St. Rochus, Baroque parish church in Landstraße, Austria.
St. Rochus is a Baroque church in Vienna's third district with two symmetrical towers and an ornate interior. The space features a high altar of red marble, gilded decorations, and bronze candlesticks made from captured cannons.
St. Rochus was built from 1642 as the monastery church of the Discalced Augustinian Hermits, on the site of an earlier Rupert chapel. It was completely destroyed during the Second Ottoman Siege of Vienna in 1683. Construction of the present Baroque church began in 1687; the facade was completed in 1721 and has changed little since. In 1783 it became the parish church of Landstraße.
The church is dedicated to Saint Rochus, venerated in Vienna as a protector against epidemics. The name and decoration reflect the community's gratitude for protection during times of plague.
The church is located at Landstraßer Hauptstraße 56 in the third district and is easy to reach by public transport. Rochusgasse station on the U3 line is directly outside, making access straightforward.
The high altar painting depicts Saints Sebastian and Rosalia, specifically commemorating the plague epidemic of 1679. These saints were chosen because they were traditionally invoked against contagious disease.
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