Explore Vienna

St. Stephen's Cathedral on Stephansplatz is the mother church of the Archdiocese of Vienna. Its Romanesque and Gothic form was largely begun under Duke Rudolf IV in the 14th century on the site of a church consecrated in 1147, and it is known for its patterned tiled roof and 136-metre south tower.

St. Peter's Church is a Baroque Catholic church on Petersplatz, just off the Graben, built from 1701 to 1733; Gabriele Montani began it and Johann Lukas von Hildebrandt continued the work from 1703. Its green oval dome rises 56 metres, and inside Johann Michael Rottmayr painted the dome fresco. Since 1970 the church has been entrusted to Opus Dei.

The Karlskirche on Karlsplatz is a Baroque church that Emperor Charles VI vowed during the plague of 1713 and dedicated to Saint Charles Borromeo. Built from 1716 to 1737 to plans by Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach, it combines a green dome, a Greek portico and two columns with spiral reliefs; inside is Johann Michael Rottmayr's dome fresco.

The Votivkirche is a neo-Gothic church beside the University of Vienna, built from 1856 to 1879 to designs by Heinrich von Ferstel as thanks for Emperor Franz Joseph's survival of an assassination attempt in 1853. Its museum in the raised oratory shows liturgical objects, banners and the carved Antwerp Passion Altar of around 1500.

Klosterneuburg Abbey is an Augustinian monastery above the Danube just north of Vienna, founded in 1114 by Margrave Leopold III and his wife Agnes. The Baroque complex was built mostly between 1730 and 1834, and the church has neo-Gothic twin towers. Its treasures include the Verdun Altar of 1181 by Nicholas of Verdun, with 45 gilded copper plates.