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The massive south tower is the dominant feature of the Vienna skyline at 136 meters (445 feet) and is affectionatly called Steffl ("Steve") by the Viennese. It served as the main observation and command post for the defense of the walled city during the Siege of Vienna in 1523 and again during the second siege in 1683. It is as much the most recognized symbol of Vienna as the Eiffel Tower is of another city. Its construction took 65 years to complete, from 1368 to 1433, and it contains an apartment for the watchmen who, for centuries (ending in 1955), manned the tower during the night to ring its bells if they spotted a fire. The tip of the tower has the double eagle imperial emblem with the Habsburg-Lorraine coat of arms on its chest, surmounted by the double-armed apostolic cross symbolic of the emperors' style Apostolic Majesty as kings of Hungary.
The north tower, planned as a twin to the south tower, has not been completed and is only half as tall, at 68 meters (223 feet). It was given a temporary cap that the Viennese call the "water tower top" when its construction paused in 1511. Construction has not yet resumed.
On the left and on the right from the main entrance are the two Roman towers which are about 65 meters (215 feet) tall. They are called "Roman" (heidnischen in old Viennese dialect) because they were built from rubble of structures built by the Romans during their occupation of the city site. Square at their bases, and octagonal when the rise above the roof, they housed bells, and although the south Roman tower lost its bells during World War II, the north one is still a working bell tower. Along with the Giant Door, they are the oldest parts of the church.
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