3 tips for Easter in Vienna

If you are visiting Vienna in the pre-Easter period, then I recommend you to visit at least one of these three places:

(1) Old Viennese Easter Market

builds on the tradition of historic markets in the city center. Viennese like to boast that there is the largest pile of eggs in all of Europe. 🙂

Find out more in my article: Impressions from the Old Vienna Easter Market

Address: Freyung Square (underground station U3 Herrengasse)

Dates and program in German: here

(2) Easter Market in front of Schönbrunn Palace

More than 70 stalls with a variety of Easter and other goods, culinary specialities in the courtyard of the palace. Photoshooting with huge colored eggs. And the beautiful baroque scenery of the summer residence of the Habsburgs!

Address: Schönbrunn Palace (underground station U4 Schönbrunn)

Dates and more information: here

(3) Exhibition of Easter Cribs in St. Peter’s Church

Of course, cribs are mostly associated with Christmas when they are exhibited in every church, but also at home under the Christmas tree. However, there are also Easter (Passion or Lenten) cribs that show all events that preceded Jesus’ death on the cross: Jesus’ Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem, the Last Supper, the Mount of Olives, the Way of the Cross, the crucifixion and the resurrection.

Such cribs used to be made in the past and, before Easter, were placed in a place of honor in the house and invited to reflect on the sacrifice of Jesus. Later, they somehow fell into oblivion, but in recent years, interest in them has revived. There is a creative association in Vienna whose members make Christmas and Easter cribs from various materials, which they then exhibit in St. Peter’s Church in the historic center of Vienna. The association also organizes workshops for crib production (cutting, painting scenery, figures, etc.), even for children. More info: here

The exhibits in the side chapels of the church not only show the skill, ingenuity and imagination of their creators but also provide believers with the opportunity to better prepare spiritually for the upcoming holidays.

The Baroque St. Peter’s Church is one of the most beautiful in Vienna. It was built at the site of the first Christian sanctuary in the 4th century (as a part of a Roman camp at that time), so services have been held here for over 1,600 years. The interior is richly decorated and will enchant visitors, even when the altar is covered with a purple canvas in the pre-Easter period.