Don Quijote de Viena
Wien, 1. Bezirk, Stephansdom, la chiesa di Santo Stefano, la Catedral de San Esteban de Viena, La Cathédrale Saint-Étienne, St. Stephen's Cathedral, Vienna, Katedra św. Szczepana w Wiedniu (Stephansplatz)
(further pictures and enormous amounts of information you can get by clicking on the link at the end of page!)
St. Stephen's Cathedral
Seat of the Archbishop (Cardinal) of Vienna, one of the most important buildings of the Central European High and Late Gothic, monumental example of the South-German-Austrian multi-naved church, landmark of Vienna. Characteristic is the independent lateral position of the towers, the inclusion of the romanesque western facade, the high Gothic hall choir and the mighty steep roof with colorful brick patterning.
History
1147
The first Romanesque church - from Passau founded (hence patron saint: saint Stephen Protomartyr) - is consecrated. It is located in a quarter of new settlements of merchants, which in the second half of the 12th Century was included in the city's fortifications (which is the part between Singerstraße and wool line (Wollzeile), the road to Hungary). It is located outside, to the southeast, of the oldest city area of the Roman fort, Vindobona. This building was in its dimensions already a large basilical complex, at its completion already including the floor plan of the Heath towers in the West.
1263
Re-consecration after the fire. The impacts on the Romanesque church are not precisely known. The huge gate was already previously rebuilt, when Vienna was for a short time residence of the emperor of the Holy Roman Empire. In succession, the reconstruction of the west gallery and the expansion of the western towers (Heath towers) took place. From this period stem also most of the sculptures of the giant gate, the vaults, capitals and rose windows at the west gallery.
Stephansdom64.jpg (35605 bytes)
1304 -1340
Construction of the Gothic hall choir, Albertinian choir, named after the Habsburg Albert II (1330-1358).
The citizenship of Vienna initially purchased the required properties and "as the owner of the Gothic choir in the Zwettler (city in Lower Austria) documents of 1303 and 1304 Viennese citizens are testified".
This civic foundation was then converted by a princely.
The following indulgence certificate - in the original written on parchment and provided with a hanging seal - is in a sense the main historical document of the choir consecration and thus also to the architectural history of St. Stephen of great importance.
1340
Bishop Peter of Marchapolis gives, at the request of the parishioners, all who attend at the anniversary of the consecration of the choir of St. Stephen's Church, which was accomplished on the above day in his presence by Bishop Albert of Passau, or at the feasts of the altar patrons of the church, an indulgence of 40 days.
1359
Laying of the foundation stone for further Gothic reconstruction of the nave (south and north wall), the Singertor and the Bischofstor (gate) and the two double chapels laterally to the Romanesque western building. Furthermore, the construction of overall four towers was planned. In fact, only the southern transept tower (the "saint Stephen's Tower") was first started.
1365
Those conversion measures are associated with the efforts of Duke Rudolf IV to raise Vienna to the status of a diocese, and with the founding of the University of Vienna.
1395
Consecration of the chapel of Saint Catherine ("baptistery") on the east side of the south tower.
1404
Peter of Prachatitz is Dombaumeister (cathedral builder). The citizenship by providing financial support pushes ahead the expansion of the tower.
1417 - 1430
Establishment of the lower sacristy
1433
Completion of the south tower under Hans von Prachatitz
1440 - 1459
Completion of the High Gothic nave
1450
Planning and construction of the North Tower by Hans Puchsbaum
1459
At Hüttentag of Regensburg the mason's lodge of St. Stephen's in Vienna is designated the leading main lodge in Central Europe.
1466
Extension of the upper sacristy
1469
Under Frederick III. the Diocese of Vienna is built.
1474
The Chapel of St. Barbara in the north tower is completed according to the plans of Puchsbaum. Formerly this building extension in the North Tower was called: Urbanuskapelle (chapel).
