The Peterskirche

Experiencing the Peterskirche is like opening a rather surprising Easter egg.

It looks nice on the outside, with its domes, reliefs and statues. Then, when you go inside, a dizzying wave of colour and form hits you that is really quite breathtaking.

• Early 18th-century church with a gorgeously Baroque interior
• Also a venue for concerts and recitals
• Suited to: churchgoers, history buffs, sightseers, classical music enthusiasts
• See also:
  • Book a classical concert* in the Peterskirche
  • Classical music venues
  • Other churches

The church of St. Peter

This Opus Dei-run Baroque church nestles quietly in the centre of Petersplatz square, just off the busy Graben pedestrian area and surrounded by buildings from the 18th and 19th centuries.

The church and square makes for good photos; look for a passing fiaker (one of Vienna’s horse-drawn carriages) to add another historical touch to your snapshots.

Don’t expect a huge cathedral-like church. Though the Peterskirche does pack an awful lot of Baroque magnificence into its oval-shaped domed area with niches (mini chapels) and high altar.

Highlights

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.

The entrance area normally has a free and formal guide to the church’s interior, but here are just a few highlights:

• 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 your average wooden stand.

• Try and view the church on a sunny day. The central dome has a small windowed tower at its centre, with a dove as the representation of the Holy Spirit/Trinity at the very top. When sunlight enters this tower, it creates the effect of light shining out from the symbol.

• 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.

History

The historical records are incomplete but suggest the first church on this site appeared in the late 4th century. A time when Attila the Hun was still decades away from 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 mimics the famous namesake in Rome (as you can tell from a glance at the main dome). The official consecration took place in 1733.

Concerts, visitor & ticket tips

Peterskirche also hosts organ recitals, choir performances, operas and other events, either in the main church or in the underground vaults.

Many of these require their own ticket to attend, particularly the highly-rated and regular classical music concerts by the Classic Ensemble Vienna featuring popular pieces by Mozart, Beethoven, Vivaldi, and other great composers.

At the time of writing, St. Peter’s Church itself is free to visit and open daily. It’s a working church (priests were receiving confessions during my visit), so be aware of that in terms of your clothing and behaviour of course.

How to get to Peterskirche

As it’s just off the main pedestrianised centre of Vienna, you’ll likely pass the Peterskirche on your sightseeing travels.

The church lies close to the main cathedral, which makes an interesting architectural contrast: Stephansdom has its own bits of Baroque finery but is largely Gothic in design.

For more Baroque ecclesiastical finery, check some of the other central churches, particularly the Annakirche (also in the pedestrianised centre).

Public transport suggestions:

Subway: Take the U1/U3 to Stephansplatz and walk up the Graben.

Bus: Take lines 1A or 2A to Graben/Petersplatz.

Address: Petersplatz, 1010 Vienna | Website