St Charles's Church (Karlskirche)
- Address: Kreuzherrengasse 1, Vienna
- Hours: Open Mon - Sat 9am - 12pm, 1pm - 6pm, Sun 12pm - 5:45pm
- Admission: Adults: €6
ATTRACTION Keywords:
Cultural Experience,
Holy Place,
Religious Experience,
Church / Cathedral
The Church of St Charles Borromeo, or Karlskirche, is the finest baroque church in Vienna and was built between 1716 and 1739, after a vow by Karl VI at the end of the 1713 plague. It was designed and commenced by Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach and completed by his son Joseph. Although predominantly baroque, it combines several architectural styles.
The twin columns are modeled on Trajan's Column in Rome and show scenes from the life of St Charles Borromeo (who helped plague victims in Italy), to whom the church is dedicated. The huge oval dome reaches 236 ft (72m); in combination with the church's large windows, the dome's height creates a bright, open nave. There is a small museum with a handful of religious art and clothing purportedly from the saint, but the highlight is the lift to the dome for a close-up view of the detailed frescoes by Johann Michael Rottmayr. The altar panel is by Sebastiano Ricci and shows the Assumption of the Virgin. In front of the church is a pond, complete with a Henry Moore sculpture from 1978.
Latest Reviews
Review by David P, USA, May 2013
Doing what: Vienna City Bike Tour
Horst was one of our European tour highlights. He was very enter naming, informative, and had a lot of little known facts. The ride was excellent and we were able to see a lot in the time. Highly recommend as a way to see Vienna.
Review by Susan M, October 2012
Doing what: Vienna City Bike Tour
My husband and I did both the morning and afternoon rides. Although completely different tours, they were both wonderful. We learned so much about Vienna.
Review by Lorraine W, July 2012
Doing what: Vienna City Bike Tour
This is a great way to see the sights and get the history. The guide (Ola) was fantastic. She was very knowledgable and made sure everyone was safe.
Practical Info
Catch the metro line U1, U2, or U4 to Karlsplatz.