1511
Suspension of the building at the north tower. It is higher than the nave walls, but lower than the ridge height of the choir roof. As a crowning feature of the tower stump an octagonal structure was set up, which was closed with a so-called "Welsh hood" of Kaspar and Hans Saphoy 1578. The Welsh hood is a into the Gothic transmitted dome shape".
The back of the St. Stephen's Cathedral with the North Tower
1514/1519
1514/1519 at the top of saint Stephen's tower an eight-rayed sun ("Star") was fitted with a crescent moon as a symbol of spiritual and temporal power. When the Viennese in the Turkish siege (1529) throughout in the camp of their enemies saw similar symbols, they raised first objections against the "haidnisch Zaichen (heathen signs)", yet remained the "Moonlight" on the tower. Only on the occasion of the second siege (1683 ) vowed Leopold I to replace the "ungodly and unworthy Turks coat of arms" by the sign of the cross, when the city was liberated by God's assistance.
The from saint Stephen removed moon. Book illustration, 18th century
The new, of copper wrought double cross ("Spanish Cross") was made by coppersmith Hans Adam Bosch. It was one and a half meters high and had a weight of 45.5 kg. On September 14th, the Kreuzerhöhungstag (day of the elevation of the Cross) (in the same time the anniversary of the moving in of Leopold into the liberated city), it was placed under great spectacle. However, it was not flexible enough and already on 14th December it fell down due to a violent storm. On 31st October 1687 followed the setting up of a new crowning. To the Spanish Cross now the imperial double-headed eagle and the initials of Leopold I had been added. Cross and eagle had a height of 2.45 m and a weight of 67 kg.
St. Stephen's Cathedral around 1530
1640
Bishop Friedrich Count Breuner the Baroquisation of the equipment of the St. Stephen's Cathedral as a manifestation of the Counter-Reformation had started. He commissioned the brothers Jacob and Tobias Pock from Konstanz with the construction of a new high altar.
1683
Damages caused by numerous cannonballs at the second Turkish siege.
1700
Second wave of Baroquisation: Gothic winged altars and also their early Baroque successors are replaced by baroque marble altars.
1711
July 21st, 1711. In front of a large audience the k.k. Stückgießer (specialized iron caster) Johann Achamer carries out the casting of the great bell of saint Stephen. The for this purpose required metal comes from stocks of the Imperial arsenal of captured Turkish cannons. After Pölzung (supporting) of the underground vaults under the streets that touches the train, the bell weighing more than 17 tons on a special car or a loop of 100 people is brought from the Leopoldstadt on 29th October to the cathedral. On December 15th, Bishop Rummel undertakes the consecration of the bell, then it is pulled up to the south tower. There it rests on two oak beams, which for ringing can be screwed off. When Charles VI. solemnly moved into Vienna after his imperial coronation on 26th January 1712, the Pummerin was rung for the first time, in the process only the 813 kg in weight clapper was moved.
1720
The so-called catacombs are set up as a burial site.
1735
The cemetery around the church is closed down and in 1783 completely removed
Stock-im-Eisen-Platz and St. Stephen's Square before the demolition of the houses
Coloured engraving of V.C. Schütz. 1779
1803
The Steffl gets air: Demolition of houses on Stephansplatz
October. The strong increase in population leads to an increased volume of traffic. As part of "traffic-appropriate" measures streets are widened, squares enlarged, arcades created and traffic regulations introduced such as, e.g., the first one-way at the Carinthian gates (1802). With the demolition of the last still in front of the cathedral facade standing houses yet another basic expansion and redesign of the Stephansplatz can be completed.
1809
Also in the French wars the Cathedral is damaged by artillery fire.
1810
Repair work on the South Tower
1831
Renovation of the roof at the Albertinian choir
1842
On the occasion of the two renewals of the tower helmet in the 19th century respectively in 1842 and 1864, again a new double-headed eagle with a double cross was set on the spire. This last crowning of 1864 still today adorns the top of saint Stephen's tower.
1853 - 1854
Expansion of the remaining Wimperge (gables) in the roof area of which Puchsbaum under Frederick III. only one had realized.
