DVD. Global Treasures. 10 Minutes. The Stephansdom in Vienna is one of the most beautiful Gothic cathedrals in the world. The oldest sections of its fa?ade, the Heident?rme and Riesentor, are of Romanic origin. They date back to 1260 A.D. during the reign of King Ottokar The Second of Bohemia. But it was left to a member of the Habsburg royal family to complete the construction of the cathedral. The dark and mysterious catacombs located beneath the cathedral contain the remains of many former Habsburg sovereigns and up until 1783 the underground passages were also used for the burial of Viennese commoners. The significance of the building was not only due to its magnificent works of art but from 1469 it played an increasingly important role and thus became a Bishop and Cathedral Church. By creating its outstanding pulpit, cathedral master builder Anton Pilgram made himself immortal as a `Fenstergucker'. During the Baroque period the building was severely neglected. However, the beginning of the 19th century saw the renewal and strengthening of the cathedral. Having survived all the tumult of past centuries, this unique building with its proud, tall towers that rise above Vienna, has truly withstood the test of time.
