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Karlskirche, Vienna. Photo by Afifa Afrin.

Top 10 Fascinating Facts about Karlskirche

Karlskirche which in German stands for ‘St. Charles Church’ is a Baroque church located in Vienna in Austria on the south side of Karlsplatz whose official name is Rektoratskirche St. Karl Borrom盲us.

The church is dedicated to one of the greatest counter-reformers of the sixteenth century who was known as Saint Charles Borromeo.

 It is considered as one of Vienna鈥檚 greatest buildings and the most outstanding baroque church in the city.

The church contains a dome in the form of an elongated ellipsoid and is Located just outside of Innere Stadt in Wieden, approximately 200 meters outside the Ringstra脽e.

The top 10 fascinating facts about Karlskirche include the following.

1. Karlskirche Was Built by The Holy Roman Emperor Charles VI

Portrait of Holy Roman Emperor Charles VI. Photo by Unidentified painter.

The Holy Roman Emperor Charles VI pledged to build a church for his namesake patron saint, Charles Borromeo just one year after the last great plaque epidemic ended in 1713.

Charles Borromeo was revered as a healer for sufferers of the plague.

The Holy Roman Emperor Charles VI was the ruler of the Austrian Habsburg monarchy as from 1711 to his death in 1740. 

Until 1918 Karlskirche was the imperial patron parish church and originally possessed a direct line of sight to the Hofburg.

2. The Architect for The Project Was Appointed Following an Architectural Competition

Ferdinando Galli-Bibiena. Photo by Giuseppe Antonio Caccioli, 1672 – 1740.

In selecting an architect to construct the church, an architectural competition was announced.

Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach prevailed over other architects such as Ferdinando Galli-Bibiena and Johann Lukas von Hildebrandt and was selected to construct the church project.

Under the supervision of Anton Erhard Martinelli, the church project commenced in 1716.

Fischer von Erlach united the most diverse of elements since he was a creator of historic architecture to design the church.

3. Karlskirche Is Located on A Popular Square South of The City鈥檚 Historical Center

Rektoratskirche St. Karl Borrom盲us is the official name of Karlskirche which is referred to as 鈥淪aint Charles Church鈥� in English.

The location of Karlskirche in Vienna is the south side of Karlsplatz, a city square just south of the historical center or 鈥淚nnere Stadt鈥�.

This popular square is located just a few hundred meters south of the Ringstra脽e.

Encircling the Innere Stadt of Vienna completely is the Ringstra脽e, or the Grand Boulevard.

4. End of A Devastating Pandemic Inspired Its Construction

The Church鈥檚 imposing building was completed between 1716 and 1737 which was approximately 100 years before demolition of the medieval city wall.

 An immense avenue was constructed to replace the medieval city wall after it was demolished. 

Construction of the church was the idea of the Holy Roman Emperor Charles VI who was the Habsburg ruler at the time.

The emperor wanted to build the church at that location to celebrate the end of the great plague epidemic which had greatly terrorized Vienna.

 The emperor took it upon himself to commission the church after it was completed.

5. The Church was dedicated to Charles Borromeo

Charles Borromeo. Photo by Attributed to Giovanni Ambrogio Figino.

The church was dedicated to Charles Borromeo who was allegedly a 16^th century Italian saint.

Between 1564 and 1584 Charles Borromeo who died of fever at the age of 46, was the Archbishop of Milan.

During the Catholic Counter-Reformation which was a response of the Catholic Church against the Protestant Reformation, Charles Borromeo played an important role.

Due to his popularity Charles Borromeo was venerated in 1610, merely 26 years after his death.

For being the namesake of the Holy Roman Emperor Charles VI and a reputed healer of victims of the plague, Karlskirche was dedicated in his honor.

Various scenes of the life of Borromeo are portrayed in a large number of paintings and frescoes that decorate the interior of the church.

6. The Project Was Completed by The Main Architect鈥檚 Son

Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach. Photo by 脕d谩m M谩nyoki (1673鈥�1757).

Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach, a renowned Baroque architect won the architectural competition to build Karlskirche. 

The aim of the competition was to identify an architect who would pitch a suitable design for the church.

Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach is also associated with other notable projects such as the Sch枚nbrunn Palace and the Austrian National Library among others.

In 1737 Joseph Emanuel Fischer von Erlach who was the son of the main architect, Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach completed the church project after the death of the main architect.

The elder Fischer von Erlach died just 7 years after construction work on the huge church began. He died before completing the construction work.

7. Neoclassical Elements Are Featured in The Baroque Building

Karlskirche features Neoclassical elements although it is considered to be one of the most astounding Baroque buildings in Vienna.

The most famous churches in Europe were the sources of the Neoclassical elements which are featured in the church.

The church features some unique ensemble of features derived from the most famous structures that existed then.

Some of these include Solomonic Columns derived from the Temple of Solomon in Jerusalem and from Christopher Wren鈥檚 St. Paul鈥檚 Cathedral in London various Baroque elements were derived.

The dome resembling those found in the Les Invalides in 麻豆APP and the Pantheon and St. Peter鈥檚 Basilica in Rome are also featured in the church building.

The church features other impressive architectural features which are magnificently highlighted at night while the portico resembles a Greek temple.

8. An Ancient Column in Rome Inspired the Two Massive Columns in Karlskirche

A similar structure in Rome inspired the two massive columns next to the portico of the church even though they are referred to as Solomonic columns.

Featuring spiraling reliefs that depict the victories of the Roman army against the Dacians, Trajan鈥檚 Column was completed in 113 A.D.

The Karlskirche columns was sculpted by Italian Late Baroque artist Lorenzo Mattielli and depict scenes from the life of Charles Borromeo.

9. In the Urban Landscape of Vienna, Karlskirche Looks Pretty Impressive

Karlskirche measures 180.4 feet in length by 131.2 feet in width and the dome鈥檚 height measures some 229.7 feet.

Karlskirche still looks pretty impressive in the urban landscape of Vienna even though its far from being the largest church in the world.

The church鈥檚 green dome sticks out above the surrounding buildings mainly because it was built in an area that doesn鈥檛 feature any amazing skyscrapers.

10. Karlskirche鈥檚 Interior and Exterior Are Equally Impressive

The exuberant Baroque interior features architectural elements and columns which are elaborately decorated as well as amazing artworks dedicated to Charles Borromeo.

The interior of the church leads up to the high altar that is decorated with what is called the 鈥淎potheosis of Saint Charles Borromeo鈥� and the dome features an immense fresco.

An immense reflecting ball, an amazingly decorated pulpit and architect and sculptor Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach鈥檚 specifically designed sculptures.

Both the exterior and the interior of the church are equally impressive to visitors.