St Stephen's Cathedral Roof

The roof of St Stephen's Cathedral (Stephansdom) in Vienna is one of the best-known tiled roofs in the world. Its very steep slopes are covered with about 230,000 glazed tiles laid in a bold, multi-coloured pattern that includes large heraldic images, making the roof a symbol of the city.

Dimensions

The roof is 111 m (364 ft) long and rises 38 m (125 ft) above the cathedral floor. Its steepness is often credited with keeping it clean: it is mainly washed by rain and is seldom covered by snow, although this claim is not well documented.

Pattern

The glazed tiles form an ornate, richly coloured pattern. Above the choir on the south side, a mosaic of tiles shows the double-headed eagle, a symbol of the Habsburg empire. On the north side, the tiles show the coats of arms of the City of Vienna and of the Republic of Austria.

Destruction in 1945

In the last days of the Second World War, fires in nearby buildings spread to the cathedral. A fire started by looters on 12 April 1945 was carried by the wind, reached the north tower and destroyed the timber roof structure, which collapsed.

Rebuilding

Reconstruction began immediately after the war. Replicating the original timber bracing was judged too expensive, so more than 600 tonnes (about 660 short tons) of steel bracing was installed instead, and the roof was re-covered with glazed tiles in the traditional pattern. The cathedral partly reopened on 12 December 1948 and fully reopened on 23 April 1952.

Significance

The roof shows several features of central European church roofing: a very steep pitch suited to snow and to the tall Gothic form, durable glazed ceramic tiles, and the use of colour and heraldry to make the roof itself a display surface. Its post-war rebuilding on steel is an example of a common heritage choice, keeping the visible historic covering while replacing a lost structure with a modern one.

Sources and gaps

The tile manufacturers and the dates of later tile repairs: published information is limited.