St. Virgil Chapel

I have passed the St. Virgil Chapel many times without actually paying attention to the museum entrance. In general, Stephansplatz is a subway station I usually just pass through, rather than one where I’d choose to linger, simply because I dislike being surrounded by the crowds that endlessly wander around St Stephen’s Cathedral.

Not this time. An hour and a half wasn’t nearly enough to read everything I wanted to read and to find out every interesting detail that the St. Virgil Chapel Museum has to offer.

According to the leaflet, this is the “city’s best-preserved Gothic structure”, “built over 800 years ago”. The St. Virgil Chapel, as you will find out, was accidentally discovered during the construction of the subway network back in 1973. It had been completely forgotten since the Mary Magdalene Chapel that used to stand above it was burnt down in the 18th century, and the underground building was filled in and lost for two centuries. I find this such a good example of how humanity allows buildings, towns, and cultures to fade into oblivion.

The museum is tiny, but it provides a lot of information through the interactive screens on the walls. The only problem is that, in order to read everything thoroughly, you need a lot of time, which leaves other people visiting the museum unable to read what you are reading at that moment, and every screen provides different information.

My favourite one was dedicated to the Middle Ages and gave a general overview of what it felt like to live during that time, presenting it through the different senses. We never think of those things, but in times when food wasn’t stored in fridges and soap was a luxury item, it must indeed have been a very smelly time to live through.

Each item on display is accompanied by a short description on the nearby screens, and on the big screen at the end of the museum, a short video plays, showing how Vienna developed over the centuries.

It was interesting, and I enjoyed the visit very much; therefore, I hope you would enjoy it too if you decide to go and visit the museum yourselves!

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St. Virgil Chappel - Information:

Address:

1010 Vienna, Stephansplatz (U1 station)

Opening hours: Friday to Sunday: 10:00 - 17:00

Entry Fee:

€ 5,00

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