Gardekirche, Vienna, Religious monument in Landstraße, Vienna, Austria

The Gardekirche at Rennweg 5a is a Neoclassical central building by Nikolaus von Pacassi, built 1755–1763 as a hospital church. Its slightly oval, almost circular domed room of solid masonry is open on three sides and adjoins a choir annex. Inside, white-and-gold Rococo stuccowork by Johann Michael Bolla and his son Albert centres on the oval dome with lantern.

The church began construction in 1755 under court architect Nicolò Pacassi and was completed in 1763. After stability problems arose in 1769, Jean Baptist Brequin made modifications that simplified the exterior while preserving its core structure.

Since 1897 the church has belonged to the Polish Resurrectionists, and Masses have been held here in Polish ever since. The name Gardekirche recalls the Polish (Galician) Life Guard quartered in the former hospital from 1782. A monument beside the portal, erected in 2001, commemorates the three visits of Pope John Paul II to Austria.

The church stands at Rennweg 5a in the 3rd district, set against the remaining wing of the former imperial hospital. It is open on three sides, with the entrance beside a 2001 monument to Pope John Paul II. Masses are held in Polish, and the oval interior is entered from the Rennweg side.

The church's name comes from the Polish (Galician) Life Guard, which Joseph II quartered in the former hospital building in 1782 after dissolving it; the later barracks gave the church its nickname. Since 1897 the Polish Resurrectionists have served here, and Mass is still celebrated in Polish.