St. Rupert’s Church, Vienna

St. Rupert's Church, Vienna tickets: which one to buy

Saint Rupert's Church, the Ruprechtskirche, stands on a small rise above the Danube Canal in Vienna's first district, near the Schwedenplatz and the Bermuda Triangle nightlife area, and entry is free when the church is open. It is believed to be the oldest church in Vienna, and it is small and simple compared with the grand churches of the city, which is part of its charm. Opening hours are limited, often only a few hours a day, and services and concerts are held regularly.

Walking tours of Vienna's old town sometimes include the church, together with the Hoher Markt with the Anker Clock, the Judenplatz and the Holocaust memorial, and Saint Stephen's Cathedral. The church is surrounded by cafes and bars, and the steps outside are a pleasant place to sit. The church is used by the Catholic community and occasionally for ecumenical services. Opening hours are posted at the church door and on the parish website.

Visiting St. Rupert's Church, Vienna: what to see

According to tradition, the church was founded in 740, but the oldest parts of the present building date from the eleventh and twelfth centuries, including the lower part of the tower and the nave, built in the Romanesque style. The church is dedicated to Saint Rupert, patron of the salt merchants, who unloaded their goods on the Danube nearby. Inside, the church is a small, simple space with a plain nave and a Gothic choir. It holds the oldest stained glass windows in Vienna, from the thirteenth century, showing the Crucifixion and the Virgin and Child. Modern stained glass windows by Lydia Roppolt were added in the twentieth century. A statue of Saint Rupert with a salt barrel stands outside.

The church was restored several times and survived the wars. It is one of the few Romanesque buildings remaining in Vienna. The church's tower is simple, with small Romanesque windows. The interior has a wooden ceiling and an altar with a statue of the Virgin. A relief of Saint Rupert holding a salt vessel recalls the salt trade. The organ is small and used for services. The church's walls have been partly left unplastered, showing the old stonework. A memorial commemorates the victims of the Second World War. The church is one of the few in Vienna with a Romanesque core. Its location above the old river harbour gives views down the Danube Canal. Candles lit by visitors give the interior a warm glow.

St. Rupert's Church, Vienna opening hours and the best time to go

The church keeps limited opening hours, usually around midday and in the afternoon on weekdays, and for services; concerts are held in the evenings. Vienna is busy all year, especially in summer and during the Christmas markets. The area around the church is lively in the evening, with many bars and restaurants. The Danube Canal's banks have beach bars and street art in summer. Allow about fifteen minutes for the church, and combine it with a walk to the Anker Clock on the Hoher Markt, whose figures parade at noon. The Jewish Museum on Judenplatz, a short walk away, displays the remains of a medieval synagogue beneath the square.