{"id":22144,"date":"2020-01-29T04:52:00","date_gmt":"2020-01-29T03:52:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/?p=22144"},"modified":"2026-01-26T19:13:39","modified_gmt":"2026-01-26T18:13:39","slug":"karlskirche","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sights\/karlskirche\/","title":{"rendered":"The Karlskirche"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright size-full\"><a href=\"#tickets\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/karlskirchetickets.jpg\" alt=\"Karlskirche pillar\" class=\"wp-image-57474\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>A church with plenty to offer the visitor; Karlskirche (St. Charles&#8217; church) has baroque beauty, classical music, and a rare chance to go onto an ecclesiastical rooftop with panorama views.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>18th-century church built by Charles VI<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Stairs take you up to:\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>a close-up look at the organ<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>a large cutaway church model<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>the treasury &amp; panorama terrace<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Regular concerts by Orchestra 1756\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Read my <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/entertainment\/events\/vivaldi-concert-karlskirche\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"74311\">concert review<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Book a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tiqets.com\/en\/vienna-attractions-c60335\/tickets-for-vivaldi-s-four-seasons-concert-at-st-charles-church-vienna-p1035172\/?partner=visitingvienna&amp;tq_campaign=LG_KarlsConc\" rel=\"sponsored\">Vivaldi concert<\/a>* at the Karlskirche\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Inexpensive for Vienna<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>See also:\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sights\/christmasmarkets\/karlsplatz\/\">Karlsplatz Christmas market<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sights\/churches\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"28720\">Vienna churches<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/entertainment\/events\/classical-concert-dress-code\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"75082\">Concert dress codes<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">St Charles Church<\/h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" src=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/karlskirchefront.jpg\" alt=\"Karlskirche front view\" class=\"wp-image-46533\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/karlskirchefront.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/karlskirchefront-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-small-font-size\">(Front view of the church)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Unlike most of Vienna&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sights\/churches\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"28720\">gorgeous churches<\/a>, Karlskirche can be approached from a distance as you walk across the open area before it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The exterior architecture impresses with its great dome and the two giant columns. The latter&#8217;s reliefs and golden imperial eagles offer a clue to the plague-related <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sights\/karlskirche-history-treasury\/\">history of the church<\/a>, which Emperor Charles VI built in the early 18th-century and named after Saint Charles Borromeo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You need a ticket to enter outside of church needs and events (the revenue goes toward renovation work). But it&#8217;s very much worth doing so.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" src=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/karlskirchesnow2023.jpg\" alt=\"Karlskirche in the snow\" class=\"wp-image-66704\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/karlskirchesnow2023.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/karlskirchesnow2023-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-small-font-size\">(The view in winter)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As you might expect from a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/culture\/baroque\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"30588\">baroque<\/a> place of worship, the inside glows with a smorgasbord of decorative delights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Marble stonework, wall paintings, reliefs, statues, scroll work and carvings, regular splashes of gold, and more contribute to the rich d\u00e9cor. And all in beautiful condition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Karlskirche is more subtle than some of its over-exuberant colleagues, though, with enough white space to give the senses a rest now and then.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" src=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/karlskirchefrontcolumns.jpg\" alt=\"Front columns at St Charles Church\" class=\"wp-image-46534\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/karlskirchefrontcolumns.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/karlskirchefrontcolumns-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-small-font-size\">(One of the many hints at mortality thanks to the building&#8217;s origins in times of plague)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The nave sometimes has a huge art installation, designed to form a bridge or dialogue between contemporary art and the baroque surrounds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The <em>Karlskirche Contemporary Arts<\/em> programme that organises, curates and finances the installation began with Tom\u00e1s Saraceno&#8217;s quite spectacular <em>Aerocene<\/em> and followed that with <em>Forms through folds (ascending)<\/em> by renowned British artist Cerith Wyn Evans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So you never know what you might find inside.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"333\" src=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/karlskircheart2024.jpg\" alt=\"Art installation in the roof of the Karlskirche\" class=\"wp-image-68500\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/karlskircheart2024.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/karlskircheart2024-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-small-font-size\">(<em>Forms through folds (ascending)<\/em> by Cerith Wyn Evans. An installation within the <em>Karlskirche Contemporary Arts<\/em> programme; press photo by and \u00a9 Leonhard Hilzensauer)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Concerts<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>As with many of Vienna&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sights\/churches\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"28720\">great churches<\/a>, the Karlskirche acoustics and ambience lend themselves to classical concerts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I attended one of the top-rated Orchestra 1756 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tiqets.com\/en\/vienna-attractions-c60335\/tickets-for-vivaldi-s-four-seasons-concert-at-st-charles-church-vienna-p1035172\/?partner=visitingvienna&amp;tq_campaign=LG_KarlsConc\" rel=\"sponsored\">performances<\/a>* of Vivaldi&#8217;s <em>The Four Seasons<\/em>, which I <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/entertainment\/events\/vivaldi-concert-karlskirche\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"74311\">wrote about<\/a>. Spoiler alert: mesmerising!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That very composer is buried just a few yards away: a commemorative plaque on the TU Wien building diagonally opposite the front of Karlskirche marks the nearby grave of Vivaldi (now buried under university buildings).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The orchestra was founded in 2006 in Salzburg, where 1756 has a special resonance. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was born in the city that year; 2006 would have been his 250th birthday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Beyond the interior<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Apart from the lower nave area, the church has an additional triple treat for visitors, accessed via a spiral stone staircase just past the ticket counter&#8230;<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" src=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/karlskirchecolumndome.jpg\" alt=\"Karlskirche column and dome\" class=\"wp-image-46532\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/karlskirchecolumndome.