Karlskirche & Karlsplatz, Vienna

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Karlskirche is the famous baroque church of Vienna. It is the largest Baroque cathedral to the north of the Alps and was designed by the architect Bernhard Fischer von Erlach and the frescos were done by Michael Rottmayr and the paintings came from Italian Baroque painters Sebastiano Ricci and Giuseppe Antonio Pellegrini and the Austrian painter Daniel Gran. The Church is close to the Belvedere palace and the Karlsplatz metro station and is situated amidst a peaceful and beautiful garden. It is open Mondays through Fridays from 09.00-12.30 and 13.00-18.00 and on Sundays and holidays from 12.00-17.45.

Coming out of the underground station we were first pleased with the garden allowing a good perspective on the Karlskirche and then we were surprised !

We had read a French critic describing the church as a "huge pastry monstrously Kitsch or as the absolute masterpiece of the imperial monarchy exalting power at its zenith. "

I will limit my comment to the fact that this church combines, for us in a surprising way, two Trajan columns with at the top a minaret structure, an antic temple and a baroque church behind.

We did not get in (price 6 €) as we feared that the inside might be like the outside and took the tram to the Upper Belvedere where we had another disappointment as the so nice pond and gardens in front of the palace are undergoing works.
Bad day!

The area around is filled with so many beautiful buildings -- the museum,the opera house,the rathouse,the parliament and so on that it is a good idea to take a walk and admire the buildings.While at it,you could take a break/picnic at the bundesgarten.Dont forget your camera!

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You ought not to miss this fantastic building if you're interesting in style and baroque paintings. In the church there was an opportunity to first take an elevator and then walk the stairs up into the very ceiling of the church. A fantastic experience to admire all the art and get close ups on the architecture of the Karlskirche!

This magnificent Baroque church with its dome and two giant pillars is such a beautiful building. The church was built as a vow taken by Emperor Charles VI during the plague of 1713, it was completed in 1737. It's dedicated to the patron saint of the Habsburg Emperor, St Charles Borromeo.

Inside the church the dome is covered in colourful frescoes depicting St Charles Borromeo ascending into heaven.

The beautiful Karlskirche is the only church I will mention, for the simple reason that it is not within the Ring. The other most beautiful churches of Vienna are in that area, so they are virtually impossible to miss.
The St. Karl it is dedicated to is actually an Italian, San Carlo Borromeo, from the aristocratic family that owned the beautiful little islands in the Lago Maggiore.
Built in the baroque style, it has an unusual feature in the two big columns, modelled on the example of the Trajan Column in Rome.

The church is situated at one of Vienna's central nodes, called 'Karlsplatz'. The building of Karlskirche was started in 1715 following plans of one of the most famous Austrian Baroque architects, Johann Fischer von Erlach. The church is spectacular. It is the biggest cathedral in Baroque style north of the Alps.

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This church was built in 1739 by Emporer Karl VI in thanks for the end of a plague outbreak in Vienna in 1713. Admission to the church is free but there is a charge to go up to the dome, which is well worth it not only for the views of Vienna but also for the friezes painted on the inside of the dome.