| It is probably the most pompous church in the whole of | | | | most important sculptors of the 20th century -Henry |
| Austria. The brilliant white Baroque church with its two | | | | Moore. 'Hill arches' an artwork by him adorns an oval |
| thin towers and green roof is certainly worth a visit. | | | | water basin which reflects the church building. |
| The interior is pleasantly light and covered in colorful | | | | Karlskirche is a thanksgiving church. It was built by the |
| frescos. The church is dedicated to saint Carlo | | | | Holy Roman Emperor and Habsburg Charles VI. The |
| Borromeo and was built by Emperor Karl VI in the | | | | church's oval rotunda is dominated by a massive |
| early 18th century. The Karlskirche is the crowning | | | | copper dome. The two almost minaret-styled columns |
| achievement of Austria's foremost Baroque architect, | | | | were inspired by the Trajan column in Rome and bear |
| Fischer von Erlach. Built by order of Emperor Karl IV in | | | | relief spirals narrating the life of St. Charles Borromeo. |
| thanks for deliverance from the plague of 1713, it is an | | | | Topping the columns are golden eagles symbolizing the |
| eclectic jumble, with an oval dome perched atop a | | | | power of the empire, both secular and ecclesiastical. |
| Classical colonnade, flanked by replicas of Trojan's | | | | The two angels on either side of the steps leading up |
| column in Rome. | | | | to the portico represent the Old and New Testaments. |
| The building of Karlskirche was started in 1715 following | | | | The relief carved in the pediment of the portico shows |
| plans of one of the most famous Austrian Baroque | | | | an angel unsheathing his sword symbolizing Vienna's |
| architects, Johann Fischer von Erlach. The church is | | | | deliverance from the plague. Below the angel, the |
| spectacular. It is the biggest cathedral in Baroque style | | | | suffering of the Viennese during the 1713 plague is |
| north of the Alps. Initially, the church was build to honor | | | | depicted. The two oriental-styled gateways |
| the vows of Emperor Karl VI. It was dedicated to | | | | successfully unite the disparate elements of Fischer |
| Saint Karl Borromeo. | | | | von Erlach's design. |
| An unusually wide front is composed of a number of | | | | Karlskirche's special lighting and the informative audio |
| contrasting elements which surprisingly add up to a | | | | guide gives a chance to learn more about Karlskirche's |
| unique and harmonic overall image. Two columns with | | | | many altars. The stucco relief on the high altar depicts |
| an allegoric representation of the life of saint Borromeo | | | | St. Charles Borromeo accompanied by angels |
| are reminiscent of Italian Renaissance Trojan column. | | | | ascending on a cloud to the magnificent Trinity above. |
| They frame the main portal which resembles a Greek | | | | All of the religious themes reflected in the paintings and |
| temple. The oval nave of the church is topped by an | | | | sculptures in the side altars also contribute to the basic |
| eye-catching dome spectacularly painted at the inside. | | | | principles of faith embodied in the Emperor's motto, |
| The church is situated at one of Vienna's central | | | | constantia et fortitudine (steadfastness and fortitude). |
| nodes, spacious 'Karlsplatz'. The area in front of | | | | Anil Gupta recommends that you visit vienna hotels for |
| Karlskirche was redesigned in the 1970s by one of the | | | | more information. |