After all of the churches and cathedrals that I have visited on this trip, St. Stephen's Cathedral did not fail to provide a breathtaking view of yet another fabulous cathedral.
An interesting comment about the reconstruction is on the wikipedia site.
The most visible current repair project is a multi-year renovation of the tall south tower, for which scaffolding has been installed. Fees from advertising on the netting around the scaffolding were defraying some of the costs of the work, but the concept of such advertising was controversial and has been discontinued. As of December 2008, the majority of the restoration on the south tower has been finished, and most of the scaffolding removed.
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| The church was heavily damaged during WWII. |
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| A gate was drawn across this section, probably in preparation for the upcoming Mass. I stretched through it and took these photos. This is a high resolution photo, so click on it to see it in greater detail. This immense nave is more than a football field long and nine stories tall. [Steves] |
The nave is lined with clusters of slender pillars that soar upward to support the ribbed crisscross arches of the ceiling. Stylistically, the nave is Gothic with a Baroque overlay. It's a spacious, glorious venue that is often used for high-profile concerts. [Steves]
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| The organ. High resolution photo also. |
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| The floor |
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| Ceiling detail |
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| Pillar Statues: The nave's columns are richly populated with 77 life-size stone and ceramic statues, making a saintly parade to the high altar. [Steves] |
One more task to take care of before I leave.
It was a beautiful cathedral.
Rick Steves offers a great walking tour of the Cathedral in his Vienna book. The majority of the Cathedral was closed at the time, but I would return to see the remaining portions closer.
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