Hochaltar des Stephansdoms, Gothic altar in St. Stephen's Cathedral, Vienna, Austria
The High Altar of St. Stephen's Cathedral is an early Baroque altar made from Sterzing marble, standing at the end of the choir in the heart of Vienna's cathedral. It takes the form of a house portal and features carved reliefs depicting the martyrdom of Saint Stephen, the patron of the church.
Brothers Johann Jacob and Tobias Pock made the altar between 1641 and 1647, commissioned by Prince-Bishop Philipp Friedrich Graf Breuner. It was created during a period of Catholic renewal in Vienna, when the church and the Habsburg court worked closely together.
The altar displays nine marble figures, among them saints Leopold, Florian, Sebastian, and Rochus, who are deeply tied to the faith of this region. Visitors who know the local religious tradition will recognize each figure by their attributes carved into the stone.
The altar is visible from the nave, but walking toward the choir gives a much clearer view of the carved reliefs. Visiting on a weekday morning tends to be quieter, making it easier to spend time in front of the work.
Carved into the altar's base is the year 1447 alongside the letters A.E.I.O.U., the motto used by the Habsburg dynasty. This detail points to King Frederick IV's financial role in the altar's origins, showing how deeply royal power was tied to the church at that time.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
