St. Stephen’s Cathedral

30 Fascinating Facts About St. Stephen’s Cathedral

1. Location: St. Stephen’s Cathedral stands in the heart of Vienna on Stephansplatz, right in the Inner City. Many famous landmarks, including the Vienna State Opera and the Hofburg, are located nearby.
2. Records: At 136.4 meters tall, St. Stephen’s Cathedral was the tallest building in Austria until 1955. It lost this title only with the construction of the Bisamberg transmission tower, which, although significantly taller at 265 meters, is technically not classified as a building. In 1964, the cathedral was finally overtaken by another building, the 252-meter-high Danube Tower. Nevertheless, St. Stephen’s Cathedral remains the tallest church in Austria, just ahead of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Linz, which stands at 134.8 meters.
3. Founding history: The origins of St. Stephen’s Cathedral date back to a barter agreement made in 1137 between Margrave Leopold IV and the Bishop of Passau. This agreement allowed for the construction of a Romanesque church dedicated to St. Stephen just outside the city walls of Vienna at the time.
4. Fire of 1258: In 1258, a devastating fire destroyed large parts of the original Romanesque church, including the roof and much of the interior. This event triggered a major reconstruction of the building.
5. Extension in the 14th century:In 1359, Duke Rudolf IV, known as “the Founder,” laid the foundation stone for the Gothic expansion of St. Stephen’s Cathedral. The construction of the impressive South Tower, begun during his reign, symbolized Vienna’s growing prosperity and still shapes the cathedral’s appearance today, even though it was completed later.
6. Second Turkish siege: During the Second Turkish Siege of Vienna in 1683, St. Stephen’s Cathedral served as a place of prayer and hope for the city’s residents. As Ottoman troops tried to break through the city walls, the people of Vienna gathered inside the cathedral to pray for protection.
7. Resistance movement: During the Nazi era, members of the Austrian resistance group “O5” carved the symbol “O5” into a wall of St. Stephen’s Cathedral as a sign of protest. This historic symbol, representing the resistance against National Socialism, can still be seen today near the main entrance.
8. Planned destruction: In April 1945, shortly before the end of World War II, a German general ordered the destruction of St. Stephen’s Cathedral as part of a scorched earth strategy. Captain Gerhard Klinkicht, however, refused to carry out the order and thus saved the cathedral from destruction.
9. Fire of 1945: In April 1945, St. Stephen’s Cathedral was severely damaged by a fire that destroyed the roof and parts of the interior. The fire was caused by flying sparks from surrounding fires that ignited the cathedral’s wooden roof structures.
10. Architecture: St. Stephen’s Cathedral is a masterpiece of Gothic architecture, impressing with its monumental scale and artistic detail. Features like the intricately crafted gargoyles and the finely designed windows make it a landmark of medieval craftsmanship.
11. South Tower: Rising to a height of 136.4 meters, the South Tower is the tallest part of St. Stephen’s Cathedral and is particularly remarkable for its shallow foundations, which are only four meters deep. Visitors can climb 343 steps to the top and enjoy a breathtaking view over Vienna.
12. Tower keeper: From 1534 to 1955, a tower keeper was stationed in the South Tower, watching over the city from a height of 67 meters and reporting any signs of fire. During the day, warnings were given with flags, while at night lanterns and sound signals such as horn blasts or bells were used.
13. North tower: The North Tower of St. Stephen’s Cathedral was never completed and reaches only 68 meters in height. It was originally intended to mirror the South Tower, but construction stopped in 1511, and today it is topped by a Baroque dome that marks its unfinished state.
14. Pummerin: Since 1957, the Pummerin, Austria’s largest bell, has been located in the North Tower of St. Stephen’s Cathedral. The original bell, cast in 1711 from cannons captured during the Second Turkish Siege, was destroyed during World War II; in 1951, its remains were recast into the current Pummerin, which now rings on special occasions.
15. Round dance of bells: In addition to the famous Pummerin, St. Stephen’s Cathedral houses a total of 22 bells that are rung for various events. Together, they form the “St. Stephen’s Cathedral Bell Ring,” creating a harmonious sound that is especially impressive during festive services.
