Vienna, Austria

Votivekirche

If you  have the urge to see even more churches, Vienna has several gems that might be of interest to you.  The Votive Church (Schottentor station (U2)) on the Ring,  is a neo-Gothic spectacle, which was built in appreciation of a failed assassination attempt of Emperor Franz Joseph.  The church was commissioned by  Ferdinand Maximillian, brother of Franz Joseph, who later was later assassinated during his reign as Emperor of Mexico.  The highlight of a visit is the main altar, which is a spectacle.  In addition, the towers of the Votivekirche are very attractive when illuminated at night.

Maria am Gestade

Maria am Gestade (St. Mary's on the Banks) located on Salvatorgasse at Passauerplatz,  is one of the most recognizable examples of Gothic architecture in Vienna.  This church is known for its wonderful, thin, lace-work tower and the fact that it is one of Vienna's oldest churches. 

Maria am Gestade dates from the late 14^th century and was built in a location that had previously been the site of  several churches.  The Gestade church fell into disuse after it was desecrated and its neglect continued as it was  used by Napoleon's troops for storage during his invasions of Vienna.  Maria am Gestade remained out of favor until it was restored in the 19th century.

The Assisi Church (Memory Church)

The Assisi Church, also known as the Memory Church, dates from the late 19th century and was consecrated on the Golden Anniversary of the Emperor Franz Joseph. It is located on the Mexicoplatz near the banks of the Danube.

Although it might sound odd to have a Mexicoplatz in Vienna, the Habsburgs  for a brief time, claimed the monarchy of Mexico.  It appears that the citizens of Mexico did not agree to this annexation, as Franz Joseph's brother Maximillian was crowned Emperor of Mexico and ,then, captured and executed by members of a group supporting Mexican independence.

Next - explore our menu on the right hand edge of this page to find other types of sightseeing in Vienna

Alternatively, if you want to find out about a specific attraction and know its name, look for it in our index to the best places to visit in Vienna.

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