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St. Stephen's Cathedral - Stephansdom(in German) is one of the most famous sights in Vienna. St. Stephen's Cathedral is actually the city centre and has been the heart of Vienna for centuries. Stephansdom is one of the most famous Viennese sights and was built around 1147 AD. For a very long time it was accepted as the highest building in Europe which measured almost 137 meters. Duke Rudolf IV of Habsburg Dynasty ordered the complete restructuring of the St. Stephen's Cathedral in Gothic style. In 1359, he laid the cornerstone of the nave with its two aisles. The South Tower of the cathedral was completed in 1433. The St. Stephan's Cathedral has got two very impressive features: The gigantic roof, and the tall, lean tower (136 meters of height). You can find only a few gothic towers of such height that were finished in the Middle Ages. Inside the Stephansdom there are many art treasures like the tomb of Prince Eugene of Savoy, the Altarpiece of Wiener Neustadt, the pulpit by Anton Pilgram and the Gothic winged altar. The sound of the Pummerin, St. Stephen's Cathedral's big bell, is used to celebrate the New Year in Austria. At the Stephansdom's apse you can see
the so-called "Zahnwehherrgott" (Lord of tooth ache), a statue once situated at the graveyard outside the cathedral. And
what about the incomplete northern steeple? Financial troubles
because of the permanent threat of a Turkish siege? The Gothic style
had gone out of fashion? Yes, all this is true. But the legend of
the young architect who was mortally in love with the daughter of
the architect building the southern steeple is much more
intriguing... |