In 1853, Franz Josef I was lucky to survive an assassination attempt by a Hungarian attempting to stab him, but failing to find his neck through his collar. In thanks for his good fortune, the Votivkirche was commissioned, designed by Heinrich von Ferstel and finished in 1879. This twin-towered neo-Gothic structure has a mosaic roof and a small church museum featuring the 1460 Antwerp Altar, which was closed for refurbishment in 2019 and no reopening date has been set.