St Stephens Cathedral

Vienna, Austria

This is in the center of town. You can't miss it! The roads in town all radiate from this center point like spokes on a wheel. You can not get lost, because all roads lead to the center..

This is an absolutely fantastic cathedral!!!

It is located in the original nucleaus of the city, in the southest corner of an old Roman fort. It marks the geographical center of Vienna. The foundation stone was laid in the year 1359, the south tower begun in 1365 and finished in 1433.The center section was not concluded until 1455. the north tower was begun in 1467 with only the lower half being completed. From 1511 until 1556 no work was done on it. 1556 to 1570 the Renaissance cupola was added to the unfinished tower. The Gothic bell tower, at 137 meters high, is a gracefull silhouette against the sky, visible over all of Vienna.

It was severely damaged in 1945, during the Soviet Union's offensive , and a year earlier was damaged by an aerial bombing, by the United States. The fire overtook the cathedral and the framework for the bells collapsed into the nave.

The church was completely restored by Vienna's population with the exception of the stained glass windows. They proved imposssible to recreate.

If you ever geta chance to go to Vienna, this is a most beautiful cathedral, as is the rest of Vienna! Wander through the city, you'll never lose sight of the spire... nor lose your way back!

Plus you get to see the real side of Vienna while wandering, not just the tourist traps.