Not one of our favorites and perhaps not even in Europe's top 100 (ask Sir Simon), but an obligatory stop if you're visiting Vienna. It's a late entry as a Gothic, never completely finished before Gothic went out of style, and also on the smallish side. No galleries, triforia, nor clerestory. Much of it was built as a parish church before Vienna became the capital of both state and empire. Still, you have to go.
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Drone view; its most famous feature is its tile roof; the interesting part of said roof covers the chancel, behind the south tower, and, due to the hemmed-in nature of the building and the steep pitch of the roof, it is seldom seen |
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Nave view; Gothic architecture, Baroque interior |
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The organ is from 1906, but is broken and apparently can't be fixed; it may be holding up that end of the church and so can't be moved |
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North aisle |
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South |
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Carving throughout the church |
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One of the relics, the Maria Potsch, of Hungarian provenance, safeguarded to Vienna from the advancing Ottoman hordes...said to have cried real tears... |
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Ever popular St. Sebastian, patron saint of archery |
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Anton Pilgram, Czech sculptor who maybe did the impressive pulpit; yes, but why would a sculptor be holding a T-square? A Cubist sculptor? No, this guy, whoever he was, was an architect... |
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Crowning of Mary triptych, the Neustadter Altar |
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Looking astern to the defunct organ |
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Leading to the pulpit |
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Featuring four of the church doctors, in various moody poses, Jerome, Gregory, Augustine, and Ambrose |
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Helpful model outside |
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The great south tower; the north one was never finished; Gothic went out of style |
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South-side of the nave tile roofing; the pitch is so steep that rain cleans it thoroughly and snow won't stick to it |
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Historical displays outside; the church was pretty much unscathed until the Red Army was entering the city in 1945; then looters caused fires in nearby shops, which spread to the church; the roof came tumbling down; but much was saved, and the whole thing functional again by the early 50s |
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Many interesting gargoyles |
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But no funny faces |
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Outside pulpit for really big crowds; note the skewered Turk... |
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On the north side of the church is the parking and washing stand for the city's touring carriages; holy horse shit, Batman! |
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Advertising helps support the mission of the church |
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The west end and its two towers are the oldest parts...Romanesque |
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Including bits and pieces from the Roman temple that presumably once stood on the site |
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"Don't try, Wilbur...it's bigger than both of us!" |
1 comment:
I don't think that is a T-square. Sure doesn't look like the ones I used in drafting class.
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