St. Peter’s Church (Peterskirche)

Staying for parts of only four days in a place like Vienna doesn’t allow time to see or do everything; but one thing high on our priority list was to attend one or more of the free classical music performances to be found throughout town. We quickly learned that the places to find such concerts were churches, with the added and much appreciated bonus of being able to see the interiors of these astounding houses of worship. As a fitting way to end a truly exceptional Christmas Day, the organ concert we attended at St. Peter’s church was a perfect example.

Panorama of the Interior

In the middle ages the Romans built the first church on this site, and in the year 800 it is believed that Charlemagne ordered a small church with two aisles built here. The first mention of a church dedicated to St. Peter was in 1137, but it burned down in 1631. As an expression of his gratitude for the divine intervention he had requested to end the Black Plague, Emperor Leopold I ordered the construction of the church we see today (1701-1733). That guy had quite a way of saying, “Thanks.”

(l-r: a side altar, the main altar, the ceiling)

St. Peter’s is nothing short of exquisite. With its design taken from the original St. Peter’s in Rome, the interior seems to contain much more space than might be imagined. From the turreted dome to the magnificent main altar to the tiniest of carved details on the pews, the church is God’s glory manifest on earth.