Description of the attraction
The huge baroque church of St. Karl, known as the Karlskirche, is located just outside the historic center of Vienna, about one kilometer from St. Stephen's Cathedral. Karlsplatz metro station is located in the immediate vicinity of the temple, so getting to this attraction will not be difficult.
The church was built in 1716-1737 by order of Emperor Charles VI in gratitude for getting rid of the plague. The temple was consecrated in honor of Karl Borromeo, the patron saint of the emperor and protector of the city from the plague. The church is a real masterpiece of typical Viennese Baroque architecture, however, in its appearance, the influence of other styles, including even the Eastern, is noticeable. For example, the two towers flanking the main facade of the temple resemble the typical minarets that adorn Arab mosques. However, other sources claim that these towers were built in the image of the famous Trajan's Column, located on the territory of the Roman forum. In any case, several architectural styles are unambiguously intertwined in the appearance of Karlskirche.
The church portico is made in the ancient Greek style, and its triangular pediment depicts reliefs dedicated to the horrors of the plague epidemic in Vienna. The powerful dome was built in the image of the dome of St. Peter's in Rome, and other details of the structure of the church already belong to the Baroque style, including the two side wings of the building. The total height of Karlskirche is over 70 meters.
The interior decoration of the church is mainly made in one, baroque style, but later luxurious moldings related to the late Rococo style were added. It is worth noting the exquisite main altar, depicting the ascension of St. Charles Borromeo, the side altars and the amazing painting of the dome. These frescoes were painted by the leading figures of the Baroque era - Sebastiano Ricci and Johann-Michael Rottmeier in the 1830s. It is worth noting that tourists can climb to the very top of the dome of the Karlskirche church using a convenient lift with transparent walls.
