Right in the heart of downtown Vienna, hidden beneath St. Michael’s Church, lies one of Europe’s most fascinating burial sites. The St. Michael’s Crypt is home to thousands of the deceased, whose bodies have been naturally mummified over the centuries thanks to an unusual indoor climate. A guided tour of the crypt offers gripping insights into Viennese funeral customs of the 17th and 18th centuries.
Mummified Beneath Our Feet
Beneath the bustling cobblestones of Michaelerplatz lies a historic underworld. Thousands of the deceased rest in the Michaelergruft, their bodies surprisingly well-preserved thanks to a constant microclimate.
Those strolling across the bustling Michaelerplatz usually have no idea what lies directly beneath their feet. Beneath the tiles of St. Michael’s Parish lies one of the city’s most significant burial sites, where some 3,000 to 4,000 people have found their final resting place.
The extensive system of brick vaults was constructed primarily between 1560 and 1784. At that time, both the nobility and wealthy Viennese citizens used the underground chambers as their final resting places before Emperor Joseph II prohibited burials within the city walls. Thanks to constant air circulation and a consistently cool temperature, a unique microclimate prevails there, causing many bodies to be mummified—surprisingly—in a completely natural way.
Unique Baroque Fashion and Historical Treasures in the Crypt
Those who descend the steps find themselves facing intricately painted woodwork and heavy oak coffins, some of which are left open. You can see elegant Baroque clothing, leather shoes, and even well-preserved wreaths of flowers. Since the deceased were buried in their finest clothes back then, the crypts today offer an unstaged glimpse into the fashion of earlier times.
Among the thousands of deceased are today several prominent figures from Vienna’s city history. For example, the famous Italian poet Pietro Metastasio, who served as court poet at the Viennese court, found his final resting place here. Also buried in the crypts are Imperial Field Marshal Barnabás von Géczy, as well as high-ranking court officials and nobles of the Habsburg Monarchy, whose magnificent coffins impressively reflect the stately burial culture of that era.
Extensive Restoration and Guided Tours
However, maintaining and restoring the complex requires an extremely high level of ongoing effort. Individual chambers had to be restored due to mold infestation to ensure that the historic 16th-century structure is preserved for future generations. For this reason, visits are only possible as part of a guided tour in order to protect the delicate climate of the underground complex.
📍 Location: St. Michael’s Crypt (St. Michael’s Parish)
🏠 Address: Michaelerplatz 5, 1010 Vienna
🎟️ Admission: €10.00 per adult / €5.00 per child (as part of a guided tour)
⏰ Tour times: every Friday at 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. & every Saturday at 10 a.m. and 12 p.m.
