contains various items used in worship. 
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36. Persian glass vessels. 
37. Head of the staff of the archbishop. 
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39. One of the copies of the miraculous icon of Pöch. 
40. Upon closer examination, it turned out that the halos were decorated with a relief pattern, and the board itself was eaten away by woodworms. 
41. A significant number of arks for holy relics have also been collected here. 
42. Bones are stored on the shelves of cabinets and in vltara. 
43. There is even a whole glazed coffin. 
44. Skulls. 
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46. Pelvic bone. 
47. Leg bones. 
48. But most of the bones are stored under the floor of the cathedral and the adjacent square. Up to 11 thousand bodies were buried in the catacombs - an underground cemetery in the 18th century. Now many bones are dumped in disorder in underground casemates. You can go there with a guided tour, but photography is prohibited, so here is a photo from the Internet. 
49. Another opportunity that we could not help but take advantage of was climbing the towers. The spiral staircase leading to the north tower was dismantled, and an elevator with a round cabin was built into the shaft instead. 
50. At the top we get to a large open area, on which the spire of the tower was to be erected. 
51. From the fenced grid of the site, a beautiful view of the tiled roof of the cathedral opens up. 
52. The roof covering consists of 230 thousand colored tiles. They laid out images of the coats of arms of Austria and Vienna. 
53. And also a view of the Gothic lace of the neighboring tower. 
54. And the city, of course. 
55. Another symbol of Vienna is the old Ferris wheel in the Prater park. 
56. And on the horizon you can see how giant wind turbines rotate their blades. 
57. The chimney of the Spittelau waste incineration plant, designed by the famous architect Hundertwasser, smokes. 
58. The chimneys of the Simmering power plant are smoking. if desired, in the photo you can see the top of the combat anti-aircraft tower No. 5 in Arenbergapark and the domes of the Vienna gasometers. 
59. The main Pummerin bell weighing 21 tons is installed in the same tower. The original bell was cast in 1711 and was destroyed in a fire in 1945. 
60. Climbing the south tower - only on foot along a terribly narrow spiral staircase. The staircase is so narrow that it is very difficult to disperse with oncoming tourists. 
61. The inhabitants of the tower. 
62. Upstairs we get into a small room with a souvenir shop. 
63. The walls of the room are decorated like 19th century inscriptions. 
64. So are the newer ones left by our compatriots. As we remember, it was the Soviet troops that liberated Vienna. 
65. From here, the views of the city are even more breathtaking. 
66. Vienna is a very even city in terms of number of storeys, only in a few places it was allowed to build skyscrapers. 
67. Belvedere Palace. 
68. Dome of St. Peter's Church. 
69. Minoritenkirche and City Hall. 
70. Church of St. Michael, Hofburg and the Parliament of Austria. 
71. From the tower you can see the city right up to the outskirts. 
72. That's all. Who read to the end - well done! 
St. Stephen's Cathedral or Stephansdom, which the locals often call briefly and affectionately "Steffi", is the most important symbol of the capital of Austria - the city of Vienna. From almost anywhere in the city you can see the unique majestic spire of the building, the height of which reaches 136 meters. The stunning external beauty of the cathedral is harmoniously complemented by its content - inside the Stephansdom there is a huge amount of various historical values, both various church utensils and icons, as well as many works of world art. St. Stephen's Cathedral has survived to our time almost unchanged; its image can be seen on many photographs and postcards from Vienna.
Story
In 1137, on the site of the modern St. Stephen's Cathedral, the very first church in these places was laid. Ten years later, in 1147, it was built with the help of Leopold IV and the Bishop of Passau. Approximately 100 years later, an expansion of the temple was needed (one western wall in the Romanesque style from this construction has survived to our time), but soon after that, in 1258, the church, unfortunately, burned down. Five years later, a new church was rebuilt and consecrated on the same spot. Gradually, its premises grew and expanded, at that time the famous Albert Choirs were built, and all construction work was completed only after 77 years.
