Church St-Josef

The parish church of St Josef stands at the corner of Schönbrunner Straße and Ramperstorffergasse in Margareten, the fifth district of Vienna. Built between 1765 and 1769 by master builder Franz Duschinger, it replaced the chapel of the Sonnenhof hospital. The church was consecrated in 1771 in the presence of Maria Theresia, her son Joseph II, and Archbishop Christoph Anton Migazzi. Originally serving the poorhouse, it became a parish church in 1783. Later additions include a portal porch in 1903, a tower, and an extra bay in 1911–1912. The building has been protected as a historic monument since its construction. Inside, the late Baroque church has two cross-shaped vaulted units with a semi-circular apse and a rounded entrance bay. The organ loft above the entrance features a side balcony and stichkappen vaulting. Pilasters and framed panels divide the walls, while the ceilings are suspended domes with barrel-vaulted arms. Wall paintings in the vaulting depict saints, and the dome crowns display radiant wreaths. The stained glass windows from the early 20th century show figures of saints, with the apse windows framed by ox-eye motifs and floral vases. The high altar, designed by Johann Ferdinand Hetzendorf von Hohenberg, features red marble with rococo decoration and figures of angels and saints. The side altars hold works by Johann Gottfried Auerbach and Bartolomeo Altomonte. Outside, four stone statues of saints stand on pedestals, including figures of Margareta and the martyrs Stephanus, Sebastian, and Johannes Nepomuk. A memorial plaque to Franz Schubert includes a portrait relief by Robert Ullmann. The church’s interior and exterior combine late Baroque grandeur with later additions, creating a place of quiet reflection.