The Jesuit Church

The Jesuit Church

The Vienna audio-guided tour leads you to a fine square adorned with the Jesuit Church and the Academy of Sciences. The Baroque church, the Jesuitenkirche, is a place of worship to be visited with respect, in the calm proper to this kind of building.

A 17th-century Baroque church

The Jesuit Church was built in 1627 on the model of the Gesu church in Rome. Inside, the light-toned decoration creates a pastel atmosphere lighter than in classical churches. Nearby, the Academy of Sciences was created in 1847 by Emperor Ferdinand I, on the model of the Royal Society of London and the Academy of Sciences of Paris; it moved in 1857 into the former University of Vienna.

What there is to see

Inside the church, do not miss the trompe-l'oeil false dome, a feat of painting that simulates a vault in relief. The neighbouring Academy of Sciences has a sumptuous historic ceremonial hall, one of the city's main concert halls in the 19th century, where Beethoven conducted in person. Together they form a testimony to the intellectual and religious splendour of Vienna.

Practical information

The Jesuit Church is in the historic centre, a few steps from St Stephen's Cathedral, on the square dedicated to the Academy of Sciences. Entry to the church is generally free, donations being welcome; hours may vary. An active place of worship, the church requires proper dress and silence.

On what model was the church built ?

It was built in 1627 on the model of the Gesu church in Rome, a reference of Baroque Jesuit architecture.

What is special about its interior ?

One admires a trompe-l'oeil false dome and a light-toned decoration, more pastel than in most churches.