the building
Karlskirche: a plague vow, a dome and two columns
The story of Vienna's great baroque church, from the emperor's vow to the concert seats of today.
Reserve your seats for the concert ↗Karlskirche in dates
| Year | What happened |
|---|---|
| 1713 | Emperor Charles VI commissions the church as a vow after a plague epidemic |
| 1716 | Building begins under Anton Erhard Martinelli, to Fischer von Erlach's winning design |
| 1737 | His son Joseph Emanuel completes the church, and it is consecrated |
| 1918 | The church's role as imperial patron parish church ends |
The vow
Charles VI promised to build a church after a plague epidemic in Vienna. He dedicated it to Saint Charles Borromeo, a saint revered as a healer of plague sufferers.
The competition
Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach won the design competition; building began in 1716 under the supervision of Anton Erhard Martinelli.
Father and son
Fischer von Erlach's son, Joseph Emanuel, completed the church with some modifications. It was finished and consecrated in 1737.
The dome
The dome is 70 metres high. Its fresco, painted by Rottmayr with Gaetano Fanti, shows Charles Borromeo interceding for the sick.
The two columns
Two columns flank the entrance, inspired by Trajan's Column in Rome. Spiral reliefs on them tell scenes from the life of Saint Charles Borromeo.
The church today
The nave hosts the evening Vivaldi concert. A separate daytime listing sells entry with a panoramic terrace, treasury and organ loft.