When we were visiting Austria, our friend had set up a bunch of different locations for us to visit, that have significance in the area. St. Stephen’s Cathedral was one of the first on the list. This is a large Roman Catholic church that is nearly in the centre of Vienna, with beautiful views from the outside. We went in the wintertime, when there was a Christmas market all around the outside, which was so fun to see too.
St. Stephen’s Cathedral is a Romanesque and Gothic cathedral, which was largely created by Duke Rudolf IV, and is actually build on the ruins of two earlier churches, with a mutli-colored tile roof. This roof, we were told, was actually a controversial design choice, as it’s very much a beautiful, and easy to identify design with birds on one side and a stunning pattern on the other side. We actually got to go up one of the towers, which does cost an additional fee (as the main cathedral is completely free to enter) and see the tiles up close! The view from the bell tower is fantastic, with the option to take the stairs or a small elevator.
There is a giant bell that is at the top, along with a plaque (not in English) that tells you when the bell rings. This bell is truly one of the biggest I have ever seen and I wouldn’t want to be on the roof when it’s ringing! The view from the top of St. Stephen’s Cathedral is a stunning one, almost as stunning as inside, with a great view of other churches around the city and of the various modern buildings that have been built around it too.
The inside of St. Stephen’s Cathedral is really stunning. There are lots of statues of Marry and Jesus on the sides, areas to light different candles, and beautiful windows that let in big beams of light. The celling is so high, and there are tons of paintings and beautiful pillars throughout. At the back, a massive organ is raised, up towards the top, so that music can be played throughout it. There is a gate, which you can only enter during specific times, as this is still an active church that has services each week. There is also a small gift shop, selling religious items, and a bowl of Holy water that you can dip your fingers in on the way out.
St. Stephen’s Cathedral is really stunning, with so many fantastic features that have been preserved over time, giving you plenty of space to pray and see the many statues and paintings that are there.