The Augustinian Church in Vienna owes its appearance in the 14th century to the spiritual experience of Frederick the Duke of Austria, who, while imprisoned at Trauznitz Castle, had the honour of communing with the monks of the Order of St Augustine.
It is not known why the Nestorians took a liking to the disgraced ruler, but when he returned to the capital in 1327, Frederick decided to build a church for them.
The church is in the Gothic style, as the vaulted ceiling and high spire eloquently testify. The project was designed by Dietrich von Pirn and the church was built under the supervision of the Bavarian architect Dietrich Landtner. Today there are many shops around the cloister, so it's possible to combine a cultural programme with shopping.
There is also a shop in the church where you can buy brochures, books, liturgical calendars, books for new parents and even children's games and literature.
The Augustinian church in Vienna initiated many marriages, not only for love but also for political reasons. The Augustinians also performed marriages in absentia. Louis XVI and the Habsburg princess Marie-Antoinette were married here without ever setting foot in the church.
Almost all royal weddings were not without mishaps. For example, Napoleon's place at Marie-Louise's wedding was taken by proxy by Emperor Charles.
The bride had forgotten to be measured, so several wedding rings of different sizes were hastily delivered to the church. The bishop who married Sisi and Franz Joseph took so long to deliver his sermon that he was nicknamed 'Chatterbox'.
Mass was celebrated in the church until 1836, when it was taken over by the so-called white clergy, i.e. priests who did not belong to any religious order. It was not until the middle of the 20th century that the Vienna Augustinian Church was returned to its rightful owners, the Augustinians.
To this day, a solemn mass is held on Sundays. This is a great place for the whole family to enjoy choral singing and organ music. Occasional classical music concerts are also held in the church.
Despite its rather plain, light facade, the church attracts crowds of tourists from all over the world. The sumptuous interior is striking and the contrast of light colours with the gilded lights creates an illusion of infinite space.
All the tombs are decorated in gold and bronze, with rich metalwork of skulls and busts in laurel wreaths and massive medallions.
The overall effect of the decoration is powerful but far from unambiguous. Fans of pastorals and gilded rococo cupids are unlikely to appreciate the sombre elegance of the Gothic interior, but true connoisseurs of European history and culture will find much to interest them.
And there are plenty of curious artefacts hidden in the bowels of the church. Highlights include the Shrine of the Heart in St George's Chapel, which contains over fifty silver vessels containing the hearts of all the Habsburg rulers. St Augustine's Church is the burial place of many noble families.
One of the church's landmarks is the tombstone of the mock princess Mimi, Maria Theresa's favourite daughter. It is a true work of art, the work of Maestro Antonio Canova in the classical style.
The solemn serenity of the marble princess and the purity of the plastic form are enhanced by the careful polishing of the marble. It is thanks to the death of Mimi (Maria Cristina) from drinking dirty water that Austrians still have crystal clear water from the canal built by her husband, Duke Albert of Saxe-Teschen.
The chapel of St Augustine's also contains the tomb of Emperor Leopold II. But the cornerstone of the church's interior is its dark gold altar, dedicated to Emperor Charles I. Interestingly, this altar only appeared in 2004.
