St Francis of Assisi Church, Vienna

St Francis of Assisi Church, Vienna tickets: which one to buy

The Church of Saint Francis of Assisi, also called the Kaiser Jubilee Church or the Mexico Church, stands on the Mexikoplatz on the bank of the Danube in Vienna's second district, near the Praterstern and the Prater amusement park, and entry is free. It is often overlooked by visitors, because it lies outside the historic centre, but its red and white towers are a striking landmark along the river.

The church can be combined with a visit to the Prater, with its Giant Ferris Wheel, and a walk along the Danube Canal. The U1 metro station Vorgartenstrasse is a short walk away, and trams run along the river. The church is active, serving a Catholic parish and a Polish community, and it holds regular services. Opening hours are limited outside mass times. Ask at the parish office beside the church about visiting outside mass times.

Visiting St Francis of Assisi Church, Vienna: what to see

The church was built between 1898 and 1910 to commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of the reign of Emperor Franz Joseph, and it was designed by the architect Victor Luntz in a neo-Romanesque style, with influences from Byzantine architecture. Its three towers, built of red brick and light stone, and its dome make it one of the most distinctive churches in Vienna. The square in front of the church is named after Mexico, because Mexico was the only country to protest at the League of Nations against the annexation of Austria by Nazi Germany in 1938. Inside, the church has a spacious interior with mosaics and paintings and a large organ. It is run by the Trinitarian order.

The church is also associated with Saint John Paul II and with Polish Catholics in Vienna, as it has served Polish worshippers for many years. The church's high altar is dedicated to Saint Francis, and the side altars honour saints connected to the Habsburg family. The towers, visible from the Reichsbrucke bridge, are among the tallest church towers in this part of Vienna. The mosaics above the entrance show Saint Francis and the imperial crown. The church was damaged during the Second World War and restored afterwards. A monument to Mexico's protest of 1938 stands on the square in front of the church. The crypt holds memorials to members of the Trinitarian order. The interior's stained glass windows are colourful.

St Francis of Assisi Church, Vienna opening hours and the best time to go

The church is open for services and at limited times in between; check the parish schedule before visiting. The Prater and the Danube banks are lively in summer, with cyclists, joggers and beer gardens, and the Giant Ferris Wheel is especially beautiful at sunset. Winter is cold, but Christmas markets in the Prater and the city centre are popular. The Danube Island, reached by bridge nearby, is a popular spot for swimming and walking in summer. Allow about twenty minutes for the church, and combine it with the Prater and a ride on the Ferris wheel. The Vienna International Centre, the UN complex, is across the Danube on the other side of the Reichsbrucke bridge.