Church of the Most Holy Trinity (designed by Fritz Wotruba)
The church is located in the leafy outskirts of Vienna, in the Mauer quarter of the 23rd district, and was designed by the Austrian sculptor Fritz Wotruba (1907-1975). Wotruba was one of the most influential Austrian sculptors of the 20th century. His expressive figures are still considered classics of modern sculpture to this day. He left behind a lasting monument to his own work with his design for the Church of the Most Holy Trinity.
To mark the 50th anniversary of his death, the Belvedere 21 is presenting a major exhibition on the life and work of Fritz Wotruba from July 17, 2025 to January 11, 2026.
Sacred Lego
The church is a rare example of a sacred building in the architectural style of brutalism. The extraordinary church was built between 1974 and 1976. Wotruba’s architecture has little in common with conventional churches: It is made up of 135 irregularly arranged concrete blocks weighing up to 64 tons each. All the blocks combined weigh around 4,000 tons.
Monumental and bathed in light
This raw, sculptural design is reminiscent of an abstract rock formation and combines sleek, simple forms with a monumental character. Despite its robust design, the building is surprisingly bathed in light thanks to the large glazed areas.
Order and chaos
There is obvious symbolism behind this unusual design: it represents the belief in the power of renewal and the possibility of creating spiritual order out of chaos. Wotruba drew inspiration from Chartres Cathedral, among others. A visit to the church, which is located on the Georgenberg area, is an ideal opportunity to explore Vienna’s green margins.
