View from St. Stephen's Cathedral Tower, Vienna Poster

"View to the East from the South Tower of St. Stephen's Cathedral in Vienna, Austria" by Catherine Sherman. Red-tiled rooftops and historic buildings stretch across Vienna, Austria, under a blue sky in this view to the east from the South Tower of St. Stephen's Cathedral in Vienna, Austria. The skyline is marked by a blend of classical architecture and modern structures in the distance. Lush greenery is interspersed among the buildings, adding a vibrant touch to the urban setting. My friend and I impulsively decided to buy tickets to climb the south tower of St. Stephens Cathedral while touring Vienna. The cathedral, which sits in the heart of Vienna, offers 360-degree views from its south tower. We climbed 343 very narrow winding stone steps up 220 feet (67 meters) until we reached the Watchmen's Chamber. The chamber was an apartment for watchmen and firefighters, who manned the tower day and night from the 15th century until January 1956. During the Ottoman empire Siege of Vienna in 1529 and again during the Battle of Vienna in 1683, it served as the main observation and command post for the defense of the walled city. The climb was tiring, but the view was worth the effort. In the top chamber is a small gift shop. A few benches provide a place to rest before making the descent -- which was a lot easier than the ascent! We were rewarded with this view to the east, which shows Belvedere Palace near the horizon on the far right surrounded by gardens and greenery. Each of the four directions revealed a beautiful scene. The cathedral's initial foundation stone dates back to 1137. The current building originated in the mid-13th century. The cathedral was badly damaged during World War II, but the city and community repaired all the damage within just a few years.