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/karlskirchecolumndome-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-small-font-size\">(The column on the left is covered in narrative reliefs)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">1. Church model and organ<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>The first stop is a large cutaway model of the church with some historical architectural drawings associated with its construction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That same level lets you into the balcony home of the giant organ; the central part dates back to 1739 with the wings added in 1847.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The balcony gives lovely views down the church interior, also revealing the oval design of the pews.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">2. The treasury<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>The next level has a small display that includes, for example, a silk mitre with gold lam\u00e9; documents suggest it belonged to Charles Borromeo himself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This treasury room also holds such jewels as a 15th-century choir cape and 18th-century reliquaries, one of which (allegedly) contains wood particles from the cross.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">3. The panorama terrace<\/h4>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" src=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/karlskirchenight.jpg\" alt=\"Karlskirche at night\" class=\"wp-image-43321\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/karlskirchenight.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/karlskirchenight-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-small-font-size\">(The view at night)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The top of the stairs leads out to a small terrace right above the huge portal. You can spot the bannisters in the photo above.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>From this height, for example, you can see the neighbouring <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/entertainment\/musikverein\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"5593\">Musikverein<\/a> building and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sightseeing\/vienna-museums\/wien-museum\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"26812\">Wien Museum<\/a>. The latter has its own panorama terrace, too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You also catch glimpses of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sights\/stefansdom\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"294\">Stephansdom<\/a> cathedral, the domes of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sights\/museums\/khm\/overview\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"1446\">Kunsthistorisches<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sights\/museums\/natural-history-museum\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"252\">Naturhistorisches<\/a> museums, the top of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sights\/rathaus-2\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"267\">Rathaus<\/a> tower, the DC Tower, and more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The terrace also offers a closer look at the reliefs and eagles on those giant columns and a view across the park; this must be rather lovely during the Advent season, when the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sights\/christmasmarkets\/karlsplatz\/\">Art Advent<\/a> Christmas market occupies the area in front of the church.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The market makes for great photos from below, with its lighted stalls and the Karlskirche backdrop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"tickets\">Tickets &amp; visitor tips<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">For concerts<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The Orchestra 1756 usually puts on concerts several times a week, depending on the month.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div align=\"center\"><p class=\"has-text-align-center has-small-font-size\">(Booking service provided by Tiqets.com*, who I am an affiliate of)<\/p><div data-tiqets-widget=\"availability\" data-layout=\"full\" data-product-id=\"1035172\" data-partner=\"visitingvienna\" data-tq-campaign=\"AW_Karlskirche\"><\/div><script defer=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/widgets.tiqets.com\/loader.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-small-font-size\">(Nothing on your dates? Try some <a rel=\"sponsored\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiqets.com\/en\/concerts-opera-vienna-tickets-l206741\/?partner=visitingvienna&amp;tq_campaign=MSconcerts\">alternative concerts<\/a>*)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>If you&#8217;re unsure about what to wear when listening to Vivaldi, try <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/entertainment\/events\/classical-concert-dress-code\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"75082\">these tips<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">For visiting Karlskirche<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>On my last visit, a standard adult ticket to view the church cost \u20ac9.50. I bought my ticket at the entrance, which is around to the right as you face the front of the church.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As you buy your ticket, look to the right for a plaque commemorating the funeral of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/footsteps\/bruckner\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"39444\">Anton Bruckner<\/a> in the Karlskirche on October 14th, 1896.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For a little architectural bonus&#8230;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Pop across the park to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/footsteps\/otto-wagner-pavilion\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"5131\">station pavilions<\/a> built by Otto Wagner. Not quite Karlskirche in scale, but excellent examples of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/culture\/jugendstil\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"31716\">Jugendstil design<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>And for an additional classical music bonus&#8230;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/footsteps\/brahms-monument\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"32160\">Brahms monument<\/a> lies just across from the church<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>A short walk takes you to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/footsteps\/strauss-museum\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"22944\">Johann Strauss Museum<\/a>, with an immersive and entertaining exhibition on the man, the music, and the times he lived in<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How to get to the Karlskirche<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The church is within walking distance of the very centre of town, but might be one of the easiest sites to reach by public transport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Subway: Karlskirche sits more or less above Karlsplatz subway station, where the U2, U1 and U4 lines intersect. Look for exits to Resselpark.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Tram\/bus: numerous trams travel to Karlsplatz or the Karlsplatz\/Oper stop, including those that skirt the old town &#8211; lines 1, 2, D and 71<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Address: Karlsplatz 10, 1040 Vienna | <a href=\"https:\/\/www.karlskirche.at\/\">Website<\/a> (for church visitors)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div align=\"center\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/maps\/d\/u\/0\/embed?mid=1wLoIQ3IiqBmZjY29Rx6Q8N6DgTQYDKlH\" width=\"400\" height=\"300\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A church with plenty to offer the visitor; Karlskirche (St. Charles&#8217; church) has baroque beauty, classical music, and a rare chance to go onto an ecclesiastical rooftop with panorama views. St Charles Church (Front view of the church) Unlike most of Vienna&#8217;s gorgeous churches, Karlskirche can be approached from a distance as you walk across [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":22150,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[14],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-22144","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-sights","8":"entry"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22144","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=22144"}],"version-history":[{"count":39,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22144\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":88283,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22144\/revisions\/88283"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/22150"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=22144"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=22144"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=22144"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}