The Peterskirche is like an Easter egg full of exquisite pralines. It looks nice on the outside, with its domes, reliefs and statues. But the inside quite takes your breath away. Then add an ensemble for some musical magic.
- Early 18th-century church
- Gorgeous Baroque interior
- Popular for light classical concerts
- Read my concert review
- Just off Vienna’s pedestrianised centre
- Book a classical concert* in the Peterskirche
- Extremely central
- See also:
St. Peter’s Church
(View of the church from the Graben)
The church nestles quietly in the centre of Petersplatz square, close to the busy Graben pedestrian area at Vienna’s heart and surrounded by buildings from the 18th and 19th centuries.
Both church and square make for good photos; look for a passing fiaker (one of Vienna’s horse-drawn carriages) to add another historical touch to your snapshots.
The church exterior certainly offers an impressive vista. But the inside has more to offer, both architecturally and musically.
Interior highlights
(A darkened portal to sublime Baroque grandeur)
The Peterskirche packs an awful lot of baroque magnificence into its oval-shaped domed area with its niches (mini chapels) and high altar.
Everywhere you look inside offers a kaleidoscope of ornamental design.
If you can, close your eyes when you enter the foyer and get a friend or family member to guide you through the door to the main dome.
Then open your eyes.
Wow.
The entrance area normally has a free and formal guide to the church’s interior, but here just a few highlights from my perspective:
- As you face the main altar, look up and behind you to see the baroque organ built in 1751. Though the word organ is not big enough to properly describe the instrument
- Check the pulpit, which has a little bit more decoration than normal
- Try and view the church on a sunny day. A small windowed tower at the centre of the dome has a dove as the representation of the Holy Spirit/Trinity at the very top. When sunlight enters, it creates the effect of light shining out from the symbol
(The iconic dome)
- Look out for the illusionist paintings that create the impression of a bigger structure, such as the artificial dome painted above the entrance to the main altar area
- Also look for the large portraits around the bottom of the dome: observe how the painted projections over the stonework give them a 3D feel
Concerts
As well as formal church services, Peterskirche hosts organ recitals and other events. Some may take place in the underground vaults.
A highly-rated classical music concert* takes place regularly in the evenings, given by the Classic Ensemble Vienna. You can read my review. Quick summary: excellent performance in a lovely ambience, with the advantage of a central location.
That concert typically features popular pieces by Mozart, Beethoven, Vivaldi, and similar. And should you be worried about what to wear for such occasions in Vienna, here some tips.
History
(View of Peterskirche and square by the artist Carl Schütz, published by Artaria & Co. Verlag in 1779; Wien Museum Inv.-Nr. 18987; excerpt reproduced with permission under the terms of the CC0 licence)
We lack definitive historical records, but experts suggest the first church on this site appeared in the late 4th century. Over a thousand years before we had such things as violins. Indeed, it would even be decades before Attila the Hun began tweaking the noses of kings and emperors across Europe.
A Romanesque church, built somewhere between the 8th and 11th century (depending on who you believe), certainly preceded the current one; today’s church went up in the early 18th century.
Dedicated to the Holy Trinity, the design clearly mimics the famous namesake in Rome (as you can tell from a glance at the main dome); the official consecration took place in 1733.
Visitor & ticket tips
For concerts
The Classic Ensemble Vienna usually performs up to six times a week (less in the low season).
(Booking service provided by Tiqets.com*, who I am an affiliate of)
(Nothing on your dates? Try some alternative concerts*)
For visiting Peterskirche
At the time of writing, the church itself is free to visit and open daily. It’s a working institution (priests received confessions during my last visit), so be aware of that in terms of your clothing and behaviour.
For more baroque ecclesiastical art and décor, visit some of the other central churches, particularly:
Annakirche: also in the pedestrianised centre and don’t be fooled by the relatively mundane exterior
Karlskirche: one of the largest churches and great for photos as it stands more or less alone on the edge of a square.
Both those churches have regular evening concerts, too. Vienna is full of such opportunities (this is a musical city).
Peterskirche, of course, lies close to the main cathedral, which makes an interesting architectural contrast: Stephansdom has its own bits of baroque finery but remains largely gothic in design. And (surprise!) it also has public concerts, like the giant organ recitals.
How to get to Peterskirche
As it’s just off the main pedestrianised part of central Vienna, you’ll likely pass the church on a walk through the old town.
For public transport:
Subway: take the U1/U3 to Stephansplatz station, admire the cathedral outside, and then walk up along the Graben and turn right just after the plague column.
Bus: take lines 1A or 2A to Graben/Petersplatz.
Address: Petersplatz, 1010 Vienna | Website (for the church)