St. Stephen Photo: Cathedral Of St. Stephen

Cathedral of Saint Stephen, located in the city center, a wonderful Austrian monument of late Gothic. Its construction began in 1137, but the fires caused great damage to the Romanesque building and in 1359 construction began on the present building. During the Second World war, the Cathedral was badly damaged, but, thanks to the efforts of the entire Austrian people, was safely restored.

"A giant gate with a beautifully carved portal, and two identical Pagan towers have survived from Roman Basilica. The South-West portal called "Singing", as in the Cathedral was composed only of men and choristers. The sculptures of the portal depict St. Paul's witness of the martyrdom of St. Stephen and Duke Rudolf IV the founder of the Cathedral, holding a model of the Cathedral. Through the Episcopal portal to the Cathedral hosted the women

In 1359 built the South tower, and in the middle of the XV century began to build the North tower, but it was left unfinished. It is the largest bell of the Cathedral (the second by weight in Europe – 20183 kg) Pummerin. To hear the voice of Pummerin only 10 times a year. Bright black-white-yellow-green roof of the Cathedral, with a geometric pattern composed with more than 250 thousand majolica tiles.

The Church interior is decorated with sculptures and stained glass Windows. The Department, which is installed in the main nave, decorated with portraits of the four Fathers of the Church. The sculptor has depicted himself, looking out the "window" under the stairs of the Department. In the crypt under the main altar lie the urn with the remains of some members of the Imperial Habsburg dynasty.

The Cathedral Museum has a large collection of religious paintings and sculptures, valuable exhibits of decorative arts.

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