Peterskirche (St. Peter's Church), Vienna
Exterior of the Peterskirche. Photo by natsu.
Baroque interior of the Peterskirche. Photo by Stéphane Lecorney.
Interior during a service. Photo by Gernot Hochmüller.
Dome fresco in the Peterskirche. Photo by Andrea Kirkby.
The Peterskirche is the second-oldest church in Vienna and the city's finest example of Baroque church architecture.
St. Peter's may stand on Vienna's oldest church site: it is believed that a place of worship has existed here since the second half of the 4th century. According to legend, Charlemagne founded a church here in 792.
The present St. Peter's Church was constructed by Gabriel Montani from 1702 to 1708. Hildebrandt, the noted architect of the Belvedere Palace, iinished the building in 1732.
Peterskirche is the most theatrical and lavishly decorated Baroque church in Vienna. The facade has angled towers, graceful turrets (said to have been inspired by the tents of the Turks during the siege of 1683), and an unusually fine entrance portal. A relief plaque on the right side of the church tells of the legend of Charlemagne.
Inside are many frescoes and much gilded carved wood as well as altarpieces done by well-known artists of the period. Among the most notable artworks are the glass-crowned galleries high on the walls to either side of the altar, the tableau of the martyrdom of St. John Nepomuk, and the fresco in the dome by J. M. Rottmayr depicting the Coronation of the Virgin.
On the downside, despite the elaborate Baroque décor, the low light and the years of accumulated dirt create a prevailing gloom. Sadly, the much-praised dome fresco is difficult to make out.
Just before Christmastime each year, the basement crypt of Peterskirche is filled with a display of nativity scenes.
Quick Facts
| Names: | Peterskirche; St. Peter's Church |
| Date: | 1702-08 |
| Location: | Petersplatz, Vienna, Austria |
| Phone: | 01/533-6433 |
| U-Bahn: | U1 or U3/Stephansplatz |
| Hours: | Daily 9am-6:30pm |
| Cost: | Free |
Travel Resources
- Vienna Tours and Excursions
- Vienna Hotels Vienna Hotel Reviews
- Vienna Hostels & Guesthouses
- Vienna Car Rentals
- Vienna Travel Forum
- Austrian Railpasses
Location Map
Location map and satellite view of the Peterskirche in Vienna. Using the buttons on the left, zoom in for a closer look or zoom out to get your bearings. Click and drag the map to move around. or a larger view, see our Vienna Map or Google Earth download.
