Vienna’s Stephansplatz: Where History and Shopping Collide

Stephansplatz – The Heart of Vienna

The Stephansplatz is a square at the geographical centre of Vienna, Austria. It is named after its most prominent building, the Stephansdom, Vienna’s cathedral and one of the tallest churches in the world. Before the 20th century, a row of houses separated Stephansplatz from Stock-im-Eisen-Platz,[1] but since their destruction, the name Stephansplatz started to be used for the wider area covering both. To the south and west, respectively, extend the upscale shopping streets Graben (literally “ditch”) and Kärntner Straße (“Kärnten” is the German for Carinthia). Across from the Stephansdom stands the Haas-Haus, a segment of bold modern architecture by Hans Hollein. While public opinion was initially doubtful about the blending of the mediaeval cathedral and the glass and steel skyscraper, today the building is regarded as being a prime example of blending old and new architecture.

A Bit of History

Originally half the size the square was extended when a line of houses between it and Stock-im-Eisen-Platz, and nowadays the two spaces are regarded as one. Outside the old city walls the platz was incorporated into the city around 1200 but it wasn’t until 1978 when the U-Bahn station opened that the square became central to the city.

What to See

In addition to the square of course the primary reason individuals visit the Stephansplatz is the St Stephan’s Cathedral itself, this enormous gothic. Also don’t miss the Diözesanmuseum which is the Cathedral Museum of the Archdiocese of Vienna, and also overlooking the square is the Kaffeemuseum Wien that describes how Coffee came to be such an integral part of Vienna.

Shopping Area

The Kärntnerstrasse that is on the line from Naschmarkt to Stephansplatz is one of the city’s principal shopping streets in its own right, but also from the square lead the significant Graben that is the city’s most expensive street. And from there it goes on to the Kohlmarkt where international as well as domestic major brands abound.