 | Vienna Karlskirche & Karlsplatz Reviews | Tips 1 - 10 of 106 |  |
I grew up in Vienna, but never actually visited the Karlskirche until last year, when Ash, my mom, and I decided to see it close-up (she had lived in Vienna for about 40 years and hadn't seen it either!). The church is Vienna's most famous baroque building, and with it's big green cuppola has become one of the city's landmarks. If you have a chance to go there, make sure to take a close look at the tall white stone pillars outside the church and the scenes delicately engraved on them. Once you enter, the almost overbearlingly huge altar draws you to the front of the church immediately. You can pay an extra couple of Euros to take the elevator ride up to the top of the cuppola to get a closer look at the Michael Rottmeyr frescos. But that's not the end of it - from here on you can venture up to the very top of the church via stairs. Poor Ashie didn't know what he was in for - I suffered from extreme vertigo, and my mother wasn't physically too fit to handle those stairs (yet insisted to make her way up to the top). :-)
Opening hours:
9.00-12.30pm and 1.00-6.00pm (Mo - Sat)
1.00-6.00pm (Sun + holidays) Leave a Comment Directions: take underground, tram, busses, or taxi to "Karlsplatz"-station.Website: www.karlskirche.at
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The stunning church combines Oriental and Baroque flourishes.
This striking church was built between 1715 and 1737 to honour Karl Borromeo, the patron saint of the fight against the plague.
Its aim was to thank God for delivering Vienna from the plague epidemic in 1713 that claimed more than 8,000 lives.
Emperor Karl VI held a competition among architects to design the church, which was won by Johann Fischer von Erlach.
The Baroque masterpiece has a dome and portico borrowed from classical architecture, while there are Oriental echoes in the minaret-like columns. Leave a Comment Phone: 01 504 61 87Directions: Station Karlsplatz Metro: U1, U3, U4Website: www.karlskirche.at
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The Charles' Church (Karlskirche) commemorates the plague epidemic of the year 1713. The Church was built in Baroque style between 1715 and 1737. Its huge cupola is 72 m tall and flanked by two 47 m tall columns.
Directions:
The Charles' Church is situated at the Karlsplatz; just south of St. Stephen's Cathedral. The nearest metro stop is Karlsplatz (U1, U2, U4). Leave a Comment
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The Karlskirche, which is dedicated to St Charles Borromeo, the Saint associated with the relief from the plague, was built as thanks for the end of the plague in Vienna in 1713. It was designed and built by Johann Bernard Fischer von Erlach and his son, Josef Emanuel and took 26 years to build. The columns, which are freestanding on either side of the Cathedral, have reliefwork depictions and for all its grandeur externally, the church is refreshingly plain inside. In winter the pond in front of the church is drained, in summer it is a rather fine duck pond. It can be seen across the Resselpark and looks equally impressive by night when it is usually lit up. Leave a Comment Phone: +43 1 5056294Directions: U1, U2, U4 Karlsplatz/Oper - 1,2, 62, 65, J and D trams
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The Karlskirche, or St. Charles Church, is one of Vienna's greatest buildings. In 1713, the Black Plague swept Vienna, and Emperor Charles VI made a vow that if the plague abated, he would build a church dedicated to his namesake, St. Charles Borromeo. St. Charles was a 16th century Italian bishop famous for ministering to plague victims. The emperor's prayer was answered, and construction on the church began in 1715. Though commissioned by the emperor to thank God for his answered prayer, the Baroque church was also designed to glorify the power and rights of the Habsburg Empire. The first builder was Johann Bernard Fischer von Erlach, who started the original work from 1716 to 1722. After his death in 1723, his son, Joseph Emanuel, took over, finishing the work in 1737. When it was finished, the church received mixed reviews and it was regarded as something of an architectural curiosity. The columns at the front of the building display scenes from the life of Charles Borromeo in a spiral relief; however they also recall the Pillars of Hercules and act as symbols of imperial power. The towers give the appearance of minarets on a mosque. The entrance is flanked by angles from the Old and New Testaments. The green copper dome of the church rises 236 feet high, and is a dramatic landmark on the Viennese skyline. Leave a Comment
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When you get to the Karlskirche, Vienna's finest Baroque church, you will be awed by the massive size of the church, especially the two big columns and the dome. You should go inside the church to see the magnificent high altar and the frescos in the Cupola. It is a beautiful and elegant church. Directions: The church is in Karlsplatz/Ressel Park area. Take the underpass from the U4 U-Bahn station, walk into the Ressel park and you cannot miss the church.
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Karlskirche is the most famous baroque church in Vienna and was built to honor Saint Borromeo. The project was of Johann Fischer von Erlach.
Both columns of church were inspired by Trajan's column in Rome.
There are nice main altar inside and nice fresques on the dome there. Leave a Comment
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It is timely here to remember why this church was built. In the 1713 plague over 10,000 people died and it was the second one in 20 years.
Charles VI thus dedicated this church to the town being rid of the plague, an act Charles Borromeo was given much credit for.
Allegorical paintings such as Faith, Hope and Charity are thus well in tune with the sentiments behind this building. Leave a Comment Directions: Karlsplatz, where else?
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It's a miracle (right place for that type of thing I guess) that this shot came out at all. Upon a sudden inspiration while going down on the lift I grasped my camera, took aim and blazed away, full well realizing that this shot would be almost impossible to duplicate in another couple of months when the work is finished.
It clearly shows the altar that features the Holy Trinity above St. Charles Borromeo, a bright feature in the otherwise subdued light of a church interior. Leave a Comment
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.............for there, just a short lift ride up the centre of the dome, was access to the Rottmayer allegorical works currently undergoing restoration. The scaffold-supported walkways allowed you to get up close and personal with the frescoes and, surprise, surprise, you could use your tripod! This God-sent opportunity to a heathen like me was not to be missed. Leave a Comment
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