Kirche am Steinhof

A striking Art Nouveau church
Noteworthy for: The church rests inside a psychiatric institution, some distance away from the city centre, very much off the beaten path.

This church, dedicated to Saint Leopold, is considered one of the most important Art Nouveau churches in the world, but many tourists give it a miss because of its distance from Vienna’s historic centre. Built in 1907, the interior was constructed with the needs of the doctors and patients of the psychiatric hospital in mind (thanks to the architect, Otto Wagner). A doctor’s room, emergency exits and toilets, as well as rounded corners on the interior furnishings (to keep patients from injuring themselves) all attest to this fact.
The hospital is still active (the Baumgartner Höhe Social Medical Centre) and contains some lovely pavilions (also still in use) on the grounds, adding to the charm of the location, despite the serious work that goes on here.