Virgilkapelle

Useful Information

Location:	Stephansplatz, U-Bahnstation/metro station, 1010 Wien. (48.208345, 16.372304)
Open:	All year Tue-Sun, Hol 10-18. 24-DEC, 31-DEC 10-14. Closed 01-JAN, 01-MAY, 25-DEC. [2023]
Fee:	Adults EUR 5, Children (0-19) free, Students (-27) EUR 4, Seniors EUR 4, Disabled EUR 4. Groups (10+): Adults EUR 4, Students (-27) EUR 2, Seniors EUR 2. [2023]
Classification:	Cave Church
Light:	Incandescent Electric Light System
Dimension:
Guided tours:	self guided
Photography:	allowed
Accessibility:	yes
Bibliography:
Address:	Virgilkapelle, 1010 Wien, Stephansplatz (U-Bahn-Station), Tel: +43-664-882-93-930. E-mail:
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then. Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

1220/30	chapel built.
1246	the chapel was decorated with paintings and wheel crosses in the niches.
1973	rediscovered during the construction of the subway.
2015	newly designed, visitor-friendly entrance at the level of the underground passageway.

Description

The subterranean Virgilkapelle is one of the best-preserved Gothic buildings in Vienna. It was built around 1220/30 as a basement for a planned chapel building in early Gothic style. Around 1246, the chapel was equipped with paintings and wheel crosses in the niches. It served as a devotional chapel for a wealthy Viennese merchant family. Among other things, it was equipped with an altar for St. Virgil, hence the name.

Later, the Maria-Magdalena-Kapelle (Maria Magdalena Chapel) was built on top. Today it is destroyed but the founding walls are still visible in the pavement of Stephansplatz above. The Virgil Chapel was rediscovered in 1973 during the construction of the subway and integrated into the Stephansplatz subway station and lavishly restored. It is a subdivision of the Wien Museum.