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All About Light of Creation Vienna | Votivkirche Immersive Light Show

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The Votivkirche light show transforms one of Vienna’s most iconic neo-Gothic landmarks into a breathtaking immersive experience. Hosted inside the historic Votive Church, Light of Creation Vienna combines projection mapping, music, and architecture to create a 30-minute visual journey that reimagines the church interior through light and sound.

This experience blends 19th-century sacred architecture with contemporary digital artistry, offering a unique way to witness the grandeur of the Votivkirche.

Quick overview of the show

Votivkirche interior illuminated with green and blue lights during Light of Creation event in Vienna.

The Light of Creation show experience is contemplative rather than theatrical, focusing on atmosphere, scale, and visual immersion.

  • It presents a 30-minute immersive light-and-sound production staged inside the Votive Church.
  • Six visual acts follow a creation-inspired theme.
  • Through advanced projection mapping, the church’s vaulted ceilings, arches, and columns become a storytelling surface.
  • A specially composed soundtrack accompanies the visuals, guiding audiences through a six-act narrative inspired by the story of creation.
  • There is no spoken dialogue, making the experience accessible to international visitors.
  • There's a seated audience format inside the church nave.

Book your Light of Creation tickets

Vienna: Light of Creation Votivkirche

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About the venue: The majestic Votive Church

The Votive Church, also known as Votivkirche, is one of Europe’s most important neo-Gothic revival churches. Built between 1856 and 1879, it was commissioned after the assassination attempt on Emperor Franz Joseph I.

Its twin spires rise approximately 99 meters, and its interior features:

  • Ribbed vaulted ceilings
  • Intricate stone carvings
  • Ornate altars
  • Historic stained glass windows

These architectural features make it particularly suited for projection-based experiences such as Light of Creation.

Votive Church in Vienna with twin spires and intricate Gothic architecture.

How the Neo-Gothic architecture amplifies the light and sound experience

Soaring vaulted ceilings create scale

The high ribbed vaults of Votive Church provide expansive vertical surfaces, allowing projections to stretch dramatically across the nave and intensify the immersive effect.

Stone surfaces act as a natural canvas

The textured limestone walls, arches and columns enhance depth and contrast, making light projections appear more dimensional and dynamic.

Architectural symmetry supports visual precision

The balanced Gothic layout allows projection mapping to align seamlessly with arches and structural lines, creating visually cohesive storytelling.

Natural acoustics enrich the soundtrack

The elongated nave and vaulted ceiling amplify and distribute sound evenly, allowing the musical composition of Light of Creation to resonate throughout the space.

Vertical design directs audience focus upward

Gothic architecture emphasizes height and upward movement, encouraging viewers to look toward the ceiling where much of the visual narrative unfolds.

Light interacts with historic details

Carvings, tracery and stained glass elements catch and reflect projected light, adding layers of visual texture that enhance the overall sensory experience.

History of Light of Creation Vienna

• Concept development:

Light of Creation Vienna was developed as a contemporary immersive experience designed specifically for the historic setting of the Votive Church. The idea was to blend sacred architecture with modern projection technology to create a new way of engaging with heritage spaces.

• Inspired by the creation narrative:

The show’s storyline draws inspiration from the theme of creation, unfolding across six visual acts. Rather than using spoken narration, it relies on synchronized light, color, and music to tell the story.

• Launch as a cultural experience:

The production was introduced as a cultural event inside Votivkirche, positioning the church not only as a historic landmark but also as a venue for immersive art experiences.

• Technology meets Neo-Gothic architecture

Advanced projection mapping was carefully adapted to the church’s ribbed vaults, arche,s and ceilings. The architecture itself became the central canvas, creating a dialogue between 19th-century neo-Gothic design and 21st-century digital artistry.

• Growing popularity:

Since its introduction, Light of Creation Vienna has gained recognition as one of the city’s distinctive evening experiences, attracting visitors interested in both architecture and immersive art.

Who is the Votivkirche light show for?

  • Visitors looking for unique evening experiences in Vienna
  • Architecture and history enthusiasts
  • Art and immersive experience lovers
  • Couples and cultural travelers seeking something memorable

Plan your visit to the Votivkirche light show

General timings: 6:30pm and 8pm

Duration: 30 minutes

Best time to visit:

  • Spring and autumn offer the most comfortable interior temperatures and show experience.
  • Note that the church does not have air conditioning, which can make summers warm and winters chilly inside.

Address: Rooseveltplatz, 1090 Wien, Austria | Find on map
Getting there:

  • By U-Bahn (Subway): Take the U2 line to Schottentor subway station.

  • By tram: Lines 1, D, 37, 38, 40, 41, and 42 all stop at Schottentor tram station.

  • By bus: Several bus lines stop at the Schottentor U bus stop. You can check the WienMobil app for real-time bus options.

  • By taxi or Uber: Taxis are widely available in the city, and drop-off directly in front of the church is possible. 

Frequently asked questions about Light of Creation Votivkirche

Yes. The immersive show requires dedicated Light of Creation show tickets and is separate from general church entry.