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Visit St. Stephen's Cathedral - Stephansdom, one of Vienna’s
most famous sights. St. Stephen's Cathedral defines the city
centre and has been the heart of Vienna for centuries. It
is one of the most famous Viennese sights and was built in
1147 AD. For a long time it was uncontested as highest building
in Europe measuring almost 137 m.
Duke Rudolf IV of Habsburg ordered the complete restructuring
of the church in Gothic style. In 1359, he laid the cornerstone
of the nave with its two aisles. The South Tower, was completed
in 1433 (the Viennese have given it the nickname "Steffl,"
representative of the whole cathedral).
The cathedral has got two very
impressive features: The gigantic roof, and the tall,
lean tower (136,7 metres of hight). One can find only
few gothic towers of such height that were finished in the
Middle Ages. Inside the Cathedral there are many art treasures
like the tomb of Prince Eugene of Savoy (1754), the Altarpiece
of Wiener Neustadt, the pulpit by Anton Pilgram (1514-15),
the sepulcher of Emperor Frederik III by Niclas Gerhaert (1467-1513),
the watchman`s lookout, a self portrait of the sculptor, and
the Gothic winged altar.
The sound of the 'Pummerin', the cathedrals big bell,
is used to celebrate New Year in Austria.
Many myths are being told about Vienna's
famous landmark: Find out about this weird indentation of
the wall at the left side of the main entrance, which was
used to measure the size of a loaf of bread by dissatisfied
customers.
Then there's the story of the Servants' Madonna, which
once saved an innocent girl from being arrested for stealing.
At the cathedral's apse you can admire the so-called "Zahnwehherrgott"
(Lord of tooth ache), an 'ecce homo' statue once situated
at the graveyard outside the cathedral.
And what about the incomplete northern steeple? Financial
troubles because of the permanent threat of a Turkish siege?
The Gothic style had gone out of fashion? Yes, all this is
true. But the legend of the young architect who was mortally
in love with the daughter of the architect building the southern
steeple is much more intriguing...
St. Stephen's Cathedral Stephansplatz,
A-1010 Vienna
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