★★★★★ 5.0
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St. Charles's Church
Two stone columns, 47 meters tall, guard Karlskirche on Karlsplatz—each one carved with scenes of a plague saint's story. Emperor Charles VI made a vow in 1713 to build this Baroque masterpiece if Vienna survived the plague, and construction took until 1737. The dome soars 74 meters high with frescoes painted across 1,250 square meters—that's like painting an entire soccer field on the ceiling! Those massive columns are inspired by Rome's Trajan's Monument, and here's the secret most visitors miss: you can walk INSIDE them. An elevator whisks you up to see everything. This church replaced a vineyard that once grew on the Vienna River banks between the emperor's palace and the city.
Did You Know?
- : The Karlskirche was built as a vow by Emperor Charles VI after Vienna survived a devastating plague epidemic in 1713. He promised to construct a church dedicated to St. Charles Borromeo, the patron saint of plague victims, and stayed in the city during the outbreak—a rare act of solidarity for a ruler at the time.
- The church's two massive spiral columns were inspired by Trajan's Column in Rome and also symbolize the Pillars of Hercules, referencing both biblical and imperial power. They are covered in reliefs depicting scenes from the life of St. Charles Borromeo, blending religious narrative with political symbolism.
- Inside the dome, a magnificent fresco by Johann Michael Rottmayr shows St. Charles Borromeo interceding with the Virgin Mary to end the plague, turning the ceiling into a dramatic visual prayer. The church was also the imperial patron parish until 1918, making it a spiritual home for the Habsburgs.