1863 - 1864
Cathedral architect Friedrich Schmidt heads the restoration of the tower helmet.
1945
St. Stephen's Cathedral, April 1945 © Press Agency Votava St. Stephen's Cathedral, April 1945
The roof of St Stephen's Cathedral
is on fire 8th April 1945
Friday 13 April: Dombrand (cathedral's fire) in the last days of World War II. The roof burns down, the vaults of the middle choir and the southern side choir collapse. The Pummerin plunges down and breaks. The cathedral is badly damaged.
1945 - 1952
Reconstruction of the roof and choir
Triumphant entry of the new Pummerin in Vienna. The in St. Florian/Oberösterreich (Upper Austria) cast bell to Vienna had a true triumphal procession behind herself.
From the ruins of the Pummerin 1952 in St. Florian, Upper Austria, a new bell was cast and consecrated on 26th April 1952 in Vienna. The other bells of St. Stephen's Cathedral also consistently bore names as Halbpummerin, Viertelpummerin, Councillor Bell, Mentioned bell (Genanntenglocke), Zwölferin, beer bell (Bierglocke) etc. Very few of them survived the year 1945.
1953
Construction of the Bishop tomb in the catacombs under the Apostle Choir
1954 - 1965
Restoration of the South Tower
1956
Renovation of the Ducal Crypt, construction of the lower church and the lapidary (collection of stone monuments)
Completion of the tower helmet at the north tower (Saphoy'sche hood) with housing of the Pummerin
1961
In 1961 the cathedral received a new peal of eleven bells.
1973
Consecration of the People's altar (makeshift solution)
1977 - 1998
Restoration of the North Tower
1989
Remodeling of the sanctuary and the consecration of the new People's altar (September 14)
1991
Consecration of the new cathedral organ (Servants - Madonna gets here her new stand)
Overall length: 107.2 m outside inside 91.8 m
Width of the nave: 38.9 m
Height of the South tower: (High Tower) 136.7 m
Height of the North tower: 60.6 m
Height of the Heathen towers 65.6 m
Wien, 1. Bezirk, Stephansdom, la chiesa di Santo Stefano, la Catedral de San Esteban de Viena, La Cathédrale Saint-Étienne, St. Stephen's Cathedral, Vienna, Katedra św. Szczepana w Wiedniu (Stephansplatz)
(further pictures and enormous amounts of information you can get by clicking on the link at the end of page!)
St. Stephen's Cathedral
Seat of the Archbishop (Cardinal) of Vienna, one of the most important buildings of the Central European High and Late Gothic, monumental example of the South-German-Austrian multi-naved church, landmark of Vienna. Characteristic is the independent lateral position of the towers, the inclusion of the romanesque western facade, the high Gothic hall choir and the mighty steep roof with colorful brick patterning.
History
1147
The first Romanesque church - from Passau founded (hence patron saint: saint Stephen Protomartyr) - is consecrated. It is located in a quarter of new settlements of merchants, which in the second half of the 12th Century was included in the city's fortifications (which is the part between Singerstraße and wool line (Wollzeile), the road to Hungary). It is located outside, to the southeast, of the oldest city area of the Roman fort, Vindobona. This building was in its dimensions already a large basilical complex, at its completion already including the floor plan of the Heath towers in the West.
1263
Re-consecration after the fire. The impacts on the Romanesque church are not precisely known. The huge gate was already previously rebuilt, when Vienna was for a short time residence of the emperor of the Holy Roman Empire. In succession, the reconstruction of the west gallery and the expansion of the western towers (Heath towers) took place. From this period stem also most of the sculptures of the giant gate, the vaults, capitals and rose windows at the west gallery.
Stephansdom64.jpg (35605 bytes)
1304 -1340
Construction of the Gothic hall choir, Albertinian choir, named after the Habsburg Albert II (1330-1358).
The citizenship of Vienna initially purchased the required properties and "as the owner of the Gothic choir in the Zwettler (city in Lower Austria) documents of 1303 and 1304 Viennese citizens are testified".
