|
Vienna signtseeing in "Hahns Vienna Apartments(HVA)"
Sightseeing : The others - Churches Click below !!
1. Augustinian Church
2. Capuchin Church
3. Charles' Church
4. Jesuit Church
5. Kirche am Steinhof
6. Maria am Gestade
7. Minorite Church (Minoritenkirche)
8. Schottenkirche
9. St. Leopold's Church (Floridsdorf)
10. St. Peter's Church
11. St. Ruprecht's Church
12. Votivkirche
Since 1634, the Augustinerkirche has been the historic parish church of the Hofburg, the winter palace of the Habsburg dynasty in the center of Vienna. In 1327 duke Frederick the Handsome (Friedrich der Schöne) founded this church with a cloister for the Augustine monks. It is thus always called The Augustinian's Church by the Viennese, although its official name is St. Augustin's Church.
The nave was built under architect Dietrich Landtner from 1330 to 1339, but not consecrated until 1 November 1349. As the nearby Hofburg expended, the Augustinerkirche gradually became engulfed by it and today is a part of the complex. Although inconspicuous from the outside, the inside is more ornate. During the reign of Emperor Joseph II, 18 side altars were removed in 1784 when the church was restored in the gothic style. A new side altar was added in 2004,
dedicated to Emperor Karl I of Austria (1887 - 1922) who is on the path to being recognized as a saint by the Roman Catholic Church.
As the parish church for the imperial court, it was the scene of many Habsburg weddings, among them Archduchess (and future Empress) Maria Theresa in 1736 to Duke Francis of Lorraine, Archduchess Marie Louise in 1810 to Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte of France, and Emperor Franz Joseph in 1854 to Duchess Elisabeth of Bavaria. Notable among the church's monuments are the memorial to Marie Christine of Austria sculpted by Antonio Canova, and the Herzgruft containing
the hearts of 54 members of the imperial family. A functioning monastery of six black-robed Augustinian monks remains, serving the needs of the pari.
The Kapuzinerkirche in Vienna is the Capuchins' church (the Church of St. Mary of the Angels) and monastery founded in 1617 and dedicated in 1632. It is on the Neue Markt square, near the imperial Hofburg Palace.
Its subterranean mausoleum is the Imperial Crypt (in German: Kaisergruft but usually called the Kapuzinergruft) that has been the principal place of entombment for the Habsburg dynasty, hereditary Emperors of the Holy Roman Empire, and their descendents
The Karlskirche, or Charles' Church, was commissioned by the Holy Roman Emperor Charles VI in 1715 after Vienna was delivered from a plague epidemic in 1713. The church was named after St. Charles Borromeo, but this name was also probably chosen because the emperor who commissioned it was named Charles. The church was built by the Austrian court architect, Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach. Construction began in 1715, and was finished in 1737, twelve years after
Fischer’s death in 1723.
It was created in the high Baroque style. Its most defining feature was the two classical pillars in front of the church that were modeled on the pillars of Trajan and Marcus Aurelius in Rome. These pillars represented the imperialism of the Austrian Empire and were also an allusion to the Straits of Gibraltar, and thus to Austria’s claim to its lost Spanish possessions. The church became a symbol of the power of the Habsburg dynasty and of Austria’s political
identity.
The Jesuitenkirche (Jesuit Church), also known as the Universitätskirche (University Church) is an ornate church in Vienna, Austria on Dr. Ignaz Seipel-Platz, immediately adjacent to the old University of Vienna buildings.
The Jesuitenkirche was built between 1623 and 1627 on the site of an earlier chapel, at the time when the Jesuits merged their own college with the University of Vienna's philosophy and theology faculty. The Emperor broke ground for both college and church, with the church itself dedicated to Saints Ignatius Loyola and Francis Xavier. In 1703, Brother Andrea Pozzo, SJ, added twin towers and reworked the facade in baroque style. The church was then rededicated
to dedicated to the Assumption of Mary. Despite its relatively austere exterior, the interior is remarkably opulent with ersatz marble pillars, gilding, a number of allegorical frescoes, and remarkable trompe-l'oeuil ceiling domes. Immediately adjacent is the Aula, where Haydn's oratorio The Creation had its premiere, as did Beethoven's Seventh Symphony.
The Kirche am Steinhof (also called the Church of St. Leopold) in Vienna is one of the most famous Art Nouveau churches in the world.
It is the flashy centre of the Steinhof sanatorium, located on a hillside in the district of Penzing. It was built in 1903-1907 by Otto Wagner, with mosaics and stained glass by Koloman Moser.
As of 2005, it was renovated.
Maria am Gestade (St. Mary on the Strand) church ranks among Vienna's oldest buildings and one of the few surviving examples of Gothic architecture in the city. The church is located at Salvatorgasse 12, near the Donaukanal ("Danube canal"), a branch of the Danube.
