Karlskirche, Baroque church in Wieden, Vienna, Austria
Karlskirche is a Baroque church on the south side of Karlsplatz in Vienna, Austria. Its facade has a projecting portico with a triangular pediment supported by plain columns, flanked by two tall spiral columns on square bases, each topped by a gold eagle. A ribbed green copper dome with a lantern rises above the crossing, and lower wings with arched doorways and green copper roofs extend to either side.
Emperor Charles VI ordered construction in 1716 after the last major plague epidemic in Vienna ended, dedicating the building to Saint Charles Borromeo. Work stretched over decades and the building was only completed in 1737, shortly before the emperor's death.
The name honors Charles Borromeo, a 16th-century cardinal from Milan who aided plague victims and served as patron saint to Emperor Charles VI. The twin columns quote ancient Rome and display scenes from the saint's life in their spiral form, while the interior dome carries dramatic representations of heaven.
The church sits near Karlsplatz metro station where lines U1, U2, and U4 converge, and doors open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays. Visitors can climb a narrow staircase or take a lift to the viewing platform in the dome and enjoy views over the city.
Johann Michael Rottmayr created the frescoes in the dome, and visitors today can get close enough to the painted figures to see details barely visible from the floor. The artist used a technique where colors appear almost rough up close but blend from a distance to create depth.
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