Vienna: Stephen's Dom
This cathedral was probably the most busy one we visited. There were people everywere which might have been because Vienna was the center of the Austrian empire, and therefore it must have a grand church. It was established by the Hapsburgs to bring in their own Bishop from Rome. It was the tallest cathedral in the world for a couple of years and many windows to give the impression of a crystal building. Lots of symbolism from the master masons working on the cathedrals, such as he good lizards and evil toads and the loyal dog wo protects God from the toads.
Prague: St. Vitus and St. George
St. Vitus was massive and I feel like it reflected the country more than Stephen's Dom. There were crests for all of the families who contributed to its building and special areas for those families to attend church. Also it was reflected in the large amount of silver. Prague was known for its silver mining and that was shown extensively. It was more of a people church than a symbol for empire.
St. George was quaint, dark, and gave me chills. maybe not as creepy as the Ossuary but definetly had some dead vibes going on. It was not as grand and it was made of mostly gray stone. It felt more like a church for monks, because of its simplicity. I feel like it was a more personal area than St. Vitus.
All of these churches were Catholic but definately had their little quirks. In Vienna you could tell it was built as a symbol for the powerful empire of the Hapsburgs. St. Vitus was something constructed to try and make a statement but it was more of a community contribution than only from he royal family. And St. George was the most simple. It was the church before the empire. Both Stephen's Dom and St. Vitus are built in high gothic style with gargoyles, flying butresses, pointed arches, and steaples. Whereas St. George seemed more glassic. It was not tall or intricate, it was a place to have church not a place for church to be had.
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