The foundation stone for the massive construction of a new Gothic cathedral was laid in 1359 on April 7 by Rudolf IV. It was planned that the outer walls of the church surrounding the old temple would be built first, and then the old walls inside the cathedral would be dismantled. In 1430, this happened, but it was decided to leave part of the walls, in particular the Albert Choir.
The South Tower, which is the highest point of Stephansdom, took almost 100 years to build and was completed in 1433. The architects also designed the second tower - the North Tower, it began to be built in 1450, raised to a height of about 70 meters by 1511, and at this point the construction was frozen.
For three centuries, St. Stephen's Cathedral was an ordinary parish church. However, in 1469, the diocese of Vienna was founded here, and from that moment on, the majestic Stephansdom was considered a cathedral. Immediately after these events, interesting carved choirs were installed in the temple by the famous composer, who was also a sculptor, Wilhelm Rollinger. And a little later, in 1513, an organ was installed in the cathedral.
During the Second World War, the church was practically not damaged, but, unfortunately, already in April 1945, marauders set it on fire, destroying the North Tower, which, along with its famous bell, fell and burned for a long time, losing all the interior decoration, including unique choirs and an organ.
Later, the temple was restored (by the way, exclusively with the help of personal donations from the townspeople) and opened to visitors in 1952. But restoration work is ongoing and continues to this day.
Attractions
The unique Stephansdom, due to its scale dimensions of 198.2 by 62 meters, contains many different interesting sights. While visiting the cathedral, you can learn about its touching history, as well as enjoy the exterior and interior of the unique building.
Observation decks on the South and North towers
The height of the South Tower of the Cathedral is 136.44 meters, the North Tower - 68.3 meters. Both towers of St. Stephen's Cathedral are now equipped with two viewing platforms, each of which offers a beautiful view of different parts of Vienna. There are 343 steps leading to the observation deck of the South Tower, it is open from Monday to Sunday from 09:00 to 17:30, and the entrance to it will be 5 euros for adults, 3 euros for students 15-18 years old, 2 euros for children 6-14 years. The famous Pummerin bell is located in the North Tower, and an elevator lifts visitors to its observation deck daily from 09:00 to 17:30, for 6 euros for adults, 2.5 euros for children 6-14 years old and 0.5 euros for organized excursions for children gardens.
The roof of the cathedral
The roof of the Stephansdom was designed very interestingly for that time. Its length is about 110 meters, and the height is about 38 meters, while in some places the horizontal slope of the roof can reach as much as 80 degrees. This allows rainwater to thoroughly wash the tiles during precipitation, and if suddenly it snows in the city, it does not accumulate on the roof, but immediately falls down. The roof frame was originally made of wood, but after a fire in 1945, it was replaced with a steel frame. The roof is covered with about 230 thousand multi-colored tiles, which make up a unique image of the coat of arms of the country and the city, which is why the roof of the Stephansdom looks like a gingerbread house.
Cathedral interior
The interior of the temple itself is also unique. On the central portal is the pulpit of St. John Capistran, famous for the fact that from it he called on all the inhabitants to gather in a crusade against the Turks. Nearby is a crucifix with an unusual expression on the face of Christ, because of which he is called "toothache." There are also ancient measures made of iron, which were standards at that time, and next to it is a sundial on the arch.
Organ
The musical instrument, which tourists and locals can observe now, was installed in the cathedral in 1960 instead of the burnt one. A modern Rieger organ has 4 rows of keyboards, a pedal, 125 registers, 10,000 pipes. It is one of the largest organs in Austria. Not far from the altar there is another organ, made in 1991 and having 4 keyboards, a pedal and 55 registers. It is he who is most often used during worship in the cathedral.
