Description of the attraction
The Church of St. Rupert is located in the remote southwestern region of the large Austrian city of Graz, known as Strassgang. It is located closer to the city's airport than to the historic center, which is more than 6 kilometers away.
The area itself has been known since the times of Ancient Rome - an important trade route passed here. And during the Early Middle Ages, a noble ancient clan of the Aribonids lived here, originating from Bavaria since the VIII century. However, in the XI century, these lands were transferred to a more powerful owner - the Archbishop of Salzburg. It is believed that it was during his time that the church of St. Rupert was built, but the date of its construction is considered to be earlier centuries.
It is worth noting that the Church of St. Rupert is possibly the oldest building in the entire city of Graz, although the exact date of its construction is unknown. Most likely, it was built at the end of the 8th century or at the beginning of the 9th century. The church itself is made in the pre-Romanesque architectural style, known as the "Carolingian Revival", and is one of the rarest monuments of this ancient style.
The Church of St. Rupert is a rather low and small building, but with rather powerful walls. It is worth noting the small and narrow windows along the walls of this building, as well as the small round window above the portal. The facade of the church is decorated with a triangular pediment with a kind of prominent top topped with a cross.
Despite the fact that this church was built during the Early Middle Ages, the first documentary mention of it appeared rather long ago - only in the middle of the XIV century. At the same time, for about 800 years, it practically did not change in size - the first additional outbuildings, including a room for choirs, appeared already by the 17th century. Therefore, the appearance of the temple has been preserved in the Romanesque architectural style, while its interior decoration dates back to a later period. The main altar, for example, was not completed until 1675.
