St. Leopold's Church, Donaufeld

The Roman Catholic Donaufelder parish church ( St. Leopold ) is located in the 21st district of Vienna Floridsdorf. The according to the plans of building officer Franz Ritter von Neumann built neo-Gothic brick building ( with Art Nouveau interiors ) is surrounded by a small park on the Kinzerplatz in the district part of Danube field.

History

The Donaufelder parish church was originally planned as a bishop's church of a new Lower Austrian diocese. This explains the enormous scale of this parish (in the parish of about 7,000 Catholics live ). But the higher policy had it otherwise and the new diocese was never established. Thus Danube field came to its imposing parish church.

At the groundbreaking ceremony on June 6, 1905 was attended by a number of important personalities at the head of Emperor Franz Joseph I. with the then Mayor of Vienna Dr. Karl Lueger. Furthermore, were Archduke Friedrich, Archduke Leopold Salvator and the provost of Klosterneuburg Bernhard Johannes Peitl present. The foundation is now walled in the apse to the left of the high altar.

The construction of the church building officer Franz Ritter von Neumann was originally commissioned. When he died even before the foundation stone was laid, the architect Karl Troll and Johann stubble initiated the construction in strict accordance with the plans Neumann.

The solemn consecration led by Cardinal Archbishop Dr. Friedrich Piffl. On the part of the Imperial family took Archduke Peter Ferdinand part. The capstone was against the foundation stone walled and provided with a decorative plate.

When the church was already completed, nor had two emergency exits are built, as it was found subsequently that were present at a capacity of 5,000 people to a few outputs.

The sacrament of the altar of the church dates from the Academic Gymnasium and was only in 1940 erected. However, since it was believed, he was disturbing the Art Nouveau overall picture of the church, they wanted to let him pay off again. After becoming aware of the cost of 30,000 shillings then you took of a removal back distance. The sacrament of the altar is still in the church today.

The building

Description

The neo-Gothic hall church was made ​​of brick, a nave with transversely positioned gabled roofs over the side aisles and a slightly lower retracted choir, which is divided by buttresses and two to vierbahnige lancet windows. Side of the choir are two storey extensions and domed staircase turret. The northwestern gable front is flanked by domed staircase turret; prefixed is the mighty tower with an open porch and an octagonal spire.

Dimensions

The church is 35 m wide and 80 m long; the clear height of the arch is 18 m. The church tower is 96 m high. Thus, the tower is the third highest of all of Vienna. The Donaufelder parish work even in the middle of the list of the highest constructions in the world again. Furthermore, it is also the third largest church in Vienna and has the largest timber roof of Vienna. It offers, according to official reports 5,000 people space.

The interior

In designing the interior with particular emphasis on. The imposing high altar, carved in metal repoussé work rests on a marble base and shows the group "St. Leopold and his wife Agnes kneeling before the Virgin Mary with the Child Jesus. " The Pietà of the left side altar created Arthur Kaan. He also created the chandeliers come " Heart of Jesus " and " Heart of Mary ". The right side altar comes from the Viennese artist Alexander Illitsch and displays " The Holy Family on the Flight into Egypt."

From the art historical point of view the interior of the church is a unique Art Nouveau Gesamtkunstwerk.

Organ

The organ Donaufelder parish church was built in 1910 by the Viennese organ builder Josef Swoboda and is the largest yet playable left in its original state Swoboda organ. It has a total of 1,940 pipes, the smallest measuring 10 cm, the largest 9 m. The organ was sounded moderately never changed and is regarded as a sound monument.

The prospectus of the organ in relief sculptures adorn and show the figure group " The St. Cecilia and two kneeling angels ".