Walking through Vienna is like turning the pages of a living history book. While the city does not possess the third- and fourth-century churches found in places like Rome or Naples, its nearly thousand-year-old churches reveal an equally fascinating story. Built after Vienna grew from a Roman military outpost into a thriving medieval city, these churches reflect the faith that shaped the capital of the Habsburg Empire. They invite visitors to explore how Christianity influenced Vienna’s history and continues to leave its mark on the city today.
Walking tour map
Here is a path one can take that starts at some of the earliest churches near the Danube River and extends inland as the city developed.
One of my favorite things to do when I visit a new city is explore its oldest churches. I enjoy noticing their unique features, comparing them with churches I have visited elsewhere, and discovering what makes each one distinct. Even so, I know I miss details along the way. As I explored Vienna’s historic churches, I put together the following chart to help orient both myself and other readers.
Surprises in Vienna
My walk through Vienna brought several surprises. The first was how late the city’s historic churches appeared when compared with those of other European centers. After recently visiting Rome and Naples, where I explored churches dating to the third century, Vienna seemed to have developed much later. Curious about the reason, I did some research and discovered that Vienna began as a Roman military settlement and later grew into an important city. As the city expanded, its major churches followed.
I was also struck by the central role the Habsburg rulers played in building and supporting Vienna’s churches. Even more surprising, the remains of several emperors rest in different locations throughout the city. Their bodies lie in the Capuchin Crypt, their hearts in St. Augustine’s Church, and their internal organs in St. Stephen’s Cathedral. This unusual practice reminded me of Solomon’s famous judgment. He proposed dividing a living child to reveal the true mother, but wisdom ultimately spared the child. In contrast, the Habsburg tradition deliberately divided the remains of deceased rulers so that several important churches could preserve a connection to them. As an outsider, I find the custom fascinating, even if I struggle to understand the desire to keep a separate “piece” of a beloved emperor in different places.
Expectations on Visits
One aspect of Vienna impressed me above all: every historic church I visited remained open and active. Visitors can easily enter most churches, although crypts, catacombs, and special exhibits often require an admission fee. Because these churches continue to serve as places of worship, some areas were understandably inaccessible during services. Many also host concerts and evening musical performances, which adds another dimension to my visits. More than once, I discovered these events simply by stepping inside.
In this series on Vienna, I will briefly write about these churches and what I saw, including a Jewish site and visits to the Ephesus and Papyrus Museums near them.
