Stephansdom, Vienna — Visitor Guide & Things to Do Nearby

Stephansdom, St Stephen's Cathedral, is the most important religious building in Austria and the defining landmark of Vienna's skyline. Its south tower, rising 136 metres, has watched over the city for nearly 600 years.

The first church on this site was consecrated in 1147. The current cathedral is largely Gothic, built between the 14th and 15th centuries, though the Romanesque west front (the Riesentor, or Giant's Gate) survives from the 13th century. The south tower, known as "Steffl" to the Viennese, was completed in 1433 after 65 years of construction.

One of the most distinctive features is the tiled roof, covered in 230,000 glazed tiles arranged in a zigzag pattern. On the south side, the tiles form the double-headed eagle of the Habsburg dynasty and the coats of arms of Vienna and Austria.

The cathedral has survived some dramatic moments. In the closing days of World War II, Wehrmacht Captain Gerhard Klinkicht disregarded orders to demolish the cathedral. However, on April 12, 1945, fires set by civilian looters in nearby shops spread to the cathedral, collapsing the roof and destroying the interior. A massive restoration followed, and the cathedral partially reopened in 1948.

The catacombs beneath the cathedral contain the remains of over 10,000 Viennese and the internal organs of the Habsburg emperors, whose bodies are buried in the Kapuzinergruft across the city.

Entry to the main nave is free. If you're on a Questo quest through Vienna, Stephansdom is a stop where six centuries of faith and fire are built into every stone.