St. Stephen’s Cathedral, Vienna (Austria)

St. Stephen's Cathedral is the mother church of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Vienna and the seat of the Archbishop of Vienna, Christoph Cardinal Schönborn, OP. The present-day Romanesque and Gothic form of the church, seen today at Stephansplatz, was largely initiated by Duke Rudolf IV (1339–1365) and sits on the ruins of two earlier churches, The parish's first church was consecrated in 1147. The most important religious building in Vienna, St. Stephen witnessed many important events in Habsburg and Austrian history.

St. Stephen's Cathedral is Vienna's main religious site, having long been an undeniable symbol of the capital and of Austria in general. The temple combines exterior and interior decoration of two architectural styles at once - Romanesque and Gothic, making it one of the most outstanding achievements of medieval architecture. In addition to the forms and reliefs of the building itself, St. Stephen also attracts many valuable artifacts, among which are preserved both old church features and outstanding works of art from the world.