We recently spent a week in a hotel on the Stephansplatz, neighbors with St. Stephen’s Cathedral. It was fantastic being able to enjoy the architecture from various viewpoints and be close enough to visit whenever I felt like it! Here are some of my favorite photos:
We took the elevator up the north tower where the Cathedral’s famous bell, the Pummerin, hangs. It’s one of the largest bells in the world and was originally made from melted down cannon balls. It’s very special and only rings for very special occasions, like New Year’s. We also climbed over 300 stairs to reach the top of the south tower to catch a different view. It was worth the effort!
I thought the tile work was rather magnificent, and I’m glad that I didn’t have to do it.
Time To Be Inspired 
What a wonderful post, crammed full of beautiful photos. There is just so much intricate detail that its hard to take it all in in one sitting. How lovely to be able to keep popping back. We stayed next to one of Romes magnificent churches when we visited and I loved being able to stroll in when I wished. You see and feel so much more of the shifting atmosphere 🙂
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The architecture is amazing. And to think this was built during a time when they did not have cranes.
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I’ll bet they’d have loved power tools and oh, let me see, how about electricity? I love great old buildings!
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Me too. They really give you a sense of history.
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Wow, impressive, Terri! It blows my mind to think that this extraordinary cathedral was originally constructed centuries before electricity, running water or photo documenting.
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Thanks, V. I think it is so impressive when you consider what life was like when this was built – that someone had the vision to design something so magnificent!
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The tile work must have been a challenge on such a steep roof. I’m guessing that there was a major restoration of the roof after WWII, hence the 1950 date.
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Peter, if you click on my link to the cathedral there is an excellent chronological history. Fascinating history – truly.
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Ah ha! There it is !
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I go to Vienna for work every now and then.. and one thing that frustrates me is that the construction on the exterior never seems to end!!! I want them to rid of the tarp and show the full cathedral in it’s glory!
I am also embarrassed to admit.. I never went up. Just inside, but never up to see the roof. Your photos are gorgeous.. now I’ll be climbing up to see the roof tiles too!
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If this church is like most in Europe, the restoration/cleaning never ends. It’s rare that you ever get to see the complete facades any more. Apparently it is common to see the surface of the hoarding covered in advertising, but there was such a controversy over St. Stephen’s that they removed most of it. I think you need to photograph all you can of the exposed areas, and visit often enough to hope to catch the whole exterior, even if not all at once! Thanks for stopping by.
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Fabulous structure and great geometric roof tiling – great shots Terri…
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Thanks, Catherine. Shouldn’t of stayed up quite so late working on it, but there it is!
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