Description of the attraction
St. Stephen's Church is located in the historic center of the Austrian city of Baden, in the immediate vicinity of the city theater and spa park. It was heavily rebuilt in the 17th century and is a mixture of Gothic and Baroque styles.
For a long time Baden was under the control of the diocese of the large city of Passau, therefore the first city church, built at the end of the 12th century, was consecrated in honor of the patron saint of Passau, St. Stephen. Subsequently, several Baden passed under the dominion of the large Abbey of Melk and even the dwarf diocese of the capital Vienna. Only in the eighties of the 18th century, the city had its own parish.
It is interesting that for a long time the church of St. Stephen was not very popular in the city, since all solemn services were held in the chapel of the Baden Castle. It is known that in 1258 there was an ossuary on this site, which later grew into a modern temple, built in the 15th century on a Romanesque foundation.
The church was badly damaged during the wars with Turkey in 1529 and 1683, and therefore many of its Gothic elements and decorations were replaced by Baroque ones. However, the Gothic style is still visible in the interior of the temple - in its elaborate vaults supported by graceful columns. But in general, the interior of the church was made in a strict baroque style around the middle of the 18th century. Many of the altarpieces were painted by the famous late Baroque Austrian painter Paul Troger. Also, the church has preserved many pieces of furniture and church utensils dating from the same historical period. It is also worth noting the ancient gravestones and gravestones that have remained since the Renaissance - that is, from the beginning of the 16th century. Of interest is the main organ, installed in 1744 and famous for the fact that famous composers Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Ludwig van Beethoven played on it.
A distinctive feature of St. Stephen's Church is its Gothic bell tower, crowned in 1697 by a baroque onion-shaped dome, common in Austria and southern Germany. It reaches 67 meters in height and is a kind of symbol of the city of Baden.
