Top 10 Places of Worship
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1. Stephansdom
Vienna’s spectacular Gothic cathedral sits at the heart of the city and dominates the skyline (see pp8–11).
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2. Karlskirche
This stunning church combines Oriental and Baroque flourishes (see pp26–7).
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3. Votivkirche
The impressive sandstone church in Neo-Gothic style was built between 1855 and 1879 to express gratitude that Franz Joseph survived an assassination attempt in 1853 (see p96).
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4. Franziskanerkirche
Located on the charming Franziskanerplatz (see p90), the church and the adjacent monastery of the Franciscan Order were constructed between 1603 and 1611 on the site of an older church. Dedicated to St Hieronymus, it is Vienna’s only religious building with a Renaissance façade, but it also bears numerous Gothic as well as Baroque features. These include six side altars in ornate recesses and a fine Baroque High Altar of 1707 by Andrea Pozzo.
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5. Griechisch-Orthodoxe Kirche
In the early 18th century a Greek Orthodox community was founded in Vienna. After a tolerance decree was issued by Emperor Josef II in 1787 the church on Fleischmarkt was built by the Danish architect Theophil von Hansen. The pretty gold-andred striped building with arched windows was altered into Byzantine style in the mid-1900s.
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6. Michaelerkirche
The imperial court attended masses in this church opposite the Hofburg Palace. Originally Romanesque in style, due to damage by several fires it was changed over the centuries. The original stone helmet of the tower, damaged after an earthquake, was replaced by a pointed roof in 1590. The portal is Baroque (1724–5) and the interior is dominated by Romanesque arcades as well as a Baroque High Altar.
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7. Maria am Gestade
The Gothic church, constructed on the site of a former wooden chapel, has an impressively slim west front, 33 m (108 ft) high and only 10 m (30 ft) wide. The tower is crowned by a white, open stone helmet (1394–1414) that once served as a landmark for Danube mariners. In a state of decay in the late 18th century, it served as horse stables during the Napoleonic wars but was eventually restored in 1812.
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8. Jesuitenkirche
Constructed at the beginning of the 17th century, the solemn façade of the church contrasts with its rich Baroque interior. Emperor Leopold I commissioned the Italian architect Andrea Pozzo to design the magnificent frescoes and paintings. Pozzo also painted the barrel vaulted ceiling in such a way that the illusion of a dome was created.
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9. Kirche am Steinhof
This fine Art Nouveau church was designed by Otto Wagner and built from 1905–07 on the grounds of a psychiatric hospital. The square-shaped church with two bell towers is overlooked by a golden dome that was converted to copper in the 1930s but more recently restored to its traditional hues. The colourful window mosaics, designed by Kolo Moser, and a gilt altar canopy with angels dominate the interior.
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10. Wotrubakirche
The unconventional church was constructed between 1974 and 1976 following designs by the Austrian sculptor Fritz Wotruba, who died shortly before the work was finished. Situated atop a hill at the edge of the city, it consists of 157 concrete cubes in various sizes that form a harmonious whole. In the spaces between the cubes glass panes flood the interior with daylight.
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