Description of the attraction
The parish church of the village of Stein im Jauntal, which is part of the city of Sankt Kanzian, bears the name of St. Lawrence. It is located next to the ruins of a local castle on a cliff above the village. This is the former castle chapel, later transformed into an independent church.
It was built in the XII or XIII century. As a result of clashes between Emperor Frederick III and Count von Gorez, owner of the castle in Stein im Jauntal, the castle was destroyed in 1458 and partially rebuilt after 1514. People lived in it until the beginning of the 18th century.
The walls of the nave and round apse of the church are made in the Romanesque style and are considered the most ancient architectural elements of this structure. In Gothic times, they were significantly strengthened so that the enemy could not violate the integrity of the building. The slender, narrow Late Gothic north tower with loopholes was built in 1511 and served for defense. The western vestibule was added to the temple in the 19th century. Near the church, you can see a free-standing rotunda, erected in the Romanesque style and reconstructed in 1996.
On the north wall of the nave of the church are the remains of frescoes painted in the second half of the 13th century. The vaults were painted later, in the middle of the 14th century. The neo-baroque altarpiece from 1864 is decorated with statues of St. Lawrence and the apostles Peter and Paul. Above the altar there is a canvas depicting the Virgin Mary with the Child. The side altar, also decorated with statues of saints, was made in 1770. The pulpit is dated to the third quarter of the 18th century.
