Stephansdom (St. Stephen’s Cathedral)
Built on the site of a Romanesque sanctuary, this cathedral is the most enduring Viennese landmark. The cathedral has always been rebuilt, repaired, and renovated after fires, sieges, and two world wars. It is filled with lavish wood carvings, altars, sculptures, and paintings. With its 113-meter (370-foot) steeple rising toward the heavens, St. Stephen's stands as the greatest Gothic structure in Europe. Historically, the cathedral is famous as the site of Mozart's "pauper's funeral" in 1791 and as the place where Napoleon posted his farewell edict in 1805. Designed with a roof that is exactly twice the height of its walls, the structure is rich in symbolic measurements and veiled meanings. Among its artistic treasures is the carved and gilded Virgin's Choir Wiener Nuerstadt altarpiece. The south tower, called "Old Steve," contains 344 steps; the north tower has an elevator. Views from the towers extend across Vienna. For various fees, visitors can tour the catacombs, the north and south towers, or the cathedral itself.
Address:
Stephansplatz 1
Vienna
Austria
Telephone: + (1) 51552