bells
There are 23 bells in the belfry of St. Stephen's Cathedral, but only 20 of them are used. The largest bell (and the second largest in Europe) is called Pummerin, in honor of the old bell of the same name that died in a fire in 1945, it is located in the North Tower. The weight of the modern bell is about 21 tons; it was installed in 1957. The Pummerin ring can be heard 11 times a year: during church holidays, on April 23 on the day of the consecration of the cathedral and at night of the new year. At other times, other 11 bells are used, located in the South Tower and having an electric drive. These bells of different sizes, weighing from 35 to 5700 kilograms, were installed in 1960.
tombs
The remains of many famous personalities are kept in Stephansdom: these are Rudolf IV (the founder of the cathedral), Frederick III, Eugene of Savoy, 72 members of the Habsburg dynasty. Most of the graves are purely symbolic, since since 1633 only the internal organs of the rulers remained in the temple for storage, except for the hearts that were sent to the church of St. Augustine, and the bodies located in the Capuchin church.
Catacombs
Another attraction that traditionally attracts the attention of all tourists is the dungeons located under the eastern part of the cathedral. There is an ordinary cemetery there, where the inhabitants of the city were buried (about 11 thousand bodies in total). It is still customary to bury people in the catacombs, but now only the highest hierarchs of the Austrian church. The catacombs can only be visited as part of a guided tour. The tombs of bishops and royal courts, the eerie cemetery under the cathedral with all its bones guarantee a lasting impression.
Excursions
St. Stephen's Cathedral constantly hosts many different excursions. The price of the all-inclusive tour includes an audio guide that provides information in 23 languages (an audio guide is not issued to children). Tourists are also given a map showing all the attractions of Stephansdom. The duration of the tour is about 40 minutes, it is held all year round. All visitors are urged to dress and behave appropriately.
Visitors to the cathedral can also pre-book a private tour of about 30 minutes in German (Mon-Sun 15:00) or English (Mon-Sat 10:30) language. For liturgical or organizational reasons, the tour may not take place, so it must be booked in advance.
Group tours are held for a group of tourists from 15 people and are booked in advance by phone or e-mail.
Opening hours and entrance fee to the cathedral in 2019
Guided tours run from Monday to Saturday from 9 am to 11:30 am and then in the afternoon from 1 pm to 4:30 pm. On Sundays and holidays, the cathedral is open to the public from 13:00 to 16:30.
The entrance fee to the cathedral is 6 euros for adults and 2.5 euros for children from 6 to 14 years old, children under 6 years old visit Stephansdom for free. An excursion to the cathedral costs 6 euros, for students 14-18 years old 3.5 euros, for children 0-14 years old 2 euros. A visit to the catacombs takes about half an hour and costs 6 euros, for students 14-18 years old 3.5 euros, for children 0-14 years old 2 euros. A combined tour of the cathedral and catacombs will cost 12 euros for adults, 7 euros for students aged 14-18, 4 euros for children 0-14 years old. Treasury with unique works of art is open from Monday to Saturday from 09:00 to 17:00, on Sundays and holidays from 13:00 to 17:00, adults can visit it for 6 euros, children 6-14 years old for 2 euros, up to 6 years - free of charge.
An all-inclusive ticket allows you to visit all the public attractions of Stephansdom. The ticket is valid daily from 9 am to 5:30 pm (taking into account the different opening hours of the towers, catacombs, treasury and the cathedral itself). The ticket price will be 14.90 euros for adults (with a Vienna Pass ticket the price will be 9.90 euros), 3.90 euros for children. The duration of the tour is 2.5 hours.
How to get to St. Stephen's Cathedral
Stephansdom is located in the very center of Vienna, so it is easiest to get to it by public transport. Within walking distance from it is the metro station Stephansplatz lines U1 and U3. Bus lines 1A and 3A pass nearby with the Stephansplatz stop. It is better not to come here with a private car, as it will be difficult to find a parking place in the city center, but when traveling, you need to stay on the A1, A2, A4, A21 or A23 motorways (but then it is better to transfer to the metro). The situation is the same with a taxi, but if such a need arises, then you can use the following companies: Flughafen Taxi, Taxi 31300, Taxi Center and many others.
