Cattedrale di Santo Stefano
Vienna
St. Stephen's Cathedral is the symbol of Vienna. Its south tower, 136 metres tall, rises above the historic centre. The roof is covered in glazed tiles that form colourful patterns.
A church that grew for centuries
There was already a church on this spot in the 1100s. Between 1230 and 1250 the façade was built, with the doorway and the two low towers. Then came the great Gothic choir, the nave and the south tower.
The north tower was meant to be a twin of the south one, but work stopped halfway. Later it was given a dome.
Fire and rebuilding
In the spring of 1945 a fire in the nearby houses spread to the cathedral: sparks set the roof alight. The beams burned, and the old Pummerin fell and broke.
After the war, all the Austrian regions helped to rebuild the cathedral. Each one gave a part of the church. The new roof was held up by a steel frame.
What to look at from the square
The main doorway, the Riesentor, is Romanesque and older than the rest of the church. On either side rise the two Heathen Towers.
Walk around the church: you will see statues, stone plaques and small niches. Look up at the roof and search for the patterns made by the tiles.
