Stephansdom is at the center of the Old City Vienna (1147) and has become a symbol of the city. This is the seat of the Cardinal and the Archbishop. The main entrance and the two towers at the side of the cathedral date back to the Romanesque origins of the church, which was first mentioned in writing in 1295. Over the centuries, Stephansdom has gone through much rebuilding and many renovations. It suffered several fires and damages, the last of which were caused by bombings during the last in the Second World War.
The gothic architecture inside is also very impressive, with Anton Pilgram’s masterpiece, a 4m high pulpit, and his self portrait on the wall as a "Fenstergucker" (peeping through a window).>
The tower is open to visitors daily until 5 pm, where you have a panoramic view over the old city, while those with more macabre tastes can take a tour of the catacombs below the cathedral. |
