Stephansdom (St. Stephen's Cathedral), Vienna (must see)

While remarkable architecture is commonplace in Vienna, the majestic Saint Stephen's Cathedral (Stephansdom) is absolutely unmistakable. A central figure in Vienna’s spiritual and architectural landscape, it was constructed on the remnants of two earlier churches, with the first consecrated in 1147. The cathedral now exhibits a blend of Romanesque and Gothic styles, primarily developed under Duke Rudolf IV in the mid-14th century.

The building extends over 107 meters in length and 40 meters in width, with its tallest point, the South Tower (affectionately referred to as "Steffl" – a diminutive form of "Stephen"), reaching 136 meters. This tower, completed in 1433 after 65 years of construction, served crucial defensive roles during the sieges of Vienna and housed a watchman’s apartment until 1955. Contrastingly, the North Tower remains unfinished, capped at 68 meters with a Renaissance dome since 1578.

Saint Stephen’s notable features include its vibrant, tiled roof adorned with 230,000 glazed tiles portraying symbols like the Habsburg double-headed eagle and the coats of arms of Vienna and Austria. Despite severe damage during a 1945 fire, the roof was meticulously restored, substituting the original wood with 600 metric tons of steel, enhancing its resilience and self-cleaning capability.

The cathedral houses an impressive array of bells, including Pummerin, the second-largest swinging bell in Europe, cast from captured Turkish cannons in 1711 and recast in 1951 after being destroyed. This bell, alongside others in the South Tower and the Roman Tower, marks significant religious ceremonies and daily prayers.

Saint Stephen's also harbors deep connections with notable composers like Ludwig van Beethoven, who recognized his complete deafness here, Joseph Haydn, who used to sing at Saint Stephen's as a choir boy, Johann Strauss, who married twice within these walls, and Mozart, for whom the cathedral served as both his parish church and the site of his marriage and funeral.

The interior is adorned with 18 altars, including the High Altar and the Vienna New Town (Wiener Neustadt) Altar, and features the Maria Pötsch Icon, a revered Byzantine-style depiction of Saint Mary with Jesus, credited with miraculous powers.

Saint Stephen's houses several chapels, each with unique significance. The Chapel of the Cross contains the burial of Prince Eugene of Savoy and was the site of Mozart's funeral. Saint Valentine's Chapel holds numerous relics, including Saint Valentine's bones. The cathedral also encompasses historic tombs, catacombs, and crypts, storing the remains of over 11,000 people and significant Habsburg dynasty members.

Tip:
Be sure to make a loop around the structure as there are many interesting details still visible on the outside walls.