Karlskirche (St. Charles Church) is considered the most outstanding baroque church in Vienna, as well as one of the city's greatest buildings.  The church is dedicated to Saint Charles Borromeo, the great reformer of the sixteenth century.

Karlskirche contains a rare dome in the form of an elongated ellipsoid.  It is well known for this dome as well as for its two flanking columns of bas-reliefs which are modeled after Trajan's Column in Rome.  The columns were crafted by Lorenzo Mattielli and contain scenes from the life of St. Charles Borromeo.  The two tower pavilions beside the columns show the influence of the Roman Baroque. 

In 1713, after the great plague epidemic, Charles VI pledged to build a great church for his namesake patron saint, Charles Borromeo, who was revered as a healer for plague sufferers.  The architect chosen was Johann Bernhard Fischer and construction began in 1723.  His son completed the construction in 1737.   The reflecting pond in front of the church was added in 1978.

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