This week's #Wahrzeichen takes us to #Vienna where the iconic #Stephansdom prominently stands in the heart of Vienna's old town. The current church was constructed on the ruins of an older parish church consecrated in 1147. Construction was completed in 1433.

A masterpiece of European Gothic architecture, it boasted the tallest tower in Europe at the time until the Strasbourg Cathedral overtook it for the title in 1491. At 447.5 ft tall, no building in Austria-Hungary was permitted to be taller. (Thus, the New Cathedral built 1862-1924 in Linz was built 2 meters shorter.)
During the Second World War, Stephansdom was damaged; repairs were completed in 1976.

© Österreich Werbung / Harald Eisenberger (photo 1); Österreich Werbung / Wolfgang Weinhäupl (photo 2); Österreich Werbung / Julius Silver (photo 3+4); Austria-Forum / Österreichische Post (photos 5-7)