St. Stephen's Cathedral or Stefansdom is not just one of the majestic symbols of Vienna, it is its spiritual center and the main temple of Austria. There is probably not a single person who has visited Vienna and has not visited this Cathedral.
St. Stephen is revered as the first Christian martyr, stoned at St. Paul's eyes. Therefore, for some time on December 26 in the Austrian calendar - St. Stefan.
This monumental monument of all saints totals more than one hundred years. In 1137, a Christian church was built outside the borders of former Roman fortifications, 10 years later it was consecrated, then it was repeatedly burned, rebuilt and rebuilt. In 1359, Duke Rudolph IV of the Habsburg Dynasty on the site of the former Romanesque church laid the first stone in the foundation of the Gothic temple. He also established a council of clergymen under the bishop - the chapter of all saints - in 1365, whose meetings were to be held in the cathedral.
This circumstance not only contributed to the development of the church, but was also decisive in the founding of the Vienna episcopate. Repeated reconstructions somehow changed the appearance of the structure, but the Gothic look and architectural plan of the cathedral remained unchanged.
The temple together with the city survived more than one siege (1528 and 1683), on one of the cores, stuck in the wall, the crowns carved the face of the Turkish vizier K. Mustafa.
The cathedral witnessed the most significant events in the history of Vienna. For example, there in 1782 Wolfgang-Amadeus Mozart married Constance Weber. And in 1791 he was buried in the chapel of this temple. In the crypt lie the remains of Prince Eugene of Savoy, the hero of Austria, and in the tomb under the cathedral, in the catacombs, the internal organs of the members of the Habsburg dynasty are stored in burial urns.
Emperor Franz Joseph I, after 68 years of reigning in the empire, without having collapsed, died at the age of 86 from pneumonia in 1916, he was also buried in the main church of the state.
During the bombing of 1945, the cathedral was badly damaged, but thanks to the efforts of restorers and the help of the state, it became what we see it today.
Each element of the sculptural decoration of the cathedral has its own meaning. But, without delving into the jungle of knowledge (it is better to read about this in the guidebooks), I propose to examine its interior. All religious buildings are tall, and Gothic buildings especially. Only with your head thrown back, you can consider the arches of the temple. In addition to 2 rows of slender columns decorated with figures of Christ, saints and martyrs, it is worth paying attention to the bishop’s department, in which portraits of the church fathers symbolize 4 temperaments and 4 ages.
Toads and snakes on the railing are evil, lizards are good, a small dog from above protects the preacher from amphibians. Below - window onlookers - a stone image of the master, whose work belongs to the creation of this masterpiece. On the north wall you can see the figure of the master Pilgram, who looked out of the window, in the image of the builder of the cathedral with a compass and a square.
The main altar of black marble is particularly impressive. However, like the sarcophagus of Frederick III of red marble (to the right of the altar), which is decorated with animals and skulls, symbolizing the sins of the emperor. It is curious that Frederick ordered the tombstone 30 years before his death. In addition to many sculptural compositions, gilded frescoes and marble, one cannot fail to notice the luxurious large organ located above the entrance to the temple. In a word, there are a lot of interesting things, you won’t tell us everything. And the catacombs in several underground floors, where urns with hearts and organs of the Habsburgs are stored, the remains of Viennese archbishops and thousands of citizens were not included in our program, but those who wish can always go this way as part of an excursion group.
Unlike palaces, castles and museums, where any shooting is strictly prohibited, in all churches you can take pictures and video.
Summing up the above, I will add only one thing - visit the Cathedral of St. Stefan, being in Vienna and you will not be disappointed.