The Catholic churches we visited along our journey included some for Mass (even more than once at St. Stephen's), some for an organ concert, some for quiet prayer, and others for just a quick glimpse of their timeless beauty. Each one held its own story, with its own charm and majestic traditional pipe organs.
These visits were not just stops along our itinerary but moments that deepened our journey, adding layers of beauty, peace, and inspiration along the way.
Vienna
1. St. Stephen's Cathedral (Stephansdom)
Architectural Style: Romanesque and Gothic.
Date: The current building dates to the 12th century, with major Gothic reconstruction in the 14th and 15th centuries.
Organ Size: It houses several organs, most notably the main organ with 125 stops and 9,000 pipes, making it one of the largest in Europe.
Interesting Fact: The cathedral's roof features a magnificent tile mosaic depicting the double-headed eagle of the Austrian Empire and the coat of arms of Vienna.
2. St. Peter's Church (Peterskirche)
Architectural Style: Baroque.
Date: The current building was completed in 1733, on the site of one of the city's oldest churches.
Organ Size: It features a historic organ built by the famous organ builder Johann Ignaz Egedacher in 1751.
3. St. Michael's Church (Michaelerkirche)
Architectural Style: Romanesque and Gothic.
Date: The church's origins trace back to the 13th century, making it one of the oldest parish churches in Vienna. The current building has elements from various periods.
Organ Size: The church features a famous Haydn Organ, built by Franz Josef Poldl in 1745.
Interesting Fact: The church is known for its incredible catacombs , which contain mummified bodies in open coffins, preserved by the unique climate and soil.
4. Minoritenkirche (Church of the Minorites)
Architectural Style: French Gothic.
Date: The foundation stone was laid in 1276, and the church was completed in the mid-14th century.
Organ Size: It has a significant organ with 42 stops, built by the Italian organ builder Rieger in 1904.
Interesting Fact: The church houses a mosaic replica of Leonardo da Vinci's The Last Supper, commissioned by Napoleon. It's also one of Vienna's first Gothic churches.
5. Votivkirche (Votive Church)
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Date: 1879 (Neo-Gothic).
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Organ: Historic Walcker organ (built 1878) — a significant Romantic-era instrument (often noted in organ literature).
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Interesting Fact: Built as a votive church after the attempted assassination of Emperor Franz Joseph; its twin spires make it a landmark.
6. St. Charles's Church (Karlskirche)
Architectural Style: High Baroque.
Date: Completed in 1737.
Organ Size: The main organ was built in 1739 and has 27 stops.
Interesting Fact: This church was built by Emperor Charles VI in fulfillment of a vow he made during a plague epidemic.
7. Jesuit Church (Universitätskirche)
Architectural Style: Baroque.
Date: The church was originally built in the early 17th century, but its famous Baroque interior and facade were created during a major renovation by the Italian architect Andrea Pozzo from 1703-1705.
Organ Size: The main organ was built by the famous organ builder Johann Joseph Prackh in 1733 and has 26 stops.
Interesting Fact: The ceiling features a spectacular illusionistic fresco by Andrea Pozzo, which makes the flat roof appear to be a towering dome.
Salzburg
8. Andräkirche (St. Andrew's Church)
Architectural Style: Neo-Gothic.
Date: Consecrated in 1898.
Organ Size: It has an organ with 37 stops.
Interesting Fact: The church was built to serve the rapidly growing Neustadt (New Town) district of Salzburg in the late 19th century. It's known for its prominent twin towers, which are a familiar sight in the city.
9. Salzburg Cathedral (Salzburger Dom)
Architectural Style: Early Baroque.
Date: Consecrated in 1628.
Organ Size: It features seven organs, with the main organ having over 4,000 pipes.
Interesting Fact: Mozart was baptized here and later served as the cathedral organist.
10. St. Peter's Abbey (Stift St. Peter)
Architectural Style: Primarily Romanesque and Rococo.
Date: Founded in 696 A.D., making it one of the oldest monasteries in the German-speaking world.
Organ Size: The abbey church has an organ with 32 stops.
Interesting Fact: The abbey's cemetery and catacombs were a filming location for the movie, The Sound of Music.
11. Kollegienkirche (Collegiate / University Church)
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Year completed: early 18th century (designed by Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach).
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Organ: Important baroque church used for concerts; organ specifications vary with performances and historic restorations. salzburg.info
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Interesting fact: Major baroque landmark in Salzburg’s Old Town and a well-known concert venue (noted for light-filled interior and acoustics)
12. St. Francis Church (Franziskanerkirche)
Architectural Style: Romanesque, Gothic, and Baroque.
Date: The original Romanesque basilica was consecrated in 1221, with the Gothic choir added in the late 14th century.
Organ Size: The church has a main organ with 35 stops. The organ loft is also notable for its beautiful Rococo design.
Interesting Fact: This church is one of the oldest in Salzburg and combines several architectural styles. The contrast between the simple, dark Romanesque nave and the soaring, light-filled Gothic choir is especially striking.
13. Chapel of Archbishop Leonhard also known as St. George's Chapel (St. Georgs-Kapelle)
Architectural Style: Late Gothic.
Date: 1501.
Interesting Fact: The chapel is located within the Hohensalzburg Fortress and is known for its exquisite stone carvings and the family crests of the archbishops.
Hallstatt
14. Catholic Parish Church of the Assumption
Architectural Style: Late Gothic.
Date: 14th century.
Organ Size: small, historic organ.
Interesting Fact: Due to its small churchyard, the church has a Beinhaus (Charnel House) next to it, where exhumed skulls are painted and displayed.
Freilassing, Germany
15. St. Rupert Parish Church
Architectural Style: Modern.
Date: 1925.
Organ Size: The organ has 41 stops.
