For an encore to Schloss Schönbrunn we visited the largest cathedral in Vienna, the Stephan's Dom. This cathedral, built in the Gothic style in the early 1300s, stands on the ruins of two earlier churches. Originally, the cathedral would've had four towers of equal size, but only the south tower was finished. This tower is 137 meters tall, and the bell that is in it weighed 20,130 kilograms. This makes it the second largest swinging bell in Europe after the bell in the Cologne Cathedral. The most unique feature of this cathedral is its roof, which is composed of 230,000 glazed tiles.
In this photo you can just barely see the start of the tiles that form a mosaic of the Imperial Eagle of Austria.
Another interesting fact about the Stephan's Dom is that it was instrumental in Vienna becoming its own diocese and thus getting out from under the authority of the Bishop of Passau. In 1469 the Pope canonically established the Diocese of Vienna under a bishop appointed by the emperor
Interior carving on one of the pillars
The organ loft
Der Südturm (the South Tower)
View to the west of Vienna from the South Tower
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