Baroque Vienna: Churches, Palaces and the Plague Column
How Vienna became a glittering baroque city after 1683
TopicWien- Duration
- 2.0 hours
- Languages
- German, English
This private baroque tour of Vienna shows how the city gained a new face after the Ottoman siege of 1683. From the Karlskirche to St. Peter's Church you experience the splendor, faith and self-promotion of an era.
After the Second Ottoman Siege ended in 1683, Vienna saw a building boom. Noble families built town palaces, the imperial court expanded and religious orders adorned their churches. Architects such as Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach and Johann Lucas von Hildebrandt shaped the city.
The Karlskirche was vowed by Emperor Charles VI after the plague of 1713 and combines ancient-style columns with a mighty dome. The Plague Column on the Graben recalls the epidemic of 1679, St. Peter's Church surprises with its oval interior, and in the Jesuit Church Andrea Pozzo fools the eye with a painted false dome.
Your guide explains how baroque art plays with light, movement and illusion, and what messages emperors and the church sent to the people with it.
Highlights
- Fischer von Erlach's Karlskirche
- The Plague Column on the Graben
- The oval interior of St. Peter's
- The painted false dome of the Jesuit Church
- Noble palaces of the baroque age
The route
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1Karlsplatz
Start at the Karlskirche and its story.
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2Himmelpfortgasse
Prince Eugene's Winter Palace.
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3Graben
The Plague Column and life after the epidemic.
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4St. Peter's Church
Baroque space on a tight square.
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5Jesuit Church
Finale with illusion painting in the old university quarter.
Who this tour is for
For lovers of art and churches who want to experience Vienna's baroque side with all their senses.
Frequently asked questions
Are entrance fees included?
No, entrance fees are never included in the tour price. When you book, we are happy to tell you which admissions apply to your group.
How is the price calculated?
This is a private tour for your group only. The price is per group, not per person, which makes it great value for families and friends traveling together.
Can we go inside the churches?
Yes, outside service times we visit the churches inside. Some charge admission, which is not included in the price.
