Votivkirche in Vienna – Votive Church: A Neo-Gothic Building

The Votivkirche is a neo-Gothic-style church building next to Sigmund-Freud Park on the famous Ringstraße in Vienna. This is a very interesting church building with a pair of impressive spires, which are best seen from the park.

They built this church in 1879 to celebrate Emperor Franz Joseph surviving an assassination attempt in 1853. Votivkirche also has a museum on-site for visitors to learn more about its history. You can also find out more on Wikipedia.

The church is one of many free attractions to visit in Vienna, and I really enjoyed getting inside.

The Grounds of Votivkirche

The grounds of the church have some interesting statues and monuments. The one that piqued my interest was the Vivaldi monument. They are nice to sit out and relax before or after visiting the church. Sigmund Freud Park is also next to Votivkirche and has wonderful views towards the church’s spires.

What To See Inside Votivkirche in Vienna

There are many nice features to see inside the church, and I enjoyed having a good look around. This was one of my favourite churches in Vienna.

Nave

The nave of Votivkirche is rather nice and very big. They have recently renovated the church; thus, there is still some scaffolding at the far end. The views are superb if you sit on a pew or stand in the main aisle. If you look up, the ceiling decor is striking, too.

The floor of the church also caught my eye with its distinctive, colourful pattern. During my visit, it wasn’t too busy except for a few people like me taking photographs and others in the pews.

The High Altar

The focal point of many churches is the high altar, and Votivkirche is no different. It’s absolutely beautiful to see from afar and up close, too. The Votivkirche high altar has a Gothic canopy above it, which was inspired by various Italian Gothic churches. It has a marble altar and panels of glass mosaic.

The high altar also has a gilded retable with enamel panels depicting scenes from the Old Testament. Another stunning feature is the red granite columns.

The Pulpit

Another eye-catching feature of the church is the pulpit. I’ve always fancied going in one. However, in most churches I’ve visited, they have roped them off. Votivkirche was no different. The Votivkirche pulpit is hexagonal and stands on six marble pillars.

When visiting, the Neo-Gothic pulpit is best seen from both sides. The steps at the rear are impressive, with some interesting carvings. The pulpit has a spire with John the Baptist at the top.

The Organ

In the gallery, at the end of the nave, is the church organ. This dates back to 1878, when it was made by E.F. Walcker. It has been rebuilt twice since then. It’s a big organ with some pretty decorative features in the case.

They also have a cute little organ in the church towards the front.

Baptistry & Renaissance Sarcophagus

In the church are four side chapels, including the baptistry. The Baptistry near the entrance is nice to see. It contains a Renaissance sarcophagus of Nicholas, Graf von Salm, who was the defender of Vienna during the Turkish siege in 1529. Emperor Ferdinand I set the baptistry up as a token of gratitude.

Stained Glass Windows

Votivkirche also has some nice stained glass windows, including those in the side chapels. Apparently, there are 78 in total; however, most were destroyed and then replaced after the 2nd World War.