St. Charles Church (Karlskirche), Vienna

Karlskirche, Vienna
Karlskirche (4th, Karlsplatz; parish church of "Saint Charles Borromeo" [1783 imperial patron parish, until 1959 looked after by the Knights of the Cross with the Red Star, since then by Premonstratensians from Stift Geras, Lower Austria]: St. Charles (parish); compare floor plan sketch). In fulfillment of a vow made by Charles VI during the plague epidemic on October 22nd, 1713 at St. Stephen's, the foundation stone was laid on February 4th, 1716 on a desolate hill only partially planted with vines on the right bank of the barely regulated Vienna River (on which the imperial lime barn was located). Designs and models were provided by J. B. Fischer von Erlach (who received the order on December 4th, 1715), J. L. von Hildebrandt and Ferdinando Galli-Bibiena. He began construction (1716-1723) and after his death by his son J. E. Fischer von Erlach (construction manager Erhard Martinelli) (1723-1739; completion of the shell in 1729); deviations from the original project are the steeper version of the dome, the omission of the priest's choir and changes in the interior). The overall supervision was given to the court chamberlain Bartholomäus von Tinti. On July 10, 1717, General Building Director Gundacker Ludwig Joseph Graf Althan took over the construction inspection. On November 17, 1733, the church was handed over to the Knights of the Cross (from Prague), who had been summoned to Vienna by the Emperor. The first mass was held in a solemn form in the presence of the Emperor on August 24, 1738, and the consecration took place on October 28, 1737 by Cardinal Sigismund Graf Kollonitsch. In 1740, the funeral mass for Charles VI was read here. The Karlskirche is the most important Baroque sacred building in Vienna, Fischer's last church building and at the same time his main sacred work. All crown lands contributed to the construction costs of 304,000 guilders, and fines that the city of Hamburg had to pay because the local mob had demolished the chapel of the Austrian embassy were also used.
Text / Source: Vienna History Wiki
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The church was built by Emperor Charles in gratitude for the defeat of the plague

The frescoes in the dome of St. Charles's Church are accessible via a panoramic elevator, which carries visitors around 32 meters above ground level. From there, access to the lantern is also possible.