St. Stephen's Cathedral, Vienna

In 1137, following the Treaty of Mautern, the construction of the first Romanesque parish church, which would eventually become St. Stephen's Cathedral, was initiated. This church was consecrated in 1147.

The initial Romanesque structure of the cathedral was completed in 1160, though major reconstruction and expansion would continue for centuries. The west wall and Romanesque towers were extended between 1230 and 1245.

A significant fire in 1258 destroyed much of the original building. A larger replacement structure, also Romanesque and reusing the existing towers, was built over the ruins and consecrated on April 23, 1263.

In 1304, King Albert I ordered the construction of a Gothic three-nave choir east of the church. Work continued under Duke Albert II, and this Albertine choir was consecrated in 1340.

Duke Rudolf IV initiated a significant westward Gothic extension of the Albertine choir in 1359, which eventually encapsulated the entire old church. The south tower was completed in 1433, and the nave vaulting occurred from 1446 to 1474.

In 1365, Duke Rudolf IV established a chapter of canons for St. Stephen's, disregarding its status as a mere parish church and taking a step towards its elevation to a cathedral.

On January 18, 1469, the Diocese of Vienna was canonically established with St. Stephen's Cathedral as its mother church, a move enabled by Emperor Frederick III's efforts.

In 1722, under Emperor Charles VI, St. Stephen's Cathedral's see was elevated to an archbishopric by Pope Innocent XIII.

St. Stephen's Cathedral has served as the mother church for various ecclesiastical entities, including the Diocese of Vienna established in 1469 and later elevated to an archbishopric.

The cathedral underwent a refurbishment in the Baroque style between 1641 and 1647, during which the High Altar was built.

The overall construction of the cathedral, encompassing various phases and styles, was largely completed by 1578, although ongoing repair and restoration projects continue to the present day.

The current Romanesque and Gothic form of the cathedral was largely initiated by Duke Rudolf IV, standing on the ruins of two earlier churches.

During World War II, fires caused by nearby bomb damage severely damaged the cathedral's roof, causing it to collapse. Reconstruction began immediately, with a limited reopening in 1948 and a full reopening in 1952.

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was married in St. Stephen's Cathedral, had two children baptized here, and his funeral was held in the Chapel of the Cross. He was also appointed an adjunct music director shortly before his death.

The massive south tower, completed in 1433 and standing 136 meters tall, served as a crucial observation and command post during sieges and housed watchmen until 1955.

Construction of the north tower, intended to mirror the south tower, was abandoned in 1511 due to the end of the Gothic cathedral era. It was later augmented with a Renaissance cap in 1578.

The roof is covered by 230,000 glazed tiles, featuring a mosaic of the double-headed eagle symbolizing the Habsburg dynasty on the south side and the coats of arms of Vienna and Austria on the north side.

Due to ongoing conflicts in Hungary, the Máriapócs Icon was transferred to St. Stephen's Cathedral in Vienna in 1697 and placed near the High Altar, becoming a significant object of veneration.

A new heating system was installed to better warm the church during winter without depositing soot and grease on artworks, a problem with previous systems like fireplaces.

The construction of Emperor Frederick III's tomb spanned over 45 years, starting 25 years before his death, and is a significant example of medieval sculptural art.

Following a plague outbreak in 1735, bones from the cemeteries around the cathedral were moved into the catacombs below the church, where burials continued until 1783.

The Ducal Crypt, originally built by Duke Rudolf IV, was expanded in 1754 due to overcrowding, with its chambers renovated and contents rearranged in 1956.

The first organ in St. Stephen's Cathedral is mentioned in historical records dating back to 1334.

After the 1945 fire, Michael Kauffmann completed a large electric action pipe organ in 1960, financed by public donations.

The Austrian firm Rieger rebuilt the choir organ in 1991 and the west end organ (Riesenorgel) between 2017-2020.

In March 2014, a statue of St. Jude Thaddeus was pushed from its base by a vandal.

With its multi-coloured tile roof, St. Stephen's Cathedral has become one of Vienna's most recognizable symbols and has borne witness to many important events in Habsburg and Austrian history.

The cathedral has seen numerous notable musicians serve as Kapellmeister, including Johann Joseph Fux, Georg Reutter, and Joseph Haydn's teacher Leopold Hoffmann.

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart married Constanze Weber in St. Stephen's Cathedral in 1782.

The funeral of the renowned composer Antonio Vivaldi took place in St. Stephen's Cathedral in 1741.

The cathedral hosted the funerals of Emperor Franz Joseph I in 1916 and Empress Zita in 1989, as well as Otto von Habsburg in 2011.

St. Stephen's Cathedral hosted the funerals of former Austrian Presidents Thomas Klestil in 2004 and Kurt Waldheim in 2007.

Formula One world champion and entrepreneur Niki Lauda's funeral was held in St. Stephen's Cathedral in 2019.

The crypt contains the remains of notable figures such as humanist Johannes Cuspinian, painter Jan van Hoogstraten, and minnesinger Neidhart von Reuental.

St. Stephen's Cathedral is a prominent landmark featured in films like 'The Third Man', video games, and is depicted on Austrian 10 cent euro coins and Manner-Schnitten packaging.

Since 2008, two sabres of the Balint Balassi Memorial Sword Award have been blessed during a Balassi Mass held at the cathedral.

Preservation and repair of the medieval cathedral fabric has been a continuous process since its original construction, utilizing modern scientific techniques for stone cleaning and repair.

As Vienna's most important religious building, St. Stephen's Cathedral has witnessed numerous significant events in Habsburg and Austrian history, becoming a key symbol of the city.