Maltese Church, Gothic church in Innere Stadt, Vienna, Austria
The Maltese Church is a Gothic church on Kärntner Straße in Vienna's first district, built with pointed arches, ribbed vaults, and a stone facade. The interior is narrow and tall, as is typical of the style, and retains the character of a medieval place of worship.
The church was first mentioned in 1217 and served as a commandery of the Knights of Saint John, who supported pilgrims and crusaders traveling through the city. After a long period of decline, the building was repurchased by the Maltese Order in the mid-20th century and restored.
The church takes its name from the Knights of Malta, a religious order that has been tied to this site since the Middle Ages and remains present here today. Inside, artworks from different periods make that long connection visible to anyone who visits.
The church sits on Kärntner Straße, one of Vienna's main pedestrian streets, and is easy to reach on foot from the city center. It is worth checking opening times in advance, as the church is not always open to visitors.
Inside the church stands a monument from 1806 honoring Jean Parisot de la Valette, the Grand Master who led the defense during the Ottoman siege of Malta in 1565. That same Grand Master later gave his name to Valletta, the capital of Malta.
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