Linz New Cathedral, Linz, Austria

The New Cathedral (Mariä-Empfängnis-Dom) construction plans were started in 1855 by Bishop Franz-Josef Rudigier. The first stone was laid in 1862. In 1924 Bishop Johannes Maria Gföllner consecrated the finished building as the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. The plans, drawn by the master builder of the Archdiocese of Cologne, Vincenz Statz, were made in the French high Gothic style.

With 20,000 seats, the cathedral is the largest (130 meters long, and the ground 5,170 square meters), but not the highest, church in Austria. The originally-planned, higher spire was not approved, because in Austria-Hungary at the time, no building was allowed to be taller than the South Tower of the St. Stephen's Cathedral in Vienna. At 135 m, the New Cathedral is two meters shorter than the Viennese cathedral.

Particularly noteworthy are the cathedral's stained-glass windows. The most famous is the Linz Window, which depicts the history of Linz. The windows also contain portraits of the various sponsors of the church's construction. During the Second World War some windows, particularly in the southern part of the cathedral, were damaged. Instead of restoring the original windows, they have been replaced with windows displaying modern art. Also noteworthy is the nativity scene in the church burial vault, with its figures made by S. Osterrieder, and the display of the regalia of Bishop Rudigier.

References:

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User Reviews

FLnurseER1 (2 years ago)
We hated the cathedral from the outside. The construction scaffolding is unfortunate, but has to be accepted. The three huge electronic signs on the other hand are extremely unsightly. The interior is amazing, very dark in some places, with rows of tall, incredibly detailed and beautiful stained glass windows. We were fortunate to witness a spontaneous concert by a visiting choir that created an unforgettable memory.

Liling Ranner (2 years ago)
Interesting to see the biggest church in Linz and also the small informative exhibition about the different religions across the world.

Tetiana Nechas (2 years ago)
it's an incredible place but an extremely large amount of advertising on the facade

Rainier Sales (2 years ago)
One of the most beautiful catedral in the city. Probably a mandatory place to visit.

For Peen (2 years ago)
Spectacularly massive. So many stained glasses at every angle. There are even 'telescopes' to view some of them in detail. The sample hermit room is very interesting.

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Visby Cathedral (also known as St. Mary’s Church) is the only survived medieval church in Visby. It was originally built for German merchants and inaugurated in 1225. Around the year 1350 the church was enlarged and converted into a basilica. The two-storey magazine was also added then above the nave as a warehouse for merchants.

Following the Reformation, the church was transformed into a parish church for the town of Visby. All other churches were abandoned. Shortly after the Reformation, in 1572, Gotland was made into its own Diocese, and the church designated its cathedral.

There is not much left of the original interior. The font is made of local red marble in the 13th century. The pulpit was made in Lübeck in 1684. There are 400 graves under the church floor.

Linz New Cathedral

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