Stephansdom on google panoramas
Google-panorama of the interiors of Stephansdom
Video of St. Stephen's Cathedral
St. Stephen's Cathedral in Vienna is a symbol of the city and all of Austria. It is difficult to pass by this majestic building, being in the center of Vienna. Before traveling to the capital of Austria, I studied to a greater extent the places that you can visit with children, but I only knew about standard sights in general terms. Firstly, there are a lot of them in order to know everything at once. Secondly, I do not like hackneyed places, so I try to avoid them with rare exceptions. So we were not going to the Stephansdom Cathedral at all, but it is located in the heart of the Austrian capital, moreover, it proudly rises above all the buildings around, so it’s hard not to notice it. And when you are nearby, you admire its high towers in the Gothic style, every detail of it. Entrance to St. Stephen's Cathedral is completely free, so why don't we go there, right? ;)
Before, I saw Catholic cathedrals only in Goa, where the Portuguese left their Christian heritage. There they are small, light and openwork. Here are dark halls with huge mosaic windows, high ceilings, arches…
Impressions are the most incredible! The grandeur of the building is amazing. And it was built hundreds of years ago? How did they build such power?
It is difficult to imagine what impression such a temple made on people in the Middle Ages, when life took place in small houses. And here is greatness. Undoubtedly, the goal was one - to make them tremble before God. I'm sure it has been achieved. Even I, not a fan of religion, especially the Catholic one, exhaled at the entrance to Stephansdom and turned my head in all directions in fascination.
If not for these white installations, the main hall of the cathedral would have looked like in past centuries. Here the magical acoustics and the sounds of the organ simply penetrate you. Truly geniuses calculated all this and built similar temples.
It was in this hall that I first heard monastic Catholic songs live. I think a lot of people have heard this style in different western songs, because. producers sometimes use similar cuts in modern works. The very first song in which I heard such monastic chants was, of course, “Sadeness” by Enigma. In general, Enigma had a whole album in a similar style. If you don't remember, then listen and you'll understand right away. And then the same male voices broke against all the vaults of St. Stephen's Cathedral and penetrated into the very inside, to goosebumps and tears.
But good impressions were not all. In addition to all the power that presses on the consciousness, making you a little man in front of huge divine powers, every detail of the temple also reminds you of the sinfulness of your life. All the sculptures on the walls with terribly suffering gray faces, pictures of terrible torments in fiery hell. I do not like in religions, especially in Catholicism, these attempts to intimidate mere mortals "God's servants."
But this is a lyrical digression and, to be honest, after this ancient cathedral, after the ancient churches on the Way of Santiago, after the main church in Santiago de Compostela with its medieval bells ringing in all parts of the city, I was imbued with great sympathy and respect for Catholic churches . I have to admit that they really think very well about God and the eternal in them.
You can light a candle for 0.75 euros. Not exactly cheap, although it is quite normal for Austria, but the main thing is that the candles are real - the fire is alive. I can’t stand the modern fashion for special machines where you need to throw a coin in order to light a light bulb in the form of a candle. This is not even funny, but in truth more than disgusting, another invention of the Vatican, as indulgence in its time.
Although the entrance to St. Stephen's Cathedral in Vienna is free, there is money to spend there. In addition to candles, you can part with money in a souvenir shop that sells various cute Viennese-themed things and all kinds of coins or postcards with the image of the Cathedral.
There are also various guided tours for visitors. We chose to climb the North Tower for 5.5 euros.
For the same price, you can, on the contrary, go down into the catacombs in order to look at the burial places of thousands of people, including many Austrian rulers over the past millennium. Mostly they are representatives of the Habsburg dynasty. But I didn’t want to look at the remains of corpses, even very famous ones, with a child (and even without a child, this is of little interest to me), so I preferred to climb closer to the sky than go down into the dungeon.
