Karlskirche
Austria
On 22 October 1713, with the last great plague epidemic sweeping through Vienna, Emperor Charles VI stood in St Stephen's Cathedral and promised to build a church. It would be dedicated to his own name saint, Charles Borromeo, who was also venerated as a protector against plague, and the vow itself was meant to end the outbreak. By 1714 the plague had died out, and the emperor kept his side of the bargain by announcing an architectural competition. Look up at the triangular pediment as you approach across Karlsplatz and the whole story is spelled out in gold letters from Psalm 22: "Vota mea reddam in conspectu timentium deum", "I will fulfil my vows before the eyes of those who fear God." This is a votive church, a debt paid in stone.
- Written with AI from the Wikipedia article Wiener Karlskirche (de.wikipedia.org); facts only from there
- Show on OpenStreetMap
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