Sometimes unassuming walls hide long and colourful histories. And so it is with Vienna’s Augustinerkirche, the Habsburg monarchy’s court church for almost 300 years.
- Dates back to the 14th century
- Numerous Habsburg connections as a one-time court church
- Various monarchs married here
- Notable for organ recitals and other church music
- Be sure to view the Canova memorial inside
- See also: Empress Elisabeth in Vienna | Other churches
The Imperial Connection
Vienna is not short of old buildings, but the Augustinerkirche (Augustinian church) is one of the oldest, dating back to 1327.
Frederick I, Duke of Austria and Styria, founded the church, perhaps his second-greatest achievement. His first being able to become known as Frederick the Handsome (seriously).
Of course, the church went through various changes in the intervening centuries and, today, merges gracefully into the surrounding Hofburg complex.
As such, the Augustinerkirche is not a self-contained landmark like Stephansdom cathedral. Instead, it shares a near-continuous façade with the Albertina on one side and the extraordinary state hall and other offices of the National Library on the other.
The modest appearance is a little disarming since the church is redolent with history. From 1634 to 1918, for example, it served as the official court church for the Habsburg monarchs. The hearts of many of them rest in a crypt within the church walls.
Most famously, perhaps, the church played host to various royal weddings. Among the couples joined together beneath its roof:
- Emperor Franz Joseph and Elisabeth of Bavaria (1854)
- Crown Prince Rudolf and Stephanie of Belgium (1881)
- Empress Maria Theresa and Franz Stephan of Lorraine (1736)
- Archduchess Marie Louise and Napoleon Bonaparte (1810)
- Maria Antonia (Marie Antoinette) and King Louis XVI of France (1770)
The last two weddings mentioned were unusual in that they took place in the absence of the bridegroom (which was a thing in those days). For example, napoleon asked Marie Louise’s uncle, Archduke Karl, to represent him.
The archduke later wrote to Napoleon to note that (my translation):
The celebratory role which your imperial majesty was kind enough to delegate to me was a particularly pleasant one
A plaque on an outer wall commemorates another famous event in the church’s history. The Polish King, Jan Sobieski, attended Mass in the Augustinerkirche after liberating Vienna from the Turkish siege of 1683.
Inside the Augustinian Church
Given its long history and association with the monastic Order of St Augustine (who manage the church), there is little of the ostentatious decoration you might be used to from the likes of Peterskirche, for example.
Some 700 years of architectural change and treasures are beyond my capabilities to describe, but two features stand out when inside the church.
The first is the marble memorial to Archduchess Marie Christine (1742-1798), sculpted by Antonio Canova, commissioned by her husband (Albert of Albertina fame), and completed in 1805.
Various symbolic figures form a funeral procession that seems to enter a darkened gateway to the underworld.
The pews make up another intriguing feature, since they differ from each other quite significantly.
One set is austere and simple, apparently stemming from the time of Emperor Joseph II (1741-1790), who was known for his dislike of unnecessary pomp and circumstance.
Others have rich, detailed carvings at the ends and fronts, and date back to before Joseph and his austerity.
Tickets & visitor tips
There’s no charge to enter the church (donations are obviously welcome), unless a concert is taking place.
Indeed, the Augustinerkirche has a strong reputation for its church music and not just in association with services, with fairly-regular organ recitals (such as during the summer organ festival).
Note that this is a busy working church, so services may be on when you visit.
How to get to the Augustinerkirche
The church is about as central as you can get and so away from the tram lines that can only skirt the old town.
Subway: take the U3 or U1 to Stephansplatz and walk along the Graben and up Dorotheergasse to reach the church
Bus: take the 2A to Albertinaplatz or the 1A to Habsburgergasse
Address: Augustinerstraße 3, 1010 Vienna (the public entrance is on Josefsplatz) | Website