Kirche am Steinhof (Church of St. Leopold)
The Kirche am Steinhof also known as the Church of St. Leopold and Otto Wagner Kirche is one of the finest examples of Art Nouveau churches in the world. The church forms part of the Steinhof Psychiatric Hospital located in the 14th Vienna district Penzing about 5 kilometers (3 miles) from the city centre but it is worth visiting. Please keep in mind that the Kirche on Steinhof is open to visitors Saturday afternoons only.
The beautiful church was built between 1903 and 1907 after the design of Austrian architect Otto Wagner who was born in Penzing. Many details of the church are work of Otto Wagner himself. The elaborate apse mosaic glass windows are work of Koloman Moser, while the four angel sculptures above the main entrance were created by Othmar Schimkowitz who also created the flat relief angels in the baldachin above the tabernacle. The mosaic behind the ornate altar depicting reception of the departed soul into heaven was designed by Remigius Geyling.
The front of the church is covered with 2 centimeters thick Carrara marble. The cooper statues crowning the towers represent patron saints of Lower Austria - St. Leopold and St. Severin. The exterior of the Kirche am Steinhof is dominated by large cooper-covered dome above the main entrance.
Otto Wagner included numerous special features which reveal its function within the Psychiatric Hospital. Most corners are rounded and there are almost no crosses visible, the priest’s area is separated from the sitting area for patients, the pulpit is accessible from the vestry only, there are separate entrances for male and female patients, emergency exits are built into the side walls and toilet facilities are easily accessible within the church.