St. Charles Church

In this article, we will detail the wonderful church, the large square, and the variety of attractions that surround it.

St. Charles Church (Karlskirche)
Karlsplatz Square
Attractions Around the Square

St. Charles Church (Karlskirche), or its full name Rektoratskirche St. Karl Borromäu, is located in the southern part of Karlsplatz, about 200 meters outside the Old City and the Ringstrasse. Emperor Charles VI ordered the construction of this ancient church after the Black Death plague struck the city. Its design combines ancient Greek and Roman elements with Baroque and Renaissance styles in a unique way. The city regards this church as one of its most important, and it undoubtedly stands among Vienna’s most spectacular buildings. When touring the city, make sure to visit the site—you don’t even have to go inside to enjoy the church’s beautiful exterior and the surrounding park.

Photo by Asaf Faikov of Karlskirche and the park. — Photo by Asaf Paikov of Karlskirche and the park.

The Story of the Church

At the beginning of the 18th century, a terrible plague broke out in Vienna, causing the mass death of many of the city’s residents. Emperor Charles VI, ruler of the Holy Roman Empire, faced despair and vowed that if the plague passed, he would dedicate a magnificent church building to St. Charles Borromeo, known as the savior of plague sufferers and the emperor’s own patron saint. In 1713, a year after the plague had passed, the emperor announced the construction of the church as he had vowed. A competition was held among many architects for its construction, and the happy winner was the architect Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach. The construction work began in 1716 and lasted for 23 years. During the construction, von Erlach passed away, and his son Joseph Emanuel continued the work until its completion in 1739. In the past, it was possible to see the Hofburg Palace directly from the church, but today the many buildings that have been added around the square no longer allow this.

The Design of the Church

The architect von Erlach was greatly influenced by the Baroque style combined with ancient elements from Roman and Greek palaces. He designed the front part of the building, the portico, in the style of an ancient Greek temple with a triangular roof and decorated support columns reminiscent of the Greek Pantheon. On the sides of the central hall, there are two tall columns, magnificent replicas of Trajan’s Column built in Rome. On the tall columns, there are many reliefs created by the Italian sculptor Lorenzo Mattielli depicting anecdotes from the life of St. Charles Borromeo. The dome of the church is somewhat reminiscent of the dome of St. Peter’s Church located in the Old City of Vienna.

The interior of the church is also spectacular and is decorated with gleaming marble columns, wonderful statues, and of course, the golden sun that serves as a memorial to the terrible plague. Around the golden sun, there are statues depicting the life of St. Charles. It is interesting to see that in its center, the name of God is written in Hebrew: “Y.H.W.H”.

In the plaza outside the church, there is a pool of water with a wonderful statue in its center, sculpted by Henry Moore. On beautiful sunny days, the church is wonderfully reflected in the waters of the pool, creating a breathtakingly beautiful sight.

This is what St. Charle’s Church at sunset on a sunny day looks like

Antonio Vivaldi and Classical Music Performances in the Church

Next to the church stood a burial ground called Spitaler Gottesacker, where the famous composer Antonio Vivaldi lies buried. The church honors his memory by regularly hosting concerts featuring his music, along with performances of works by other important Austrian figures such as Mozart. You can attend classical music performances of Vivaldi’s works. The regularly held performance is called Vivaldi’s Four Seasons. Click to check for available seats and book tickets for the classical music performance held at St. Charles Church.

Visiting St. Charles Church

There is an entrance fee to enter the church. Inside the church, besides the spectacular design, there is an elevator to a viewing area at a height of 32.5 meters. From there, you get a close view of the ceiling decorations and truly admire the beauty of the church.

Additional Essential Information for Visiting the Church

Operating Hours:

Monday – Saturday: 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Sundays and holidays: 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM

Prices:

Adult – €9.50
Children from age 11 – €5
Student – €6
Children under 10 – Free
Group of 6 or more – €8.50 per person.

The entrance ticket includes: a model of the church, a balcony with a panoramic view, the treasury, and the organ room.

You can also experience the church as part of a musical performance – Vivaldi’s Four Seasons, which takes place almost every evening. For more information and to purchase tickets.

Official Website

How to get to St. Charles Church by public transport?

The church is located next to the Karlsplatz underground station. You can reach it using lines U1 (the red line), U2 (the purple line), and U4 (the green line). You should exit the station at the exit marked Resselpark and from there walk for about 5 minutes through the park until you reach the church.

Address: Karlsplatz, 1040 Wien

Map:

Karlsplatz Square

This square is one of the most central in Vienna, and from it, you can reach all the most important places in the city. Karlsplatz is located on the border between the first district (the Old City) and the fourth district. Before the square existed, the Wien River flowed here, and an impressive bridge called the Elizabeth Bridge (named after the Emperor’s wife) spanned it. At the end of the 19th century, authorities stopped the river’s flow in this section, covered the water channel, and replaced it with a large street. This led to the demolition of the ancient bridge.