It is said that there was a wooden church at this place in the 9th century, that served as a worship place for fishers and sailors. The church is first mentioned in documents from 1158. Present building was built between 1394 and 1414 in gothic style. In 1409 the church became part of the diocese of Passau. It remained an enclave when the diocese of Vienna was established in 1469. The church was desecrated in 1786 and gradually became dilapidated. It was
used as a storeroom and stable during Napoleon occupation of Vienna in 1809. In 1812 the church was renovated and newly consecrated. The church is associated with Czech community of Vienna.
The church has 56-m (180-ft) high steeple. The choir contains two high gothic panels (1460). The windows contain surviving fragment of medieval stained glass
The Minorite Church (German: Minoritenkirche; formal name: Italienische Nationalkirche Maria Schnee; English: "Italian National Church of Mary of the Snows") is a church built in French cathedral Gothic style in the First District of Vienna. The site on which the church is built was given to followers of Francis of Assisi in 1224. The foundation stone was laid by Premysl Ottokar II in 1276. Duke Albrecht II later supported the building process,
especially the main portal. The Gothic Ludwigschor was built between 1316 and 1328, and used as a mausoleum in the 14th and 15th centuries. The church was finished in 1350. The top of its tower was damaged during the first Austro-Turkish war, was then rebuilt, but was destroyed again during the second Austro-Turkish war. Then, the top was replaced by a flat roof.
When Joseph II gave the church to the Italians as a present, they transferred the name Maria Schnee ("Mary of the Snows") from a nearby chapel, which they then tore down.
There is a life-sized copy of Leonardo da Vinci's The Last Supper on the church's northern wall. It is a mosaic made by the Roman mosaic artist Giacomo Raffaelli which was ordered by Napoleon I in 1809, but it was not finished before Napoleon's abdication. Francis II of Austria bought it, wanting to install it in the Belvedere in Vienna. As it was too large for the building, it was set up on the north wall of the church, where it remains to this day. Among
other things, the Church is the subject of Adolf Hitler's most renowned work of art, a watercolor painted in 1910.
The Schottenkirche, in Vienna, is a church originally founded for Irish Benedictine monks in the 12th century. The name Schotten comes from the Latin term for Ireland, Scotia Minore, and the surrounding buildings are still inhabited by Benedictine monks. An earthquake circa 1443 greatly damaged the existing church on the site. Restorations were completed by 1449 but poorly done, due to lack of money, and on May 21, 1634, the roof collapsed in full view of
Ferdinand II, Holy Roman Emperor. One year later lightning struck the tower, which burst into flames. Although it was restored, two years later it collapsed without warning. As a consequence of such structural calamities, architects Carlo Carlone and Marco Spazzio were hired in 1648 to rebuild the church in Baroque style. Andrea Allio reworked the nave and the west side. The choir tower was dedicated only in the year 1893.
Inside, the church is now in high-baroque style with several chapels. Between 1883-1889, Heinrich Ferstl renovated the high altar with Innsbruck glass mosaics. Julius Schmid was artist for the fine ceiling paintings. After composer Joseph Haydn died in Vienna, a great memorial service was held in the Schottenkirche on June 15, 1809, at which Mozart’s Requiem K.626 was performed. Noted film director Fritz Lang was born in the parish and baptized in the Schottenkirche
font.
Saint Leopold Church (Kirche zum Heiligen Leopold) is the Roman Catholic parish church of Donaufeld in Floridsdorf, the 21st district of Vienna. Located at Kinzerplatz, it stands at a height of 96m (315ft), which makes it the third tallest church in Vienna. Construction was completed in 1914. Earlier plans to construct the church as a cathedral in order to house a bishop were abandoned when Floridsdorf was merged into Vienna in 1904. It is dedicated to Saint
Leopold, patron saint of Austria.
The oldest church building (of which nothing remains today) dates back to the Early Middle Ages, and there is speculation that it could be the oldest church in Vienna (See Ruprechtskirche). The church is believed to have been established by Charlemagne around 800, although there is no evidence supporting this view. In any case a church of Saint Peter in Vienna is first mentioned in 1137. Around the end of the 12th century, the church became part of the Schottenstift.
The mediæval church had three altars, with an apse in the south instead of the normal eastern orientation. This unusual feature has triggered many discussions among experts, and it is suspected that the church was adapted from a previously secular building. The church was surrounded by shops and a nearby building housed the Stadtguardia, a forerunner of the modern police. The old church burned down in 1661 and was given only makeshift repairs. The decision
to build a new church was taken up in 1676, with the arrival of the Trinitarian Order. The construction of a the new church was begun around 1701 under Gabriele Montani, who was replaced by Johann Lukas von Hildebrandt in 1703. By 1722, most of the building was finished. The new church was the first domed structure in baroque Vienna. It is built in a very compact form, with its oval interior housing an astonishing amount of space and rectangular attachments.
The dome was mainly designed by Matthias Steinl, and the frescoes by Andrea Pozzo, whose paintings were removed after his death. As a result, in 1713, Johann Michael Rottmayr was able to start a completely new set. The high altar was created by Antionio Galli-Bibiena (construction) and Martino Altomonte (altarpiece). Over the years, the paintings have become darker, and the interior began to take on a grey appearance. From 1998 to 2004, the church underwent
a renovation, which returned the paintings to their original rich colouring and brightness.
