Karlskirche (St. Charles’s Church)
The Karlskirche or the St. Charles Church is next to the structures at the Schönbrunn Palace the greatest work of Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach who is considered one of the most influential Austrian architects from the Baroque period. The Karlskirche that served as the imperial patron parish church is located in the very centre of Vienna and is definitely a must see if visiting the city.
The beautiful church was build by Emperor Charles VI who pledged to built a church for Saint Charles Borromeo after the last great plague epidemic in the early 18th century. The construction of the Karlskirche started in 1716 according to the design of Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach. His son Joseph Emanuel Fischer von Erlach who took over the construction of the church on his father’s death in 1723 completed the church in 1737 but partly altered his father’s plans.
The Karlskirche features a combination of extremely diverse architectural styles. The facade in center and the porch greatly resemble an ancient Greek portico. The church’s two flanking columns were inspired by the Trajan’s Column in Rome, while the two tower pavilions reveal the influence of the Roman baroque. The entrance is dominated by a 55 meters (180 feet) high and 40 meters (131 feet) wide dome which was slightly altered and shortened by Joseph Emanuel Fischer.
The church’s iconography depicts Saint Charles Borromeo and his virtues both outside and inside but also connects the saint with its imperial benefactor. The relief on the pediment that tops the entrance continues onto the attic story which was added by the younger Fischer. The two flanking towers depict scenes from life of Saint Charles Borromeo in a spiral relief. The scenes displaying the saint’s life and his virtues also dominate the church’s interior in first place the dome. Large glass window above the main altar features a Hebrew Tetragrammaton/Yahweh symbolizing God’s’ omnipotence and love.