Peterskirche (St. Peter's Church), Vienna

Peterskirche (St. Peter's Church), Vienna (must see)

Saint Peter's Church (Peterskirche) in Vienna is a Baroque Roman Catholic parish church, nestled among surrounding buildings which make it visible primarily from the front. The site has hosted several iterations of a church, with the earliest possibly being Vienna's oldest, tracing back to the early 4th century AD. Originally a Roman encampment, the location saw a Romanesque church established here by none other than King Charlemagne himself in 792. There's a plaque on the building's facade that tells the tale of Charlemagne's involvement, adding a touch of historical significance. Historical documents, however, first reference a church here in 1137.

By the late 12th century, this church became associated with a Catholic monastery (Schottenstift) founded in Vienna in 1155. After a fire in 1661, the building saw only minimal repairs until the devastation of the 1679-1680 plague. Emperor Leopold I, a member of the Fraternity of the Holy Trinity, then vowed to reconstruct it.

Construction of the new Baroque church began around 1701, drawing inspiration from Saint Peter's Basilica in Rome. Consecrated in 1733, this church was the first domed structure in Baroque Vienna, featuring a compact, oval interior that maximizes its limited space.

The exterior boasts a predominantly white and very light yellow color scheme. Two towers grace the building, defining its classic outside appearance. These towers exhibit a slightly inward curve, a design said to be inspired by the tent poles used by the Turks who invaded the region in the late 1600s.

The interior is rich with gold stucco and frescoes by Johann Michael Rottmayr, depicting scenes such as the Coronation of Our Lady. The high altar showcases the Healing of the Lame by Saint Peter and Saint John. The church also houses several relics in its side chapels, including martyrs from Roman catacombs presented in glass coffins.

From 1998 to 2004, Saint Peter's Church underwent significant renovations and today remains a cherished monument of Vienna's religious and architectural heritage.

Tip:
Each day, from 3 to 3:30 pm, you can listen to live organ music here for free (donations are welcome). Choir performances are also frequent, with for-fee events in the underground vaults.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Vienna. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

Download The GPSmyCity App

Peterskirche (St. Peter's Church) on Map

Sight Name: Peterskirche (St. Peter's Church)
Sight Location: Vienna, Austria (See walking tours in Vienna)
Sight Type: Religious
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

Walking Tours in Vienna, Austria

Create Your Own Walk in Vienna

Create Your Own Walk in Vienna

Creating your own self-guided walk in Vienna is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Mozart Walking Tour

Mozart Walking Tour

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart spent a significant portion of his life in Vienna. Here, he achieved recognition, and the city holds enormous historical and cultural significance for his legacy. Mozart first visited Vienna as a child prodigy in 1762, and in 1781 came here to stay.

The city met the composer with a vibrant and cosmopolitan atmosphere brought about by some of the top musicians and artists...  view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.0 Km or 1.2 Miles
Old Town Churches Walking Tour

Old Town Churches Walking Tour

"Vienna is the city of miracles and music" – Whoever said that must have emphasized Vienna's close association with the Christian faith. The intertwining of Christian heritage and artistry in the Austrian capital finds expression primarily in its magnificent churches.

Sitting at "the crossroads of Christian traditions", Vienna is home to various Christian...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.9 Km or 2.4 Miles
Johann Strauss Walking Tour

Johann Strauss Walking Tour

Throughout the entire 19th century, Vienna was a hub of cultural and musical activity, particularly in the realm of classical music, to which Johann Strauss and his father, Johann Strauss Sr., contributed greatly.

Strauss, the son had a personal connection with Vienna deeply rooted in its cultural fabric. Not only was he born here and spent most of his life, but also he achieved tremendous...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.1 Km or 2.5 Miles
Klimt Paintings Tour

Klimt Paintings Tour

"I have the gift of neither the spoken nor the written word, especially if I have to say something about myself or my work. Whoever wants to know something about me - as an artist, the only notable thing - ought to look carefully at my pictures" – Gustav Klimt.

Klimt's name is indelibly linked to Vienna. The renowned symbolist painter was a prominent figure in the city. As a...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.7 Km or 2.3 Miles
Vienna's Art Nouveau Architecture Tour I

Vienna's Art Nouveau Architecture Tour I

Among the plethora of other things, the capital of Austria, Vienna, is renowned for its contribution to Art Nouveau – the popular art movement emerged and flourished at the turn of the 20th century. Stemming from it the Viennese Secession movement, also known as the Austrian Art Nouveau, or Jugendstil (in German), gave rise to a number of architectural marvels.

By far the most colorful of...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.4 Km or 2.1 Miles
Old Town Chocolate Stores

Old Town Chocolate Stores

Vienna is famous for its love for sweet indulgence. And when it comes to chocolate, it stands tall among other locally-made mouth-watering confections.

Vienna's chocolate scene is deeply rooted in a rich culinary tradition. It has been sustained by several historic chocolate houses, located in the Old Town, that have been serving decadent treats for generations.

Landmark...  view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.2 Km or 0.7 Miles

Useful Travel Guides for Planning Your Trip


7 Ultimately Austrian Foods to Taste in Vienna

7 Ultimately Austrian Foods to Taste in Vienna

Once the center of the vast Hapsburg Empire, stretched from France in the West to Russia in the East, Austria has embraced many ethnic influences in its cuisine over the course of centuries. Many of the country's distinctive dishes reflect its multinational heritage. Coffee culture, for...
Top 16 Austrian Things to Buy in Vienna

Top 16 Austrian Things to Buy in Vienna

Vienna stool, Viennese schnitzel, Viennese waltz, Vienna sausage, Viennese apple strudel... There's so much Vienna to it, that you might think you've heard it all. Luckily, chances are that you haven't and there's much more in store left to be discovered about this fascinating...