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| Picture by Kolohe |
Located in the center of Stephansplatz, the central square in the heart of Vienna, Austria, is St Stephen's Cathedral (Stephansdom). The cathedral was built more than eight centuries ago and is one of Austria's most treasured historic sites. It is considered one of the finest examples of Gothic architecture in Europe and is easily recognized by its brilliantly colored roof, covered with more than 230,000 glazed tiles that form geometric patterns of the Habsburg coat of arms depicting a double-headed eagle on the south side, and on the north side are the coats of arms of the City of Vienna and the Republic of Austria
Inside the Nave are vaulted ceilings, beautiful stained-glass windows, intricate stone carvings, ornate altars, a Gothic pulpit, and an organ with 125 stops and over 10,000 pipes. The interior of the building was heavily damaged during WW II, but after the war it was restored and reopened in 1952.
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| Picture by Kolohe |
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| Picture by Kolohe |
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| Picture by Kolohe |
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| Picture by Kolohe |
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| Picture by Kolohe |
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| Picture by Kolohe |
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| Picture by Kolohe |
There were lines to visit both the north and south towers, and even though the south tower is slightly taller, we decided to visit the north tower where the Pummerin Bell is located.
The famous Pummerin Bell, one of Europe's largest free-swinging church bells, weighs over 21 tonnes (a tonne is 2,204.6 US pounds) and was cast from 100 cannons seized during the failed siege of Vienna by the Turks in 1683.
According to legend, construction of the North Tower, which began in 1450, was never completed because its master builder broke a pact he had made with the devil by speaking a holy name. As punishment, the devil caused the builder to fall to his death from the tower before it was finished.
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| Picture by Kolohe |
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| Picture by Kolohe |
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| Picture by Kolohe |
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| Picture by Kolohe |
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| Picture by Kolohe |
St. Peter's Church (Peterskirche) is just a short walk from St. Stephen's and is another beautiful Baroque landmark. It is easily recognized by its green copper dome.
A church has stood on this site since the Middle Ages, but the present structure was built between 1701 and 1733 as a tribute following the end of the Great Plague.
The building's interior is filled with gilded decorations, colorful marble, ornate sculptures, and beautiful ceiling frescoes. Because of its excellent acoustics, it is currently a popular place for classical music concerts featuring Mozart, Vivaldi, and other famous composers.
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| Picture by Kolohe |
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| Picture by Kolohe |
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| Picture by Kolohe |
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| Picture by Kolohe |
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| Picture by Kolohe |
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| Picture by Kolohe |
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| Picture by Kolohe |
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| Picture by Kolohe |
Graben, one of the most famous squares in Vienna's first district, is located just southwest of St. Peter's church. To the northwest is the famous Louis Vuitton store and the beginning of the Kohlmarkt, one of Vienna's most famous luxury shopping streets. Graben Boulevard to the southeast has been the city's premier promenade for more than 700 years and is considered to be one of Europe's most beautiful pedestrian streets.
In the 12th century, Graben was a defensive trench to protect the military camp Vindobona, but it was filled in and made a commercial area financed by the ransom paid for England's King Richard the Lionheart after his capture in Austria.
Josefsbrunnen (Joseph Fountain) on the Graben depicts Saint Joseph holding a staff and looking down toward the Christ Child. Joseph is shown raising one hand in a gesture of blessing or instruction.
The fountain stands on the west side of the famous Pestsaule (Plague Column) and dates from 1680. It honors Saint Joseph, the patron saint of workers and families, who is depicted with the Christ Child and a lily, his traditional symbol.
Originally the fountain served both as a source of drinking water and as a religious monument, and like many other historic fountains, it reflected the city's commitment to providing clean water while also celebrating Catholic faith in the years following the Counter-Reformation. The fountain is no longer operational.
The Pestsaule (Plague Column) is one of Vienna's most beautiful and famous Baroque monuments. The column was commissioned by Emperor Leopold I after the devastating plague epidemic of 1679.
Emperor Leopold I fled as the plague swept through the city, but vowed that if the plague ended, he would return and commission a grand monument in gratitude to God.
After the plague, when Leopold returned, he commissioned a large marble monument "worthy of the Habsburg capital." The finished monument became the model for many other plague columns erected throughout Central Europe. The Plague Column is 21 meters (69 feet) tall.
Pestsaule is located on the Graben and features a cascade of angels, clouds, saints, and gilded figures rising upward, creating an extraordinary sense of movement and spirituality. At its summit is the Holy Trinity, symbolizing divine protection and salvation. Lower on the monument, Emperor Leopold I is depicted kneeling in prayer, emphasizing both his personal vow and the Habsburgs' devotion to the Catholic faith. The Pestsaule is one of Vienna's most photographed landmarks and a reminder of the city's resilience, faith, and artistic heritage.
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| Picture by Kolohe |
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| Picture by Kolohe |
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| Picture by Kolohe |
From the Graben, there are better, unobstructed views of St. Stephen's.
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| Picture by Kolohe |
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| Picture by Kolohe |
On a small side street just off the Graben close to St. Stephen's Cathedral are the Wien Museum Mozart apartment and cafe. The apartment is where Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and his wife, Constanze, lived during the height of his career from 1784 to 1787, and where he wrote the opera The Marriage of Figaro. The opera opened on May 1, 1786, and only lasted for 9 performances. The people of Vienna did not like it. In 1787, Mozart performed the opera in Prague, and it was a great success. People loved it, and it soon became recognized as one of the greatest operas ever written. Because the Prague audiences embraced the opera so enthusiastically, Mozart wrote his next great opera, Don Giovanni, in Prague, where Pasquale Bondini commissioned the work. It premiered at the Estates Theatre in Prague on October 29, 1787.
The apartment is the largest, most prestigious, and most expensive one that Mozart ever lived in. Because of his rapidly acquired celebrity wealth, he wanted an apartment commensurate with his status, and he needed the space for social events and to accommodate guests.
This was really an interesting museum; unfortunately, photography was not allowed in the apartment.
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| Picture by Kolohe |
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| Picture by Kolohe |
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| Picture by Kolohe |
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| Picture by Kolohe |
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| Picture by Kolohe |
Continuing down the Graben is the Leopoldsbrunnen (St. Leopold Fountain), one of the historic fountains that played an important role in the city's water supply before modern plumbing provided fresh water to residents in the area.
Saint Leopold (1073-1136) is the patron saint of Austria, and in the 17th century the fountain was built in his honor. It features an older, bearded Leopold holding a banner and looking down at a small putto (cherub-like child figure) holding a drawing of Klosterneuburg Abbey, which he founded. The pedestal beneath the statue contains sculpted reliefs depicting important events from St. Leopold's life.
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| Picture by Kolohe |
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| Picture by Kolohe |
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| Picture by Kolohe |
Just when we were running out of energy, we found a Lindt Candy Store.
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| Picture by Kolohe |
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| Picture by Kolohe |
