| Votivkirche (picture by Peter Watts) |  |
Votivkirche
Votivkirche
The Votivkirche is not in the centre of Vienna, and is often overlooked by tourists. Making the effort to see it is worthwhile for the decoration inside as well as being able to escape from the crowds. It is a 5 minute walk from the Rathaus, past the University.Construction of he Votivkirche in Vienna started in 1856. The church is built in thanksgiving for the survival of Emperor Franz Joseph from an assassination attempt by Hungarian nationalist János Libényi in 1853. Franz Joseph was saved by the high collar of his uniform which protected his neck from the potentially fatal stabbing. Thus Votivkirche was to be a Votivgabe (a thank-you present to God) for the survival of Franz Joseph, built on the location of the attempt on his life, and "a monument of patriotism and of devotion of the people to the Imperial House". It took 26 years to build and was dedicated in 1879.
The Votivkirche is a typical Gothic style cruciform cathedral whose transepts are the same height as the nave. Inside The Emperor window, donated by the City of Vienna, shows the deliverance of the Emperor from the attack, though this is not the original version which was destroyed in WWII.
Main Altar
The Main Altar has a gilded retable and a superimposed ciborium (or baldacchino). It was designed by Joseph Glasser who drew ideas from Italian Gothic churches in Rome like the Basilica of St. John Lateran or Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls. The baldachin above the altar is supported by four red granite columns. A statue of Christ surrounded by four angels is incorporated into the spire above the baldachin.
Pulpit
The Pulpit is a hexagonal Neo-Gothic pulpit supported by six marble pillars. The front panels of the pulpit depict Jesus preaching and flanked by early church fathers (Augustine, Gregory, Jerome and Ambrose). Above the pulpit, supported by four columns, is a wooden canopy above which is a statue of John the Baptist.
Address:
Votivkirche
Rooseveltplatz 8
Wien
Austria
Transport:
U-Bhan : Schottentor (U2)
Tram / Bus : 1, 2, 37, 38, 40, 41, 42, 44, D
