★★★★★ 5.0
Discover
St. Francis of Assisi Church
These three wooden entrance roofs were installed only for one day—Emperor Franz Joseph I's arrival for the consecration ceremony on November 2nd, 1913. Now, 112 years later, they're still standing. Look up from the Mexikoplatz at what surrounds you: three massive towers of red brick and terracotta, rising 73 meters high in pure Rhenish-Romanesque style. Architect Victor Luntz designed this deliberately fortress-like, its silhouette visible for kilometers across Vienna—originally intended as a garrison church. On June 10th, 1900, this very ground—freshly reclaimed from the Danube regulation of the 1870s—held 100,000 people watching the foundation stone ceremony with the Emperor present. But this church carries profound tragedy. That same year, an anarchist murdered Empress Elisabeth, Sisi, in Geneva. Inside, to your left, the Elisabeth Chapel erupts in golden Art Nouveau mosaics. Donations came so generously that builders replaced simple frescoes with marble and glittering tile, transforming imperial loss into radiance. Step through those temporary wooden doors—never temporary after all—and discover how a nation's grief became its most luminous memorial.
Did You Know?
- :fact: The St. Francis of Assisi Church in Vienna, also known as the Kaiser Jubilee Church, was built between 1898 and 1910 to celebrate Emperor Franz Joseph I's 50th year on the throne—a golden jubilee that marked half a century of Habsburg rule and inspired the grand Neo-Romanesque design of the church.
- :fact: The church’s striking red-tiled roof and intricate stone carvings blend Romanesque revival and Gothic styles, while its interior dazzles with stained glass windows and a beautifully adorned altar, making it a hidden gem for art lovers and photographers, especially at sunrise or sunset when the Danube River reflects its silhouette.
- :fact: Located on Mexikoplatz in Vienna’s Leopoldstadt district, the church is surrounded by lush parkland and a riverside walkway, offering families a scenic spot for picnics and play, while its serene atmosphere and historical charm make it a peaceful retreat from the bustling city.