Karlskirche, or the Church of St. Charles, is a Baroque church Vienna, Austria and a well-known Viennese landmark. Located in Karlsplatz, Karlskirche was founded by Emperor Karl VI. During the plague of 1713, the emperor declared that if Vienna was relieved from its suffering, he would build a church dedicated to St Charles Borromeo, a patron saint of plague victims and former Archbishop of Milan.

 

The next year, Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach won a competition to design the church. Von Erlach died in 1723 before the church was finished. His son then took over his work, and Karlskirche was completed in 1737.

 

Karlskirche shows the influence of a variety of architectural styles. The gatehouses resemble Chinese pavilions. The portico utilizes elements of ancient Greek architecture. The columns are of a Roman style, designed to resemble Trajan's column. Structures on top of the columns resemble the tops of minarets.

 

Reliefs on the pediment which show how the people of Vienna suffered during the plague. The statue of St Charles Borromeo on top of the pediment was built by Lorenzo Mattielli.

 

The relief on the high altar, by Albert Camesina, shows St Charles Borromeo ascending to heaven.

 

Johann Michael Rottmayr painted the frescoes in the cupola, which depict the Apotheosis of St Charles Borromeo.

 

Scenes form St Charles Borromeo's life appear on the church's columns.

 

Karlskirche has a small museum, Museo Borromeo.