This civic foundation was then converted by a princely.
The following indulgence certificate - in the original written on parchment and provided with a hanging seal - is in a sense the main historical document of the choir consecration and thus also to the architectural history of St. Stephen of great importance.
1340
Bishop Peter of Marchapolis gives, at the request of the parishioners, all who attend at the anniversary of the consecration of the choir of St. Stephen's Church, which was accomplished on the above day in his presence by Bishop Albert of Passau, or at the feasts of the altar patrons of the church, an indulgence of 40 days.
1359
Laying of the foundation stone for further Gothic reconstruction of the nave (south and north wall), the Singertor and the Bischofstor (gate) and the two double chapels laterally to the Romanesque western building. Furthermore, the construction of overall four towers was planned. In fact, only the southern transept tower (the "saint Stephen's Tower") was first started.
1365
Those conversion measures are associated with the efforts of Duke Rudolf IV to raise Vienna to the status of a diocese, and with the founding of the University of Vienna.
1395
Consecration of the chapel of Saint Catherine ("baptistery") on the east side of the south tower.
1404
Peter of Prachatitz is Dombaumeister (cathedral builder). The citizenship by providing financial support pushes ahead the expansion of the tower.
1417 - 1430
Establishment of the lower sacristy
1433
Completion of the south tower under Hans von Prachatitz
1440 - 1459
Completion of the High Gothic nave
1450
Planning and construction of the North Tower by Hans Puchsbaum
1459
At Hüttentag of Regensburg the mason's lodge of St. Stephen's in Vienna is designated the leading main lodge in Central Europe.
1466
Extension of the upper sacristy
1469
Under Frederick III. the Diocese of Vienna is built.
1474
The Chapel of St. Barbara in the north tower is completed according to the plans of Puchsbaum. Formerly this building extension in the North Tower was called: Urbanuskapelle (chapel).
1511
Suspension of the building at the north tower. It is higher than the nave walls, but lower than the ridge height of the choir roof. As a crowning feature of the tower stump an octagonal structure was set up, which was closed with a so-called "Welsh hood" of Kaspar and Hans Saphoy 1578. The Welsh hood is a into the Gothic transmitted dome shape".
The back of the St. Stephen's Cathedral with the North Tower
1514/1519
1514/1519 at the top of saint Stephen's tower an eight-rayed sun ("Star") was fitted with a crescent moon as a symbol of spiritual and temporal power. When the Viennese in the Turkish siege (1529) throughout in the camp of their enemies saw similar symbols, they raised first objections against the "haidnisch Zaichen (heathen signs)", yet remained the "Moonlight" on the tower. Only on the occasion of the second siege (1683 ) vowed Leopold I to replace the "ungodly and unworthy Turks coat of arms" by the sign of the cross, when the city was liberated by God's assistance.
The from saint Stephen removed moon. Book illustration, 18th century
The new, of copper wrought double cross ("Spanish Cross") was made by coppersmith Hans Adam Bosch. It was one and a half meters high and had a weight of 45.5 kg. On September 14th, the Kreuzerhöhungstag (day of the elevation of the Cross) (in the same time the anniversary of the moving in of Leopold into the liberated city), it was placed under great spectacle. However, it was not flexible enough and already on 14th December it fell down due to a violent storm. On 31st October 1687 followed the setting up of a new crowning. To the Spanish Cross now the imperial double-headed eagle and the initials of Leopold I had been added. Cross and eagle had a height of 2.45 m and a weight of 67 kg.
St. Stephen's Cathedral around 1530
1640
Bishop Friedrich Count Breuner the Baroquisation of the equipment of the St. Stephen's Cathedral as a manifestation of the Counter-Reformation had started. He commissioned the brothers Jacob and Tobias Pock from Konstanz with the construction of a new high altar.
1683
Damages caused by numerous cannonballs at the second Turkish siege.
1700
Second wave of Baroquisation: Gothic winged altars and also their early Baroque successors are replaced by baroque marble altars.
