Jesuit Church — Attraction in Vienna

NOTICE: Although beautiful, this Church is listed a Catholic Church but it does NOT follow the rite of the Roman Catholic Church. So, if you are visiting the city and looking to attend Holy Mass, this will not be it. One assumes it is Catholic, as the Jesuit order is a Roman Catholic order. There are some vast differences and their service is also performed in another language, not German or English, that some Churches in Vienna do offer.

Their website does not alert you that it is some other form of Catholic (Byzantine, for example) Church, their email address is invalid, and the schedule listed online is inaccurate.

When we arrived, there was a prior service with a large choir about to end. There were two young females by the doors holding baskets with money in it, so I asked the young lady with very short, dark hair if that was the Sunday collection- the one typically done during the preparation of the gifts during Mass- to which she replied "yes". I deposited our bill, but later, during the service, baskets were passed for the actual collection, so I am unsure where the money previously deposited went, since the female was clearly not doing the Sunday Mass collection. My guess is she was collecting donations for the Choir event, but she spoke perfect English, so there was no misunderstanding there.

Worth visiting for the sights if you are in Wien, but not the place to go to if you are looking to attend Holy Mass during...

The Church of the Jesuits is a Baroque gem and one of my very favourite churches to visit in Vienna. Situated on the backstreet Dr.-Ignaz-Seipel-Platz, this is a wonderful place to include in your sightseeing plan if you are a fan of architecture, art and historic churches.

The church facade is fashioned in Baroque but is somewhat simple compared to the interior which has a way of enamouring those who enter. Designed by Italian Baroque master Andrea Pozzo in the early 18th century, there is much to catch the eye's attention as you scan the colourful and heavily gilded marble columns of the main hall, Spend some time to enjoy the intricate altar, the ornate pulput and side chapel bays of the main hall.

A major highlight of the Jesuit Church is the ceiling fresco which includes a two-dimensional illusionary dome painting by Pozzo. This is a fine example of painting optical illusions for which he was known for. If you step into the side bays on either side of the hall, notice the small ceiling holes, each accompanied with a unique optical illusion scene to complement Pozzo's ceiling masterpiece.

Give the Church of the Jesuits 10-15 minutes to view and enjoy and then continue onward with other intended sightseeing. If you enjoy Baroque churches, there are other fine examples within the historic city centre, including the nearby Dominican Church, The Franciscan Church, St. Peter's and St....

the jesuitenkirche (jesuit church) is one of those places that completely surprises you. from the outside, it looks pretty plain, just a simple facade with a couple of towers. you'd probably walk right by it if you didn't know better. ​but once you step inside, wow. it's like a baroque explosion. the interior is incredibly opulent and decorated with tons of gold and ornate detail. the whole space is a feast for the eyes, with rich colors and a real sense of grandeur. ​the best part, though, is the ceiling. you're looking up, and you see this magnificent dome. but then you realize... it's not a real dome! it's a trompe-l'œil painting on a flat ceiling that creates this amazing illusion of a dome with incredible perspective. it was painted by a jesuit artist named andrea pozzo in the 1700s, and it's a masterpiece of optical illusion. you can walk around and see how the perspective changes as you move. ​it’s a much more less crowded space than st. stephen's or karlskirche. you can really take your time and admire the details without feeling rushed. it's a true hidden gem and a great reminder that you can't always judge a book by its cover. and it's free to enter, so it's a perfect stop to make if...