St. Stephen's Cathedral Organ - Catholic Stock Photo

St. Stephen's Cathedral (Stephansdom) is the most important Catholic Church in Vienna. It has a multi-colored tile roof with a diamond pattern and two tall towers. It is the most recognizable symbol of the city.

The church was dedicated to St. Stephen, who was also the patron of the bishop’s cathedral in Passau. The church was oriented toward the sunrise on his feast day of 26 December, as the position stood in the year that construction began.

St. Stephen's Cathedral was severely damaged by fire in the last days of the Second World War and virtually reduced to rubble. But with seemingly everyone lending a hand, the cathedral was rebuilt in just seven years: the emblem of Austria and symbol of Austrian identity had risen once more from the ashes.