Votive Church (Votivkirche)

One of the world’s most important neo-Gothic buildings, the 19th-century Votive Church (Votivkirche) was built to celebrate a failed assassination attempt on the Habsburg Emperor Franz Joseph I. Today, the soaring cathedral with rose windows, gabled portals, and delicate spires and buttresses is among the city’s architectural treasures.

• Modest attire covering shoulders and knees is required to enter the Votive Church.
• With intricate stonework and magnificent stained glass windows, the church is a photographer’s delight both inside and out.
• There is a small museum inside the church, home to the 15th-century Antwerp Altar and other artworks and architectural details.
• The church is partially accessible to wheelchair users.

The Votive Church can be found on the Ringstrasse in the Alsergrund district of Vienna. The nearest metro stop is Schottentor on the U2 line, or take one of the many trams that stop near the station.

Known for its colorful stained glass windows, the church interiors are particularly dazzling on clear days; the exteriors are lit by night and make for impressive photos. The church and museum are open Tuesday through Saturday; the church is also open on Sunday mornings.

As pretty as the church looks, the reason for its construction was actually a failed assassination attempt on the Habsburg Emperor. On the 18th of February, 1853, tailor Janos Libenyi attacked young Franz Joseph I with a dagger, but the assassination attempt failed and the emperor survived. In gratitude for the salvation of His Majesty, his brother, Archduke Ferdinand Maximilian, called for a votive offering to build a new church in Vienna.