In the years between the world wars, the square was mainly occupied by temporary structures, such as a shopping center (where the Wien Museum stands nowadays).

Today, a large part of the square is called Resselpark, named after Josef Ressel who designed it. At the eastern end of the park is the church, and to its west is the Vienna University of Technology building. Small statues throughout the park commemorate famous figures from Austrian history, including the inventor Siegfried Marcus, Josef Madersperger, and the composer Johannes Brahms.

The square itself is an important transportation artery in the city, served by three underground lines (U1, U2, U4) and a large number of trams. The train that goes towards Vienna’s southern shopping city (SCS) also departs from Karlsplatz.

Since 2010, a festival called Popfest has been held in Resselpark every July, featuring food stalls, drinks, and live music. Information about the festival.

8 Attractions Around Karlsplatz Square

A variety of important and interesting attractions surround the large Karlsplatz, in addition to the wonderful church. Also, due to its proximity to the Old City, you can walk via Operngasse, which eventually leads to St. Stephen’s Cathedral or the Hofburg Palace.

Other important places around the square are:

State Opera House: One of the leading opera houses, and the variety of works and plays performed in it is the largest in the world. World War II bombings destroyed large parts of the original mid-19th-century building. After extensive restoration and reconstruction work, the building regained its former glory. The opera house holds about 350 performances each season, and about 600,000 spectators come to enjoy Viennese culture at its best. If you feel like soaking up some local culture, the opera house is undoubtedly the perfect place. You can even buy a ticket for an opera performance for 2 to 4 euros (for standing room). Another option is to watch the performances live through the opera house’s broadcasting system. In addition to all this, there are daily guided tours for visitors. It is located right next to the underground station. For more extensive information on the State Opera.
Wien Museum (Vienna City Museum): This museum deals with the history of the city of Vienna (as you might have guessed). Its permanent exhibition includes collections from the various historical periods in which there was an active settlement in the city area. The collections display objects from the Neolithic period to the mid-20th century. The focus of the exhibition is mainly the 19th century, and as part of the exhibits related to this period, there are also paintings and works of art by the famous Gustav Klimt and Egon Schiele.
- Opening Hours: Open every day (except Mondays) from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM. On Thursdays, open until 9:00 PM.
- Prices: Free admission
- Official Website
- Address: Karlsplatz 8, 1040 Wien
Wiener Musikverein (Concert Hall): The Musikverein began operating in 1863 and serves the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. This is the best place to enjoy classical music and experience Viennese culture in an authentic way. The concert hall inside the building is considered one of the best in the world. The building is about a 3-minute walk from the square. You can read more information in our detailed article on the Musikverein.
- Address: Musikvereinsplatz 1, 1010 Wien
Secession Building (Secessionsgebäude): Secession was an artistic movement belonging to the Art Nouveau and Jugendstil movements. In 1897, the movement formed in Vienna. The artists’ aspiration in the movement was to create unique art disconnected from the classical motifs of art and from the principles of the Austrian Academy of Arts. The first president of the movement was the famous painter Gustav Klimt. In the year the movement was founded, the architect Joseph Maria Olbrich also designed and erected the Secession Building. It is easy to identify the building located at the end of the market near the Karlsplatz station because of the golden dome that adorns it. The building displays art objects and works related to the Secession movement, the most famous of which is Klimt’s painting called the Beethoven Frieze. The building is about a 7-minute walk from the square.
- Address: Friedrichstraße 12, 1010 Wien
Naschmarkt: The largest and most touristy market in Vienna. Along one kilometer, there are about 158 restaurants and stalls selling fruits, vegetables, food, drinks, and clothes. You can find special and fresh fruits and vegetables in the market, as well as some stalls of traditional Austrian food alongside a culinary abundance from all over the world. On Saturdays, a large flea market takes place next to the Naschmarkt, where you can buy second-hand goods and antiques are. The market is about a 10-minute walk from the square. For more extensive information on the market.
Albertina: The wonderful art museum of Vienna and one of the most important art museums in the world. The museum has exhibitions of paintings from ancient periods. The exhibits in the museum belonged to the personal collection of Prince Albert, who was the husband of Maria Christina (the daughter of Maria Theresa). The museum is about a 10-minute walk from the square. You can read more extensive information on the Albertina in our comprehensive article.
Hotel Sacher: The famous hotel and its Café are a short walk from the square. The café of the magnificent Hotel Sacher invites you to try the Viennese chocolate cake called Sachertorte. This is a popular tourist attraction. Remember that you can buy the cake at a more reasonable price anywhere else in Vienna. The hotel is about a 7-minute walk from the square.
Café Gerstner (Gerstner K. u. K. Hofzuckerbäcker): This is a classic Viennese café with a stunning design, especially on its upper floor, which is decorated with wonderful murals. The service is good, and the coffee and cake are delicious. The café is about a 5-minute walk from the square.