Mariendom Linz

Linz built the largest church in Austria without any Habsburg backing, purely through decades of public fundraising starting in 1862. The Mariendom, or New Cathedral, is Neo-Gothic, meaning it is a 19th-century revival of the medieval Gothic style characterized by pointed arches, ribbed vaulting, and an emphasis on height.

The Mariendom in Linz, known as the New Cathedral, is the largest church in Austria by length, stretching 135 meters. Built through public fundraising from 1862 to 1924, the Neo-Gothic building (19th-century revival of medieval pointed-arch architecture) was deliberately designed with a spire one meter shorter than St. Stephen’s Cathedral in Vienna. The stained glass windows illustrating Linz’s history are exceptional. Entry is free. Located in central Linz, the cathedral pairs naturally with a visit to the nearby Old Cathedral and Hauptplatz, the historic central square.