Collegial and Parish Church of St Peter, Vienna Wien - Peterskirche

The Collegial and Parish Church of St Peter in Vienna is modeled on St Peter's, Rome.

According to tradition, the site was originally occupied by a late Roman church, and then by one founded by Charlemagne in 792. The first documentary evidence for a church here, however, dates from 1137. That building was restored several times, to be replaced early in the 18th C. by the present edifice which was commenced by Gabriel Montani and probably completed by Lucas von Hildebrandt.

The church, oval in plan, is roofed with a massive dome, with a fresco by J. M. Rottmayr. There are many artistic treasures to be seen.

Picture - Details of Church of Saint Peter, Vienna.

Picture - Saint Peter's Church (Peterskirche) at night, Vienna.

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Collegial and Parish Church of St Peter Map

Important Information:

Official site: www.peterskirche.at

Address: Petersplatz 6, Austria

Opening hours: 6am-6:30pm; Sun: 7:30am-6:30pm; Sat: 7:30am-6:30pm

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Collegial and Parish Church of St Peter Highlights

Peterskirche Barbara Chapel

Going round the Peterkirche church in Vienna in a clockwise direction, visitors pass through Andreas Altomonte's magnificent portal and come to the St Barbara Chapel, in which Franz Karl Remp's "Decollation of St Barbara" is especially noteworthy. The side altar on the left has a reredos by Anton Schoonjans depicting the Martyrdom of St Sebastian. There is a painting by Altomonte in the Chapel of the Holy Family.

Peterskirche Choir

The Peterskirche choir lies just beyond the richly carved Baroque pulpit of the Viennese church. Beneath Antonio Bibiena's false dome stands the High Altar, the work of Santino Bussi, with a reredos by Altomonte and a painting of the Immaculate Conception by Kupelwieser. The entrance to the crypt is also in the choir. Every Christmas the crib which is set up here attracts many to the church.

Peterskirche (St Michael Chapel)

The right hand side of the Peterskirche church in Vienna contains the Johann von Nepomuk Altar, with a "Madonna in Glory" ascribed to Matthias Steinl. The St Michael Chapel is adorned with a "Fall of the Angels" by Altomonte. In a glass coffin can be seen Benedict, the Saint of the Catacombs. The reredos on the side altar is also by Rottmayr, while the St Anthony Chapel contains works by Altomonte ("St Anthony with the Virgin") and Kupelwieser ("Heart of the Madonna").