Karlskirche Restoration

Up close -- Detail of the frescoes in the dome of Karlskirche : Vienna, AT

Karlskirche was nearing the end of a multi-year, multi-million euro restoration project, so when we visited, there was still scaffolding inside. But, the cool thing was, they'd installed an elevator and you could ride it up to see the dome friezes up close! The church was commissioned by Charles VI, who pledged to build a church in honor of Charles Borromeo -- his patron saint. Borromeo was renowned for being a healer of those suffering from bubonic plague. To see more photos from inside this church, go here.

The dome from the ground level : Karlskirche : Vienna, AT

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 5/2012

Karlskirche and the Secession

Karlskirche : Vienna, AT

When I lived in Austria in the late 1980s/early 1990s, I spent nine months living in Vienna. We used to travel through Karlsplatz at least once a week, but I never made it inside the church. On this trip, I was determined to see things I hadn't seen when I was a missionary (I had three companions while I was in Vienna. The first was often exhausted and slept on our one day off; the second had been to Vienna as an exchange student the previous year and had already seen everything; and the third was from Europe and wanted to stay at home and write letters to her boyfriend. It was maddening.)

Karlsplatz U-bahn Station : Vienna, AT

One of the characteristics of the Karlsplatz area is the architecture style. Known as Vienna Secession and Jugendstil, it was started by artists Gustav Klimt, Max Kurzweil, and Joseph Maria Olbrich, among others. The movement brought French Impressionism to Austria and included recognition of greats, like Beethoven.

The Secession Museum : Vienna, AT

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 5/2012