Visit St. Stephen’s Cathedral, a symbol of Vienna

St. Stephen’s Cathedral is located in the center of the historic center of Vienna, in the space between Ringstrasse and the Danube River.

The Vienna Cathedral is one of the symbols of the city and it should be noted that the great Mozart was the deputy music director since shortly before his death.

Mozart also got married there and his funeral was held. And that is why on the outside we can find a tribute plaque.

What to see outside the Vienna Cathedral

The first thing that stands out when arriving at St. Stephen’s Cathedral in Vienna is its great tower, 137 meters high.

The tower is in the Gothic style and can be seen from almost any corner of the city.

In addition, it is also possible to climb it thanks to some spiral stairs to a viewpoint from which you have great views of Vienna.

To see another important point of interest outside the Vienna Cathedral, you also have to look up.

This is its roof, called the Tiled Roof and made up of more than 250,000 tiles that draw the Habsburg eagle, the Austrian coat of arms.

From its exterior we must also highlight its other tower, which was originally going to be the same as the highest but was left unfinished. In it is the Pummerin Bell, the second largest hanging bell in Europe.

Also noteworthy are the Puerta del Gigante, which is the main one, and the Puerta de los Cantores, the lateral one.

What to see inside St. Stephen’s Cathedral

The interior of the Cathedral is also very beautiful. It consists of 3 naves, each with a different theme.

The central nave dedicated to Jesus, All Saints and Saint Stephen and the lateral ones to the Apostles and the Virgin Mary respectively

Presiding over the central nave we have the High Altar with a very interesting altarpiece.

And in front of it, the choir, with baroque stalls that make it one of the best in Central Europe.

The Pilgram Pulpit is also one of the most interesting elements of the Cathedral.

It is Gothic in style and is also known as the pulpit of the frogs due to the frogs and salamanders scared away by a dog that are carved into its railings.

In addition to the numerous altars and chapels that we find throughout the Cathedral, we must also mention the Catacombs, where some of the Habsburgs who are not in the Imperial Crypt of Vienna are buried.

History of the Vienna Cathedral

The origins of the Vienna Cathedral date back to 1137 when construction began on a Romanesque church dedicated to Saint Stephen.

This Romanesque church underwent later modifications and extensions, in Gothic and Baroque styles, and of the initial building today only the towers (called Torres de los Paganos) and the spectacular Puerta de los Gigantes are preserved.

In addition to its extensions, it has also had to undergo various reconstructions due to the wars in which Vienna has been immersed, such as the Turkish invasion of 1683 or the Napoleonic wars of 1809.

But its greatest damage was suffered during World War II, especially after the 1945 fire that left it badly damaged and had to be rebuilt, including the Pummerin Bell, which fell and had to be melted down again.

You can find more information on the official website of the Vienna Cathedral.