St. Othmar unter den Weißgerbern, Gothic Revival parish church in Landstraße, Austria.
St. Othmar unter den Weißgerbern is a Neo-Gothic brick parish church on Kolonitzplatz in the Weißgerberviertel, built 1866–1873 to plans by Friedrich von Schmidt. It is a three-nave basilica with an entrance tower, transept, ambulatory and ring of chapels in Early Gothic forms. The choir faces northwest and the tower stands southeast; the building is surrounded by the Ida-Bohatta-Park.
Architect Friedrich von Schmidt designed this building, which was constructed between 1866 and 1873 as a major parish project. Cardinal Othmar von Rauscher laid the foundation stone, marking the start of this significant religious construction.
The church is dedicated to Saint Othmar, abbot of St. Gall, and its full name refers to the tanners' settlement that grew here from around 1158. A secco painting above the Margaret altar, right of the main altar, depicts the burning of the earlier Trinity chapel and the killing of priest Johannes Reischacher during the Second Turkish Siege. The baroque processional cross from the demolished Margaret church is still carried on high feasts.
The church stands free on all sides on Kolonitzplatz, surrounded by the Ida-Bohatta-Park, so it can be walked around from outside at any time. The choir faces northwest and the entrance tower stands to the southeast, which helps with orientation when approaching from the square. The building is a protected monument.
The church is surrounded by the Ida-Bohatta-Park and stands free on all sides, so the red-brick exterior can be seen from every angle. Its choir faces northwest and the entrance tower stands to the southeast, an orientation that departs from the usual east-facing layout of churches.
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