Franciscan Church

At Franziskanerplatz in Vienna’s Innere Stadt, the Franciscan Church pairs an uncommon Renaissance façade with a richly decorated Baroque interior. Inside, look for the gilded High Altar, dated 1707, the ornate pulpit and the church’s historic organ. A painting of the Madonna and Child from 1550 is another notable work. The contrast between the restrained exterior and the vivid interior makes this a rewarding stop for anyone interested in Vienna’s churches and architecture.

A Renaissance exterior, a Baroque interior

The Franciscan Church, also called Franziskanerkirche or the Church of St. Jerome, is a Roman Catholic parish church on Franziskanerplatz in Vienna’s Innere Stadt. Its exterior is distinctive for its Renaissance design, while Gothic elements also appear in the building.

The church was completed in 1607 using older parts of a former convent dating to 1387. Its architectural contrast becomes especially clear inside, where Baroque decoration fills the church. Look up at the cross-vaulted ceiling, then take in the red marble columns, gilded ornament and figures of cherubs. The pulpit and paintings add more detail to the interior.

The altar, paintings and organ

The High Altar dates to 1707 and is one of the church’s main works. A painting of the Madonna and Child, dated 1550, is another piece to look for, alongside paintings depicting the Martyrdom of St. Capristan and the church’s patron saint.

At the back of the church is the Wöckherl organ, completed in 1642 and regarded as Vienna’s oldest surviving organ. Friday presentations give visitors a chance to see it at close range and hear music from the period in which it was made. An annual organ festival, Quintessenz, is held in early summer.