Description of the attraction
The Parish Church of the Three Kings is located in a picturesque area of the town of Gmunden - on one side it goes to the Traun River, and on the other - to the shores of Lake Traun (Traunsee). However, it is located far from the main city attraction - Orth Castle, built on the water. The temple stands on a small hill.
Back in the 13th century, there was an ancient chapel of St. Anne on this site, which served as a memorial chapel. However, this building was eventually demolished in 1844, leaving only the gate, which was later added to the modern church.
At the beginning of the 18th century, the Church of the Three Kings, then consecrated only in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary, was greatly enlarged in size and rebuilt in the Baroque architectural style. In the same historical period, the bell tower was completed, crowned with an onion-shaped dome, which is very widespread in Austria and southern Germany. The total height of this building was 51.5 meters.
After World War II, the church underwent a major restoration, during which unique ancient frescoes dating from 1525 were discovered on the walls of the southern portal. They are made in the Gothic style and depict Saint Christopher and the Last Judgment.
As for the interior decoration of the church, it is made mainly in the Baroque style, but some sculptures were added during the last restorations, that is, in the middle of the 20th century. Of particular note is the main altar depicting the Adoration of the Magi. Surprisingly, all the sculptures in this altar are made in real human proportions, that is, each is more than 1.5 meters in height. The altar was made in 1678 by the local Baroque sculptor Thomas Schwanthaler.
