ST. RUPERT'S CHURCH (RUPRECHTSKIRCHE)
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Dating back to 740, this pretty little Romanesque church is Vienna's oldest.
In the heart of the city's historic center, it's a tiny church and Vienna's oldest, even if this accreditation is increasingly controversial. It is said to have been built in 740, then rebuilt and modified several times over the course of history. It is dedicated to St. Rupert of Salzburg, patron saint of Vienna's salt boatmen, whose statue is installed in the northern part of the main tower. The building overlooks the Danube canal jetty where salt merchants used to operate.
The church, built on a former Roman settlement, has always remained open for worship and now also hosts concerts. It is also home to Vienna's oldest bells, dating from around 1280, and the oldest stained glass window, said to date from 1370 and depicting Christ crucified and the Virgin and Child. When the sun shines through, it's awe-inspiring...
In a small room at the back of the building, you can burn a candle to tenderize a rare black Madonna and Child. The site is in stark contrast to the Baroque style that is omnipresent elsewhere. It's not unusual, during a visit, to have the pleasure and privilege of hearing live music, as on this particular day with a concerto rehearsal involving piano and violin: St. Rupert's Church serves as a charming setting for early music concerts throughout the Vienna Festival in spring.
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