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The two Romanesque Heathen Towers flanking the Giant’s Door, and two Gothic side chapels with filigree stone rose windows, are a spectacular welcome to the cathedral.

The main gate into the cathedral was named after a mammoth’s bone that was found on the site during construction works in the 15th century. It is decorated with Romanesque sculptures depicting Christ on Judgment Day between two angels.

The impressive roof is covered with almost 250,000 colourful tiles laid out in the Habsburg coat of arms–a double-headed eagle wearing the emperor’s crown and the Golden Fleece. Originally constructed in 1490, the roof was restored after fire damage in World War II.

The North Tower, topped with a cupola, is home to the “Pummerin”. This bell, weighing nearly 20 tons, was cast from 100 cannon balls seized during the Turks’ failed seige of Vienna in 1683.

The Gothic main nave is covered by an impressive ribbed vault supported by tall pillars.

The beautiful Baroque high altar was created by the brothers Tobias and Johann Pock in 1641. The painting in the centre of the marble altar depicts the stoning of the cathedral’s patron saint, St Stephan.

The famous “Giant Organ”, built in 1886, was destroyed during World War II. A large modern organ with 125 pipes was installed in the west choir in 1960.

When Emperor Karl VI closed the cathedral cemetery in 1732, a catacomb system was constructed to bury the city’s dead. By the end of the 18th century about 11,000 people were laid to rest in the catacombs. The centrepiece is the Duke’s Crypt, which holds the remains of the Habsburgs.

The five colourful medieval windows behind the high altar tell Biblical stories about the prophets and saints as well as the life and passion of Jesus.

The main nave is dominated by tall, long pillars, lavishly decorated with 77 clay and stone statues dating back to the 15th century.