Dominating the Vienna skyline with its magnificent patterned roof and 137-meter (450-foot) south tower, St. Stephen's Cathedral (Stephansdom) has been the spiritual heart of Austria for over 700 years. This architectural marvel blends Romanesque and Gothic styles, with construction beginning in 1137 and continuing through various expansions until its final form took shape in the 16th century.
The cathedral's most striking feature is its dazzling roof covered with 230,000 glazed tiles forming the Habsburg imperial eagle and Vienna's coat of arms. Visitors can climb 343 steps to the tower's viewing platform for panoramic city vistas. Inside, the cavernous nave reveals stunning Gothic stonework, the richly carved Wiener Neustadt Altar, and the tomb of Emperor Frederick III.
Beyond its visual splendor, Stephansdom remains an active place of worship with daily masses and special concerts featuring its famous pipe organ. The catacombs beneath the cathedral hold the bones of over 11,000 Viennese citizens, including victims of the 1679 plague.
