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Kirche am Hof
That bell on the BACK? When Carmelites built here in 1386, their strict rule forbade bell towers. So the bell ended up stuck on the back wall. Look at that white Baroque facade dominating Am Hof—Vienna's largest inner-city square. The genius: underneath that 1662 Baroque shell hides the original Gothic church from 1386, visible from the courtyard. Those nine stone angels on the roof gable? They're why this church is called the Church of the Nine Choirs of Angels. In 1806, from that balcony, they announced the end of the Holy Roman Empire.
Did You Know?
- :Kirche am Hof stands on the site of Vienna’s first ducal palace, built by Duke Henry II Jasomirgott in the 12th century, making it one of the city’s oldest continuously significant locations, once serving as both a royal residence and later the imperial mint.
- The church’s striking Baroque facade, completed in 1662 by Italian architect Carlo Carlone, hides its original Gothic structure; inside, visitors can still see remnants of medieval tile floors and Baroque-era graves uncovered during excavations in 1964.
- On August 6, 1806, from the balcony of Kirche am Hof, the end of the Holy Roman Empire was officially proclaimed by imperial heralds after Emperor Francis II abdicated, marking a pivotal moment in European history.