Description of the attraction
The Franciscan Church is one of the oldest churches in the old part of the Austrian city of Salzburg. A Romanesque portal from the 13th century leads to a Gothic presbytery, decorated with statues of Jesus Christ seated on a throne, the Apostle Peter and Saint Rupert, and the ceiling of the room is a majestic starry vault. A baroque portal was added in the 16th century.
The exact origin of the church is unclear, however, its construction is associated with the temple of St. Virgil. Like most other churches in Salzburg, he repeatedly became a victim of fires, and as a result, fell victim to the punishment of Emperor Frederick Barbarossa in 1167. The townspeople helped with the reconstruction in the 12th century. The architect Hans von Burghausen, who became famous for his church in Pandshut, was invited to the restoration work. His masterpiece is the magnificent choir hall, which effectively reflects the fusion of light and darkness. The original altar was built by Michael Pacher in the years 1495-1498, but, unfortunately, has not survived to this day. Fortunately, his Madonna and Child were preserved and later placed on a new altar created in 1709-1710 by Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach. Above the altar there are magnificent Rococo filigree grilles, created in 1790 by Thomas Rekesen. In the chapel of St. Francis preserved frescoes by Rottmeier on the theme of the life of the holy founder of this monastic order.
