Stephansdom
Categories: Roman Catholic cathedrals in Europe | Gothic architecture | Churches in Vienna | Austria-related stubs
The Stephansdom (Cathedral of Saint Stephen), in Vienna, Austria, is seat of that city's Roman Catholic Archbishop. The cathedral was damaged by fire on April 12, 1945, and later renovated.
The largest bell is called "Pummerin" and hangs in the north tower; it is the largest in Austria and the second largest in Europe. It was recast in 1951 after being destroyed in the Second World War. The bell was a gift from the Province of Upper Austria.
The cathedral is 107 meters (351 feet) long and 34 meters (111.5 feet) wide. It has four towers, the highest of which is the south tower, at 136 meters (446 feet). The north tower was never completed and is 68 meters (223 feet) tall. On the left and on the right from the main entrance are the two "heath towers", which are about 65 meters (213.25 feet) tall.
An interesting fact about Stephansdom is that the composer Ludwig van Beethoven noticed that he was completely deaf when he saw birds flying out of the bell tower (as a result of the bells' tolling) but couldn't hear the bells. Another is that the Stephansdom is depicted in a small oval on the packaging of the Manner-Schnitten wafer treat.
Among the most famous aesthetic features of Stephensdom is its ornately patterned and richly colored roof. Its largest bell is called Pummerin.