Church of St. Mary Am Geshtade

In the northern part of Vienna, on a high hill stands a very beautiful, elegant church of St. Mary am Geshtade. Once it was the bank of the Danube River, now Donaucanal, hence the name of the church, which translates from German as "Maria on the shore." The building of this Catholic church is a real example of Gothic, from the front door to the openwork dome. It is known that it was built on the site of a wooden church with a chapel, which existed on this place in the IX century, and was considered the patroness of sailors. The first mention refers to 1158.

In the period from 1409-1469, the church was the property of the episcopacy of Passau, as the name of the adjacent Passauerplatz square reminds. In 1809, Napoleon ordered the use of this church as a warehouse and stable for his military needs, but in 1812 the Church of St. Mary Am Gestade was consecrated again.

Maria am Geshtade, which can be admired today, was built in 1394-1414. The tower, with fragments of medieval stained glass, is visible from afar, its height is 56 meters. Since 1862, the Church of Mary am Geshtade has kept the ashes of St. Clemens Maria Hofbauer, who is considered the patron saint of Vienna. Inside the church are three portals with reliefs and statues.