Imagine Vienna without St. Laurenz Church. It would lack a piece of its soul. This church stands in Simmering. It is often called the oldest parish church of Vienna. This claim is not quite correct. The St. Laurenz Church we see today was built in the 18th century. However, a parish church existed on this site around 1000 AD. Records show it as a branch of Stephansdom Cathedral in 1267.
By 1440, the parish was large. It included Simmering, Erdberg, St. Marx, Landstrasse road, and Rennweg. The first Turkish Siege of Vienna damaged the church in 1529. It was later repaired. A painting from 1590 shows the repaired church. It had a Romanesque nave and a Gothic apsis. The tower served as a defense. It was later integrated into the church. The Second Siege of Vienna in 1683 caused severe damage.
After the Turkish defeat, repairs were minimal. Many villagers had died or left. Life slowly returned. By 1746, a larger church was needed. Mathias Franz Gerl designed the Baroque church you see now as St. Laurenz Church. The upper part of the tower was remodeled in the early 19th century.
In the 1970s, the interiors were changed. The apsis was enlarged. The altar from 1777 was removed. A new one facing the nave replaced it. This might have been after the Second Vatican Council.
Today, Simmering is not very attractive. It is where Vienna meets industrial Lower Austria. Yet, around St. Laurenz Church, you feel the spirit of a village. North of the church is an old cemetery. It marks the center of old Simmering. This village gave its name to the district.
Nearby attractions are limited. There are highways and shopping malls. The Schloss Neugebäude and the Urnenhain are worth seeing. Also, visit the Zentralfriedhof and St. Marx cemeteries. The Gasometer City offers a unique residential area. So, St. Laurenz Church stands as a reminder of Simmering’s past. It connects the village to Vienna’s larger story. It has seen sieges, repairs, and modern changes. Yet, it remains a place of community and memory. It is more than just a church. It is a symbol of Simmering’s enduring spirit.