St. Stephen's Cathedral

The cathedral grew in stages. Work on the first Romanesque church began in 1137, the Gothic choir followed in 1304, and the 136-meter south tower was completed in 1433. The shorter north tower holds the Pummerin bell, while the tiled roof carries Vienna's coat of arms and the imperial double-headed eagle.

Walk around the exterior before going in. The lower parts of the west towers and the main portal are Romanesque. The south side gives the clearest view of the roof pattern, and the huge Gothic tower dominates the square. Entry to the main church is separate from tickets for the towers, catacombs, and guided areas, so decide which part you want before joining a line.