St. Stephen’s Cathedral, also called Steffl for short by the Viennese, is probably Austria’s most important landmark. The cathedral’s beginnings go back to 1137. St. Stephen’s Cathedral is located in the center of the 1st district and thus the inner city of Vienna.
St. Stephen’s Cathedral is 107.2 meters long and 34.2 meters wide. It has four towers. The highest is the south tower with 136.44 meters. Via 343 steps you get to the Türmerstube, from which you have a gigantic view over Vienna. A total of 13 bells hang here. The most famous bell of St. Stephen’s Cathedral, the Pummerin, is located in the 68.3 meter high north tower. It is the second largest free-swinging church bell in Europe. On the roof of St. Stephen’s Cathedral, the k.u.k. The double-headed eagle and the coats of arms of the city of Vienna and Austria have been relocated. The interior of St. Stephen’s Cathedral was changed again and again over the centuries up to the Baroque period.
In addition to numerous valuable altars and side chapels, the impressive cathedral treasure can also be visited: elaborate relics, monstrances, liturgical texts and books as well as vestments decorated with gold and precious stones. Numerous celebrities also found their final resting place in St. Stephen’s Cathedral: Emperor Friedrich III. was buried in an impressive marble sarcophagus. The cover plate of the tomb alone weighs eight tons. Prince Eugene of Savoy found his final resting place in his own chapel. And in the catacombs of St. Stephen’s Cathedral, among others, the Habsburg Duke Rudolph IV “the founder” is buried, who laid the foundation stone for the new Gothic building of the cathedral in 1359. The tombs of the Viennese cardinals and archbishops can also be found in the catacombs.
The tour down to the catacombs of St. Stephen’s Cathedral is very popular. Under the cathedral there is an extensive system of around 30 burial chambers, which have been called “catacombs” since the 19th century. Access is through a staircase in the left aisle and through the crucifix chapel.