Description of the attraction
The Church of Our Lady of Kirchenthal is located in the federal state of Salzburg in the commune of St. Martin bei Lofer. The city of Salzburg is located about 40 kilometers northeast of it. The church itself rises on a hill about 872 meters above sea level. It is consecrated in honor of the feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, which is celebrated on September 8.
The construction of the church took place between 1694 and 1701, the architect of the building was the famous Fischer von Erlach, the founder of the Habsburg Baroque and the author of the famous Vienna Karlskirche church. It is interesting that the interior decoration of the temple was completed faster than its external decoration, and already in 1698 the first services were held in the richly decorated and painted church. And its appearance was being completed even before 1708. Especially noteworthy is the graceful main facade of the temple, consisting of two levels and framed by two symmetrical turrets at the edges.
The main shrine of the temple is a wooden statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary with the Infant Christ, pointing to the instruments of the Passion of Christ, thereby anticipating upcoming biblical events. The sculptural group dates back to 1400 and was made in the late Gothic style, but later it was given features more characteristic of the Baroque style. This popular image is also depicted in a pictorial form, including on various items of church utensils presented in this church.
The organ of the Church of the Virgin Mary Kirchenthal was completed in 1858, and of the old bells, only one has survived, cast in 1815. All others were melted down into cannonballs during both World Wars. Modern bells date back to the middle of the 20th century.
Not far from the church is the so-called house of thought, where Christian meetings, Bible readings and meditation classes take place, however, this same building serves as a collection point for skiing or hiking mountain walks.
The Church of the Virgin Mary Kirchenthal is especially popular among pilgrims - inside it there is a rich collection of various thanksgiving tablets, widespread in the Catholic tradition - the believer thus thanks God for his help in difficult times. And thanks to its picturesque location, the church also attracts tourists, lovers of mountain walks and many others.