The tower of St. Stephen's Cathedral is quite high, we went up there by elevator. The views from the observation deck are simply amazing! To think that this is the capital of Austria! Such a tiny and undersized town =)
In the other direction, too, there are practically no high-rise buildings in Vienna. The square is visible below. Horses are crowding on it)
Here you can take a tour of Vienna in a carriage. It will cost 55 euros for a 20-minute trip. Although in my opinion it is much more interesting to use Tripster, taking some unusual one from local residents. Still, seeing the city through the eyes of the people living in it is an invaluable experience.
The horses are clean and well-groomed, but they manage their natural needs right on the road. Of course, clean Austrians clean everything as much as possible, but this only partially eliminates the smell. In this connection, not only the square, but the cathedral itself is thoroughly saturated with the aroma of horse manure.
But in the past centuries there were many more carriages and horses on the streets of Vienna, noble miasma probably filled the air. What the capital of Austria has not seen, in what centuries it has not stood. It is surprising that for the first time on this site the cathedral was built already in 1137! Subsequently, it was completed and expanded, changed its appearance from Romanesque to Gothic, and in the end, by 1511, it acquired its modern look.
During the Second World War, St. Stephen's Cathedral in Vienna was badly damaged by a fire, which, oddly enough, was set up by marauders, and not by German or Soviet soldiers. Because of the fire, the roof collapsed, a huge bell fell from the tower, severely damaging the entire temple. By 1948, the Cathedral was restored by volunteers, but restoration work is still ongoing.
I can say with confidence that St. Stephen's Cathedral is not in vain a symbol of Vienna. I have never seen a more majestic and grandiose structure, which is also an ancient heritage. I understand that my experience is not enough and it is impossible to judge by it, but I am sure that if you were in Vienna, you would never regret if you saw this cathedral with your own eyes.
Stephansdom - information for visitors
St. Stephen's Cathedral opening hours
The cathedral is open daily from 6.00 to 22.00. Sunday and holidays from 07:00 to 22:00.
. Tours of the catacombs every half an hour or 15 minutes, duration about 30 minutes at 10:00 - 10:30 and at 13:30 - 16:30 daily except Sundays.
. Elevator to the Pummerin bell on the North Tower - daily from 08.15 to 16.25 (January - June and September - December); daily from 08.15 to 18.00 (July and August).
. Ascent to the South Tower daily from 09.00 to 17:00.
. Evening tour of the attic space on Saturdays at 19:00 (only from July to September).
Prices for excursions to St. Stephen's Cathedral in Vienna
The cathedral has a general ticket to visit all its nooks and crannies, costing 17.90 euros for an adult and 4.90 euros for a child. During our visit, there were discounts on these tickets - 13.90 and 2.90 euros. But I'm not sure that there are always discounts, so I initially wrote the usual full price. It is undoubtedly more profitable to take such a ticket, but if you do not want to visit everything in a row, then it is easier to take a ticket only somewhere in one place (prices for an adult and a child are divided by a line):
. Tour of the Cathedral with a guide - 5.5 euros / 2 euros
. Tour of the Cathedral with audio guide - 4.5 euros / 1.5 euros
. Catacombs with a guide (group) - 5.5 euros / 2 euros
. North tower (lift) - 5.5 euros / 2 euros
. South tower (climbing steps) - 4.5 euros / 1.5 euros
St Stephen's Cathedral Vienna how to get there
The cathedral is located on Stephansplatz. Subway station of the same name stephansplatz(branches U1 and U3) goes right in front of the main gate of the temple, so it’s simply impossible not to find or not notice it :) Well, just walking in the center, next to the Vienna Opera and Albertina, you can easily notice the towers of St. prickly cacti over all the houses. That's how we noticed him, and went to these towers.
St. Stephen's Cathedral on the map
If you are planning a trip to Vienna, I also recommend reading my article about renting an apartment in Vienna, in which I describe not only our experience of how to rent an apartment in Vienna, but also make an overview of Vienna hotels with a convenient map and the ability to select a hotel in your chosen price range. This is very convenient, and most importantly, it will help save your money, because the Austrian capital is a very expensive city.
