No other metropolis on earth makes things easier for the visitor: all
sights are within walking distance of each other. Our stroll begins at
the Stephansdom (St.Stephen’s Cathedral), the city’s symbol,
visible from afar and affectionately dubbed ‘Steffl’ by the locals.
The view of this monumental edifice is dominated by its multi-colored
tiled roof with the Habsburg Double Eagle to one side, and Austria’s
escutcheon on the other. This gothic place of worship was constructed in
numerous phases. Beginning in 1303 the triple-nave hall choir was
erected whose net-and-star vaulting is supported by cluster columns.
From 1359 onwards the façade gets extended and the inclination of the
roof becomes much steeper. The 137 metres high South Spire (Stephansturm)
is regarded as Europe’s most beautiful gothic tower, together with the
one at Freiburg. The church interior impresses through the richly
decorated pulpit by Anton Pilgram and the Wiener Neustädter Altar, a
gothic winged altar from 1447. Emperor Frederick III and Prince Eugene
are buried in this church. It is definitely worth while to mount the 343
stairs to the Türmerstube (tower room) in order to admire, to
the north and west, the green hills of the Vienna Woods, to the east the
huge Ferris wheel in the Prater, and close by the towers of Donau-City
and Uno-City. Also very attractive is the view across the historic city
centre’s sea of roofs, distinctly recognisable by the ring road and it
centre point, the Kärntner Strasse between the Opera and Stephansplatz.
Singerstrasse leads you into the idyllic maze of alleyways and
cul-de-sacs which is so typical for this part of the city south of
Stephansplatz. Medieval Vienna has been preserved here almost to
perfection.
Singerstrasse leads to Franziskanerplatz with its church of
the same name.Via Kumpfstrasse, Schulerstrasse and Wollzeile you arrive in
Bäckerstrasse with its Universitätskirche (university church).
If you continue by following Jesuitengasse and Schönlaterngasse, you
come to Heiligenkreuzer Hof, a wondrously beautiful baroque
square, nestled in the packed alleyway region like an oasis and solely
accessible through a gate. In medieval times this was the town centre
where markets were held, e.g. the meat market. Later on, the houses
received interior courtyards with balconies, the so-called ‘Pawlatschen’.
Now cross Rotenturmstrasse to enter the ‘Bermuda Triangle’ with
its bars and taverns in Seitenstettengasse and Rabensteig. On
Ruprechtsplatz stands the small Ruprechtskirche, built as long
ago as 740 and the oldest church in town. The present edifice dates from
the 12th century. Its choir has Vienna’s oldest stained-glass window
(13th century). At one time, the ‘salt administration’ was located
here, and salt barges used to cast anchor on the canal. In olden times
salt was almost as precious as silver and gold because it could be used
to conserve victuals.
The numerous fashion boutiques in Judengasse try to seduce
young people into buying their chic and trendy clothing. Now comes Hoher
Markt, where No.3 still shows remains of the Roman army’s
settlement Vindobona. The Ankeruhr, a 10 metres wide Jugendstil
clock, daily gives all its sculpted figures an airing at 12 noon.
Salvatorgasse takes you to the Maria am Gestade church, which
owes its name to the steep bank of an arm of the Danube that once flowed
along here. The 12th century-church received its present gothic
appearance towards the end of the 14th century. Around here, the city
centre is full of modern buildings and is not particularly attractive.
