A Guide for Climbing St. Stephen’s Cathedral in Vienna
St. Stephen’s Cathedral is the largest church in Austria and sits as the main attraction of Stephansplatz in central Vienna.
Vienna is a delightful city, full of historic buildings, palaces and churches. It's a place of opera, ballet, tasty sweets, the Spanish Riding School (with its famed Lipizzaner stallions) and more.
The capital of Austria also is a place that I find can be easily explored during an early morning run on its well-marked biking/walking/running paths. I made my second visit to Vienna on a recent cruise on AmaWaterways' new river cruise ship AmaViola on the Danube River. On our stop in Vienna, which sits right alongside the river, I started my Sunday morning with a run through a quiet city. I have run in many cities and towns around the world, usually with a camera in tow to snap pics as I make my way past interesting spots, and in Vienna, my route brought me through neighborhoods in which my only company was residents walking their dogs.
The views along the Danube were as stunning as you would expect just after sunrise. (I was surprised to see so many rabbits inhabiting the greenery along the banks of the river.)
This jog was just the start to my day exploring Vienna, though. Once again, I was off to tour the city by foot. My previous river cruise to Vienna just about two years earlier left me fairly well-acquainted with the top sites to see, and one of the best is the sprawling and busy Stephansplatz, the main city square in which the city's iconic St. Stephen's Cathedral rises to almost 450 feet at its highest point (the South Tower). The Gothic church, which dates back 700 years, is a beloved landmark for the Viennese. Composer Joseph Haydn sang in the choir as a youngster, and Mozart was married there.
I stopped by to tour the impressive main interior, which is home to large stained glass windows and 18 altars. I briefly viewed the ongoing Sunday Mass before heading over to the South Tower. I had passed on a chance to climb the tower on my previous visit, but I would shell out the 4.50 euros this time in order to get a look at the best views over Vienna's Old Town.
To climb the 343 stairs of the South Tower of St. Stephen's Cathedral, you enter through a small door on the exterior of the structure, pay at a ticket window and head up the staircase.
This is no ordinary staircase, either. It starts out innocently enough before quickly narrowing. The whole process feels as if you are trying to climb up a straw.
Round and round you go, up 343 tightly wound steps.
The tightly wound stone steps twist upon themselves with the inside track of the staircase leaving such slim treads that only the tiniest of feet could remain safely on them. My size 12s had to work around the outside — as did the feet most other climbers or descenders. (Yes, you have people coming down as you go up, meaning patience and courtesy is a must for everyone to be safe in the tube.)
You get a full look over Vienna when you make the climb up the South Tower of St. Stephen's Cathedral.
Tiny windows offered a glimpse over the city as we continued to rise, first reaching a small chamber, then a bell housing, before finally emerging to the payoff. The old watchman's lookout room (now, a gift shop, of course) sits some 245 feet above street level, which means it's just over halfway up the total height of the tower. Four windows provide incredibly scenic views over Vienna, one window for each direction. I pulled out my camera, snapped a pic through each one and soon after started my dizzying descent.
The viewing room offers windows in each of four directions.
No stopping to buy anything at the gift shop. I was off in search of the famed Mozart Balls — called Mozartkugel. Look for the Furst brand of this famed sweet treat.
Till next time, thanks for reading and always travel happy.
JR