St. Stephen's Cathedral is the main temple of the Austrian capital. His images began to appear in paintings with views of Vienna in the Middle Ages. This historic building was founded by the Bishop of Passau at the beginning of the 12th century and consecrated in 1147. But many decades later, the cathedral was completed, rebuilt and renovated.
St. Stephen's Cathedral in Vienna, construction history
Initially, the temple was a three-aisled basilica with a strongly protruding transept separating a narrow altar part from the main part of the building. After a strong fire in 1258, the cathedral actually had to be rebuilt. Only the western facade of the building with a monumental portal, bearing the name "Giant Gates", survived from the original construction. Two other portals, built later, also have their own names: the southern one is "Singing Gates", the northern one is "Bishop's Gates".
In 1304-1340, the altar part of the cathedral was re-erected and the main part of the building was expanded. In 1359, masters Mikael Knab, father and son Peter and Hans von Prachatits built the main vertical of the cathedral - the South Tower, 137 m high, to the top of which a staircase of 312 steps leads. Residents of Vienna call the tower "Old Stefan". This is one of the best works of Austrian Gothic.
In the middle of the 15th century, the master Hans Pukspaum, appointed in 1440 as the main builder of the cathedral, began to build the North Tower. It was completed after his death, and it remained unfinished. The legend says that in order to complete the construction of the tower faster, the master Pukspaum made an alliance with the devil, but failed to fulfill the condition set by Satan, and as a result the tower collapsed. In the 1850s, the tower was going to be completed, but the inhabitants of Vienna by that time were already so accustomed to the one-tower cathedral that they strongly protested against interference in its existing appearance.
The construction of the cathedral was finally completed by the famous architect and sculptor Anton Pilgram, and this happened only at the beginning of the 16th century. Since the 12th century, St. Stephen's Cathedral has been the main temple of Vienna, and since 1469 it has been an episcopal chair (since 1723 - an archbishop).
St. Stephen's Cathedral in Vienna, architecture and interior
Despite the construction that dragged on for several centuries, St. Stephen's Cathedral has retained its architectural integrity, and its appearance is mainly designed in the Gothic spirit. Surrounded on all sides by urban development, the cathedral is almost impossible to fully capture with a glance, and from a close distance you can only see its bulk leaving the sky.
The walls of the cathedral are supported by powerful buttresses. Numerous gothic details emphasize the aspiration of the heavy monumental building. The roof of the cathedral is covered with multi-color tiles, which are lined, in particular, with the emblems of the Austrian Republic. The smooth walls of the facade are lined with large blocks of hewn stone and rather sparingly decorated with carved masks and sculptures.
Among them stands out the sculpture of Samson tearing apart the mouth of a lion. But if the walls of the cathedral look almost smooth, then the portals are covered with a real carved stone carpet, immersing the viewer in the world of medieval legends and religious symbols. Here you can see floral ornaments, people, birds, fantastic animals, gnomes, fabulous monsters.
The "giant gates", the main entrance to the cathedral, in former times were opened only during solemn ceremonies, for example, when kings and emperors visited the cathedral. In normal times, parishioners entered the cathedral through the side entrances - the northern Bishop's Gate, decorated with a 14th-century portal, or through the southern entrance, called the Singing Gate. The Singing Gate is decorated with stone figures of Duke Rudolf IV and his wife Katharina. They are surrounded by squires. In his hands, the duke holds a model of St. Stephen's Cathedral.
The interior of the temple is decorated with numerous sculptures and altars. But, despite this, the interior of the cathedral is not cluttered and looks spacious. Its length is 108 m, width - 35 m, and height - 28 m. Five pairs of powerful pillars support the vaults of the main nave, lost in height. Light enters from the high side windows, and on a cloudy day the cathedral is in twilight.
