| Stephansdom Nave (picture by Peter Watts) |  |
Stephansdom Nave
Stephansdom Nave
The Stephansdom is the tallest building in the Innere Stadt and forms a prominent part of the skyline of Vienna. It is also one of the most popular attractions for tourists, about 3 million people visit Stephansdom each year. In spite of the number of visitors, Stephansdom is still very much an active place of worship. The current church has survived centuries of attempts to knock it down or blow it up by armed forces, including the Turks, (twice), Napoleon, and then the retreating Germans and advancing Americans and Russians during WWII. Thankfully none succeeded and Vienna remains blessed with a remarkable cathedral.The first church, a Romanesque basilica, was established here in 1137. Following a great fire in Vienna in 1258, a second larger church was built retaining the original doors. Then in 1304 Emperor Albert I ordered construction of a Gothic church, which was built around the existing structure greatly extending the nave to house a choir. Interestingly, the founder of this church is considered to be Rudolf IV who laid the foundation stone for the westward extension of the transept in 1359. Once the large cathedral was complete the earlier church was dismantled and removed from the interior leaving the building we know as Stephansdom today.
The German high command wanted Stephansdom reduced to rubble and ordered it's destruction as they retreated from Vienna. Thankfully Captain Gerhard Klinkicht disobeyed this order. However, the advancing Russians set fire to other parts of Vienna, which unfortunately spread to Stephansdom and destroyed the original 15C carved choir stalls. Other parts of the church, including the Pulpit and Tomb of Friedrich III, were protected by brick shells that had been built around them earlier.
The other panoramic images taken from inside Stephansdom show some further detail of the High Altar, the Wiener Neustädter Altar and the Pulpit.
Address
Stephasdom
Stephansplatz 3
1010 Vienna
stephanskirche.at
Transport
U-Bhan: Stephansplatz (U1, U3)
Bus / Tram: 1A, 2A, 3A