1711
July 21st, 1711. In front of a large audience the k.k. Stückgießer (specialized iron caster) Johann Achamer carries out the casting of the great bell of saint Stephen. The for this purpose required metal comes from stocks of the Imperial arsenal of captured Turkish cannons. After Pölzung (supporting) of the underground vaults under the streets that touches the train, the bell weighing more than 17 tons on a special car or a loop of 100 people is brought from the Leopoldstadt on 29th October to the cathedral. On December 15th, Bishop Rummel undertakes the consecration of the bell, then it is pulled up to the south tower. There it rests on two oak beams, which for ringing can be screwed off. When Charles VI. solemnly moved into Vienna after his imperial coronation on 26th January 1712, the Pummerin was rung for the first time, in the process only the 813 kg in weight clapper was moved.
1720
The so-called catacombs are set up as a burial site.
1735
The cemetery around the church is closed down and in 1783 completely removed
Stock-im-Eisen-Platz and St. Stephen's Square before the demolition of the houses
Coloured engraving of V.C. Schütz. 1779
1803
The Steffl gets air: Demolition of houses on Stephansplatz
October. The strong increase in population leads to an increased volume of traffic. As part of "traffic-appropriate" measures streets are widened, squares enlarged, arcades created and traffic regulations introduced such as, e.g., the first one-way at the Carinthian gates (1802). With the demolition of the last still in front of the cathedral facade standing houses yet another basic expansion and redesign of the Stephansplatz can be completed.
1809
Also in the French wars the Cathedral is damaged by artillery fire.
1810
Repair work on the South Tower
1831
Renovation of the roof at the Albertinian choir
1842
On the occasion of the two renewals of the tower helmet in the 19th century respectively in 1842 and 1864, again a new double-headed eagle with a double cross was set on the spire. This last crowning of 1864 still today adorns the top of saint Stephen's tower.
1853 - 1854
Expansion of the remaining Wimperge (gables) in the roof area of which Puchsbaum under Frederick III. only one had realized.
1863 - 1864
Cathedral architect Friedrich Schmidt heads the restoration of the tower helmet.
1945
St. Stephen's Cathedral, April 1945 © Press Agency Votava St. Stephen's Cathedral, April 1945
The roof of St Stephen's Cathedral
is on fire 8th April 1945
Friday 13 April: Dombrand (cathedral's fire) in the last days of World War II. The roof burns down, the vaults of the middle choir and the southern side choir collapse. The Pummerin plunges down and breaks. The cathedral is badly damaged.
1945 - 1952
Reconstruction of the roof and choir
Triumphant entry of the new Pummerin in Vienna. The in St. Florian/Oberösterreich (Upper Austria) cast bell to Vienna had a true triumphal procession behind herself.
From the ruins of the Pummerin 1952 in St. Florian, Upper Austria, a new bell was cast and consecrated on 26th April 1952 in Vienna. The other bells of St. Stephen's Cathedral also consistently bore names as Halbpummerin, Viertelpummerin, Councillor Bell, Mentioned bell (Genanntenglocke), Zwölferin, beer bell (Bierglocke) etc. Very few of them survived the year 1945.
1953
Construction of the Bishop tomb in the catacombs under the Apostle Choir
1954 - 1965
Restoration of the South Tower
1956
Renovation of the Ducal Crypt, construction of the lower church and the lapidary (collection of stone monuments)
Completion of the tower helmet at the north tower (Saphoy'sche hood) with housing of the Pummerin
1961
In 1961 the cathedral received a new peal of eleven bells.
1973
Consecration of the People's altar (makeshift solution)
1977 - 1998
Restoration of the North Tower
1989
Remodeling of the sanctuary and the consecration of the new People's altar (September 14)
1991
Consecration of the new cathedral organ (Servants - Madonna gets here her new stand)
Overall length: 107.2 m outside inside 91.8 m
Width of the nave: 38.9 m
Height of the South tower: (High Tower) 136.7 m
Height of the North tower: 60.6 m
Height of the Heathen towers 65.6 m