Colored medieval stained-glass windows on the windows of the temple have miraculously survived to this day. The cathedral's altar, the so-called Wiener Neustadt altar, dates back to the 15th century and is one of the most significant monuments of its kind in Europe. It is decorated with painted wooden reliefs and rich Gothic ornamentation, while the outer doors are covered with medieval paintings. The carved high altar was made by master Jacob Pock.
In the interior of the cathedral there are many examples of sculpture of the XIV-XV centuries. Among them stands out the statue of the Madonna, dating back to the first quarter of the 14th century. Another large statue of the Madonna, sculpted in the 1320-1330s (it is considered one of the best examples of German sculpture), can be seen near the episcopal pulpit.
The pulpit itself, an outstanding monument of medieval art, was made by master Anton Pilgram around 1515. In addition to exuberant Gothic carvings, it is adorned with four figures of the Church Fathers carved in stone, stunning in terms of realism and craftsmanship. Pilgram is also the author of the foot of the organ. Here, among the bizarre stone carvings, you can see a self-portrait of the sculptor himself. His second self-portrait is in the lower part of the episcopal pulpit.
Since the Middle Ages, the cathedral served as a burial place for kings, emperors, bishops, noble people. Many figures of not only Austrian, but also world history are buried here - for example, an outstanding commander, Generalissimo Prince Eugene of Savoy. Many tombstones stand out for their skillful work and are works of art. Among them stands out the sarcophagus of Emperor Frederick III, made in 1467-1513.
In April 1945, during fierce fighting in Vienna, the cathedral was engulfed in fire, which lasted three days. The upper parts of the building collapsed, a large bell collapsed, and the interior of the cathedral was badly damaged. Residents of the city and Soviet soldiers put out the fire, but many of the details of the cathedral were irretrievably lost. Seven years after the restoration work, the cathedral was consecrated again, but restoration work continued for more than ten years. Today, St. Stephen's Cathedral is completely restored.
St. Stephen's Cathedral (Austria) - description, history, location. Exact address and website. Reviews of tourists, photos and videos.
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St. Stephen's Cathedral is a symbol not only of Vienna, but of the whole of Austria. Its majestic spire, rising to 136 m, is visible from most parts of the capital. The grandiose Gothic cathedral on the main square of the city is known not only for its external beauty, but for its numerous relics: icons, church utensils and world-class works of art. "Steffi", as the Viennese lovingly call him, has existed for the previous 700 years almost without loss, survived many wars, but even in our time he could not protect himself from simple human stupidity. And yet, looking at the stunning mosaic roof, lancet vaults and impressive stained glass windows, I want to believe that St. Stephen's Cathedral will never disappear from the Viennese landscape.
Story
The history of "Steffi" began in 1359, when the first stone of the new Viennese Catholic Cathedral was laid. Its dominant, the South Tower, was under construction for almost a century.
No less majestic was the North Tower, founded in 1450. True, it was never completed, frozen at a height of 70 m.
Today, observation decks are open in both towers, allowing you to admire the picturesque views of the city.
The temple was almost not damaged during the bombing of the Second World War, but was badly destroyed by looting arson in April 1945. The northern tower fell along with the legendary Pummerin bell, the decoration died in the fire.
Restoration work was carried out with private donations from the Viennese. Steffi opened its doors again only in 1952. Its restoration continues to this day.
What to see
Today, a total of 23 bells are installed in the belfries of the temple. The main one - the updated "Pummerin" weighing 21 tons - is located in its usual place, in the North Tower. He calls only 11 times a year - on major holidays. And the hourly ringing, familiar to every crown, is provided by 11 bells of the South Tower.
As if the gingerbread roof of the cathedral is assembled from 230 thousand tiles.
In the crypt there is a family tomb of the Habsburgs, and in its eastern wing there are catacombs. Ordinary crowns were also buried in this underground cemetery.
Practical information
Opening hours: Monday-Saturday - 6:00-22:00, Sunday - 7:00-22:00.
Entrance to the territory of all attractions (cathedral, catacombs, South and North towers, treasury) with an audio guide: 14.90 EUR. Prices on the page are for April 2019.
