Construction of St. Stephen's Cathedral

St. Stephen's Cathedral, known as the Stephansdom, is the Gothic cathedral and main symbol of Vienna. A Romanesque church was built on the site in the 12th century, and fragments of it survive in the west front. In the 14th century, Duke Rudolf IV began a large Gothic rebuilding, which gave the church its tall nave, its famous roof of colored tiles and its soaring south tower. The tower rises to about 136 meters and was long an important watchtower for the city. The cathedral was damaged by fire in the last days of the Second World War and carefully restored. The Pummerin, its great bell, rings on important occasions, such as the new year.

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