| Built: |
Unknown.
A church has been here since at least 1144. |
| Also
known as: |
Saint
Stephan's Cathedral |
| Maximum
height: |
136.4
meters |
| Maximum
length: |
107.2
meters |
| Width
of the choirs combined: |
34.2
meters |
| Height
of the choir roof: |
46.7
meters |
| Type: |
Holy place |
| Observation
deck: |
Yes |
| Location: |
Stephansplatz |
Stephansdom
is the heart and soul of Vienna, the way Fountain
Square is to Cincinnati,
or the River Thames is to London.
It is the most recognizable landmark in the city,
and the square is the main gathering place. This is
where Mozart was married, and where his funeral was
held. There's a saying that if you're looking for
someone in Vienna, get a coffee and find a table at
one of the outdoor cafes in Stephansplatz. Eventually
the person you're looking for will walk by. Stephansdom
is itself dominated by its one large tower, the Alt
Steffl built between 1359 and 1433. Every bit of 450-feet-tall
(136.4 meters), this Gothic spire looks down hard
on the tourists looking up to the heavens. It seems
impossibly large, and if you're foolish enough you
can climb up the solid stone spiral staircase to the
top. This is not for the weak. It is a claustrophobic
experience with no opportunity for rest. There are
no refreshments at the top, but the view is spectacular.
This is where you can really appreciate the roof.
More than 500,000 tiles form geometric patterns at
dizzying angles. The tiles spell out the dates of
the cathedral's major reconstructions -- 1831 on one
side, and 1950 on the other. The 1831 side bears the
coat of arms of the Austrian Empire and the initials
F.I. for Frances the First. The 1950 side has the
coat of arms of the Second Republic, and the city
of Vienna. The north tower has never been completed.
Officially, the money ran out. But legend has it that
construction was stopped when its architect broke
a pact with the devil and was thrown from the tower
to his death. Even creepier -- there is a portrait
inside called "Christ With Toothache" that allegedly
gives people who make fun of it toothaches. Smile
when you go by. Because of the narrow streets and
close proximity of other buildings it is hard to get
a good picture of Stephansdom without a special lens.
At night it is lit up in white, and seems to loom
impossibly large in the night sky like some alpine
mountain in the distance. Underneath are catacombs.
Tours are available in a number of languages. There
is also a pulpit outside built in 1456 celebrating
the defeat of the Turks in Belgrade. More Turkish
history -- the bell in the north tower was forged
from Turk cannons abandoned in when they fled the
city in 1683. Still can't get thoughts of Stephansdom
out of your head? Listen to the cathedral's own radio
station broadcasting classical music on 107.3 FM.
Why 107.3? Because that's as close as they could get
to 107.2, which is the length of the cathedral in
meters.
-
The
south tower is 136.4 meters tall.
- The
north tower is 60.6 meters tall.
- The
roof is covered with 230,000 tiles.
- The
tombstones that festoon the exterior wall of the cathedral
are from Saint Stephan's Cemetery which was paved
over to make Stephansplatz.
-
There
is a legend that the cathedral's final architect
disappeared just after it was consecrated in 1147.
Some people take this as a sign that there was divine
intervention in its construction.
- While
many cathedrals face east or west, this one is pointed
somewhat southeast. It is believed to be pointing
to the location where the sun rose on the morning
of 26 December, 1137.
- A
pagan church once existed on the site. Some remnants
of that church can still be seen in the Stephansdom.
It was common for Christian churches to use pieces
of the Pagan churches they replaced in their construction
in order to break their spell and show the power of
the Church. The easiest item to spot is a Roman tombstone
on the inside of the Giant's Portal.
- At
one time the bone of a mammoth was on display over
the door of the Giant's Portal.
- The
church bends slightly to the left.
- Above
the sanctuary there is an attic which is used for
public gatherings like art exhibitions.
- For
more than 500 years the south tower was used as a
lookout post by the fire brigade.
- 1230-1245
- Much of the building is razed when it attains a
higher status in the church, and must be rebuilt.
-
1263 - Bishop Otto of Passau consecrates the cathedral.
- 1267
- Care of the cathedral is placed in the hands of
the Cura Animarum, who still take care of it today.
- 1304-1340
- The Albertine Choir is constructed.
- 1359
- Duke Rudolph IV lays the cornerstone for the Ducal
Chapels, created on his order.
- 1433
- The south tower is completed.
- 1417
- 1430 - The lower sacristy is constructed.
- 1430
- The nave walls are torn down. They had been replaced
by more modern Gothic walls.
- 1450
- Emperor Friedrick III lays the cornerstone for the
south tower.
- 1511
- Construction of the south tower is abandoned.
- 1578
- A cupola is built to cover up the top of the unfinished
south tower.
- 1683
- The cathedral is struck by more than 1,000 cannonballs
during a siege by the Turks.
- 1699
- Stephansdom's reliquary is torn down.
- 1711
- The main bell, known as the "Pummerin"
is cast from the metal of captured Turkish cannons.
- 1782
- Emperor Joseph II forbids any more burials in the
catacombs of the Stephansdom. The remains of an estimated
11,000 bodies are still there and available for public
viewing.
- 1838
- 1860 - The north tower's cupola is rebuilt.
- 1860
- The clock is taken off the north tower for repair.
It was never returned.
- 1945
- The cathedral burns for two days when embers from
nearby burning buildings drift over Stephansdom, setting
it alight. The neighboring buildings were burning
because of Allied bombs.
- 1948
- The first mass is held in Stephansdom since it suffered
damage in the Second World War.
- 1952
- Cardinal Innitzer presides over the inauguration
of the rebuilt Stephansdom.
- 1957
- The new Pummerlin is put in place. It is cast from
the remains of the old bell, destroyed in Allied air
strikes.
- 1953
- Burials are once again held in Stephansdom's catacombs.
- 1983
- Pope John Paul II visits Stephansdom.
- 1988
- Pope John Paul II visits Stephansdom.
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