The Peterskirche is located on Petersplatz, right next to Graben and just west of the Pestsäule. The street Jungferngasse cuts through the pedestrian zone and leads directly to the church. The Peterskirche is largely obscured by the surrounding buildings, and can only been seen clearly from directly in front.
St. Ruprecht's Church (German: Ruprechtskirche) is usually considered the oldest church in Vienna and is dedicated to Saint Rupert of Salzburg. It is located in one of the oldest parts of the city, the section of the Roman Vindobona. According to legend, it was founded by Cunald and Gisalrich, companions of Rupert during his occupation of the seat of bishop of Salzburg.
However, because Salzburg had influence over religious issues in Vienna between 796 and 829, it is more probable that it was founded in this period. The first reference in historical documentation is in a document of 1200 when Duke Heinrich II Jasomirgott describes a gift to the Schottenstift church. The document also mentions St. Ruprecht's Church, which is labeled the oldest in the city. After the destruction of the Roman settlement, the core part of the
city grew in the area near the church. It was the seat of the religious administration before that function was transferred to the Stephansdom in 1147. During the Middle Ages, the church was the seat of the Salt Office (Salzamt), which distibuted salt to individual buyers and ensured its quality. The church has been rebuilt and altered many times in its history. In 1276, it was damaged by fire and modified. In 1622, it was redecorated in a baroque style. It was also somewhat damaged by shellfire during World
War II and affected by the demolition of the nearby ruins of another building.
The oldest bells in Vienna are located in the church, dating from around 1280. The oldest glass window panes (dating from approximately 1370) can be found in the church. They depict a crucified Christ and the Madonna with baby. A statue of the patron saint Rupert is located in the north part of the main tower.
The arch on the western gallery has a plaque with the label "AEIOU 1439", an undecyphered motto of Emperor Frederick III. The plaque was designed to commemorate the entrance of the emperor to Vienna on December 6, 1439. A relic of the sarcophagus of St. Vitalis is located in the church containing the remains of a claimed Christian victim from the Roman catacombs. This memorial of victimization has special meaning in modern times because the Gestapo
headquarters, which was used for torture and the organization of Jewish deportations, was located nearby in the Morzinplatz square.
There is currently some debate whether St. Ruprecht's church is truly the oldest church in Vienna. Discoveries of old foundations under the St. Peter's Church and old graves under the Stephansdom have disputed the certainty of this label.
The Votivkirche in Vienna is one of the most important neo-Gothic religious architectural sites in the world. Located on Ringstraße in the district of Alsergrund close to the University of Vienna, the origin of the church has an unusual history derived from a knife-attack on Emperor Franz Joseph by Hungarian nationalist János Libényi. The emperor was taking a stroll with one of his officers Count Maximilian O'Donell on a city-bastion,
when Libényi approached him. He immediately struck the emperor from behind with a knife straight at the neck. Franz Joseph almost always wore a uniform, which had a high collar that almost completely enclosed the neck. It so happened that the collar of his uniform was made out of very sturdy material. Even though Franz Joseph was wounded and bleeding, this collar basically saved his life. Count O'Donell struck Libényi down with his sabre. Another witness who happened to be nearby, the butcher Joseph
Ettenreich, quickly overwhelmed Libényi. For his deed he was later elevated to nobility by Franz Joseph and became Joseph von Ettenreich. Libényi was subsequently put on trial and condemned to death for attempted regicide. He was executed on the Simmeringer Haide
After the unsuccessful attack on February 18, 1853, Franz Joseph's brother Ferdinand Maximilian Joseph, the later emperor of Mexico, called upon the community for donations to a new church on the site of the attack. The church was to be a Votivgabe (a thank-you present to God) for the rescue of Franz Joseph.
The church plans were established in an architectural competition in April 1854. 75 projects from the Austrian empire, German lands, England, and France were submitted. Original plans included to include the neighbouring Allgemeines Krankenhaus and create a campus fashioned after the plans of Oxford and Cambridge University. Another plan was to create a national cathedral for all the people of the empire. However because of spiralling costs and the changing
political situation, this plan had to be downsized. The jury choose the project of Heinrich von Ferstel, who, at the time, was only 26. He choose to built the cathedral in the neo-gothic style, borrowing heavily from the architecture of gothic French cathedrals. Construction began in 1856, and it was dedicated twenty-six years later on April 24, 1879, the occasion of the silver jubilee of the royal couple.
The church was one of the first buildings to be built on the Ringstraße. Since the city-walls still existed at that point, the church is not directly on the boulevard but has a broad square in front of it. Since its architectural style is quite similar to the Stephansdom, it often gets mistaken for it by tourists. In reality more than 700 years lie between the two churches. The Votivkirche is made out of white sandstone, similar to the Stephansdom,
and therefore has to be constantly renovated and protected from air-pollution and acid rain, which tends to colour and erode the soft stone.
Text Source : Wikipedia
Picture Source : Planet Vienna
| 
