The catholic hofkirche (literally Church of the Court) was built by Saxon ruler Augustus III as a counterweight for the protestant Frauenkirche. The Baroque church is one of the most beautiful buildings in Dresden.In 1697 Augustus II the Strong, Elector of Saxony, converted to catholicism so he could become King of Poland. Initially, the king used a royal chapel for catholic services, but when the protestant city of Dresden built the Frauenkirche in 1743, Augustus the Strong's son Augustus III decided a catholic church was needed to counterbalance the protestant church. Known as Hofkirche (Church of the Court), the new catholic church was built between 1738 and 1751 in high Baroque style. The monumental, oval shaped Hofkirche features a 83m /272ft high belfry which is harmoniously integrated in the front facade. The spire of the belltower is designed as a series of stepped monopteros - open circular structures - decorated with Corinthian columns. The top is crowned with a copper onion dome.