16. Roofscape: The roof of St. Stephen’s Cathedral is made up of about 230,000 colorful tiles, arranged in elaborate patterns featuring the coat of arms of Vienna and the double-headed eagle of the Holy Roman Empire. After the fire in 1945, the entire roof was rebuilt and remains one of the cathedral’s most striking features today.
17. Cathedral organ: The main organ of St. Stephen’s Cathedral, known as the “Giant Organ,” is one of the largest in Europe. It was redesigned in 1960, extensively restored in 2020, and now boasts 12,616 pipes that impress audiences at concerts and church services alike.
18. Pulpit: The late Gothic pulpit inside St. Stephen’s Cathedral, created in 1515 by Anton Pilgram, is richly decorated with biblical scenes and portraits of the evangelists. Particularly notable is the small figure of the artist himself, peeking out from a window below the pulpit and charming visitors with his humorous expression.
19. Giant’s Gate: The magnificent Giant’s Gate on the west façade dates back to the Romanesque construction phase around 1230 and impresses with its detailed reliefs depicting Christ as the Judge of the World and various life scenes. The richly decorated columns framing the entrance are adorned with symbolic carvings.
20. The crypt: Beneath the main altar lies the crypt, where the embalmed organs of Viennese bishops and archdukes are preserved in elaborately crafted metal containers. Once reserved for the highest ecclesiastical and secular dignitaries, this simple yet dignified place fascinates visitors with its historical significance.
21. Catacombs: The catacombs beneath St. Stephen’s Cathedral once served as a burial site during the plague and today hold the remains of around 11,000 people. Visitors can explore these eerie corridors on guided tours and gain a glimpse into the burial culture of medieval Vienna.
22. Relic: A fragment of the Holy Cross, an important religious relic, is kept in the Chapel of the Cross at St. Stephen’s Cathedral. Since the 14th century, this precious treasure has been venerated by the faithful and displayed during special liturgical celebrations.
23. Servants’ Madonna: The “Servants’ Madonna” is a Gothic stone statue of the Virgin Mary, created between 1310 and 1325, and is one of the most important artworks in St. Stephen’s Cathedral. According to legend, the statue once proved the innocence of a servant girl falsely accused of theft, making it a symbol of protection for servants.
24. Zahnwehherrgott: The so-called “Zahnwehherrgott,” an image of the suffering Christ, can be found in two places at St. Stephen’s Cathedral: the original on the west wall of the North Tower hall and a copy on the outer wall of the central choir. For centuries, believers have prayed to this figure, believed to relieve toothache — a tradition inspired by its sorrowful expression and an old legend.
25. Legend: A well-known legend tells of three young men who mockingly passed by the statue of Christ in St. Stephen’s Cemetery at night and tied a “tooth cloth” around it because of its pained expression. That same night, they were struck with toothache, repented, asked for forgiveness, and were healed — a miracle that turned the “Zahnwehherrgott” into a place of hope for those suffering from toothache.
26. Stonemason’s marks: Throughout the walls of St. Stephen’s Cathedral, numerous stonemason’s marks can still be found — small symbols left by the craftsmen who built the cathedral. These marks served to identify their work and today offer a fascinating glimpse into the building’s history.
27. Coin: St. Stephen’s Cathedral is depicted on the reverse side of the Austrian 10-cent coin. This design honors the cathedral’s outstanding significance as one of Austria’s most famous landmarks.
28. Nicknames: The people of Vienna affectionately refer to St. Stephen’s Cathedral as “Steffl.” Originally, this nickname referred to the mighty South Tower before it became synonymous with the entire cathedral.
29. Origin of name: St. Stephen’s Cathedral is dedicated to St. Stephen, the first Christian martyr. Stephen was stoned to death in Jerusalem in the 1st century after being accused of blasphemy for his sermons and remains a central figure of early Christianity.
30. UNESCO World Heritage Site: St. Stephen’s Cathedral is part of Vienna’s historic center, which has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2001. This designation highlights the exceptional cultural and historical value of the area.