Votive Church

Rising majestically beside Vienna’s Ringstraße, the Votive Church is a striking neo-Gothic symbol of gratitude: it was built as a “votive” offering after an assassination attempt on Emperor Franz Joseph in 1853. Construction began in 1856 under architect Heinrich von Ferstel, and the church was finally consecrated in 1879 — coinciding with the silver wedding anniversary of Franz Joseph and Empress Elisabeth. The design echoes the great cathedrals of France, with three aisles, flying buttresses, and soaring vaults. Its most distinctive external feature is its twin towers, each reaching 99 m, making it Vienna’s second-tallest church after St. Stephen’s Cathedral. Inside, light pours through 78 stained-glass windows, some of which were only fully restored in the 1970s. The main altar is especially impressive: a gilded retable with an ornate “ciborium” supported by alabaster columns. Upstairs in the raised oratory – once reserved for the imperial family – you'll find a small museum. The highlight is the Antwerp Passion Altar, a late-Gothic masterpiece from around 1500. A modern twist comes with the “Light of Creation” show — a 30-minute multimedia light installation (projections + music) that transforms the interior, giving a new, almost otherworldly dimension to the gothic architecture. The church is easily accessible: it’s just a short walk from the Schottentor station (metro U2) or via several tram lines. And it’s free to enter (for the church), though the museum has a modest fee. introducingvienna.com In short, the Votive Church is not just a historic monument — it’s a living place of worship, art, and modern light spectacle.