ST. STEPHEN'S CATHEDRAL FROM UP HIGH

This afternoon was the grandaddy of all field trips!  Our tour guide was the head architect of Stephansdom.  He was definitely excited to be able to tell us all about the history of Vienna's most famous cathedral.  It was fascinating!  The cathedral first began being constructed in the 1100's.  There is a combination of Gothic and Romanesque architecture.  The people of Vienna grew weary of the drabness of the Gothic style and wanted to change it, but were overruled to just add other architecture for a mix.  It is interesting to look at the ceiling and see the two different styles.  Parts of the cathedral were damaged during the war, not by bombs, but by fires from neighboring stores and buildings.  There was no water to put the fires out and even if there had been water only women and children remained in the city as the men had gone to fight in the war. 

Our tour guide explaining the small replica of Stephansdom that was built several years ago.  The blind are able to feel it and picture in their mind what Stephansdom looks like.

On the outside walls are monuments like this one that has scary faces.  They felt they were keeping the bad spirits away and wanted the inside to be a place of peace and tranquility.

These numbers on the outside of the building during the Nazi time stood for Osterreich (Austria.)  The O for the beginning letter and the 5 stood for the fifth letter of the alphabet.  Symbols were kind of a code for the people to be able to hold things that were dear to Christians in time of persecution and war.

We were led through a dark, dank narrow passage to climb  winding stairs that went up to a level that used to be a roof.

This was the elevator we rode to go a little higher.  It was a circular, very small elevator and we were crammed in like sardines.  I've overcome much of my "elevator trepidation" living here.  Still we were only 1/6th the height of the highest point of the dome.

This was what we saw when exiting the elevator.  It is a hole with a sliding door that opens to reveal the floor level.

Looking through the hole.  As you can judge by the two people, it is a long way down.

Walking the catwalk way up. 

I love this look of pure joy on Jenny's face as she snaps pictures.

See the larger window through the buildings?  This is my friend, Mary's apartment window, viewed from Stephansdom up high 

 

Down below.

The roof tiles that were added in more recent years.

Getting up close and personal with the organ.  I've only seen these giant pipes from great distances.

 

Love these spiral staircases inside.

The front of the cathedral is now scaffolding-free.  Our guide said that if there comes a day when there is no scaffolding on Stephansdom then it will be bad times.  Scaffolding present means that there is money available for renovation.

We felt so blessed to be able to take advantage of this tour as it is very rare to go into the places we were privileged to see.  Afterwards we walked in the cold to one of those classic Vienna coffee shops.  It was nice to end a perfect afternoon with the cozy experience of a cup of Viennese coffee and a yummy apfel strudel.