Attractions & Landmarks In Bischofshofen
About 50 kilometers south of Salzburg in the Austrian state of Salzburg is the little village of Bischofshofen. Renowned for its ski jumping hill, the Paul-Ausserleitner-Schanze, it is a stop on the highly sought-after Four Hills Tournament. With enough for more than 25,000 spectators, the hill has held international ski jumping competitions since 1952. Bischofshofen also has a charming old town with ancient buildings, like the parish church of St. Rupert, and nearby mountains provide a range of outdoor activities including skiing, mountain biking, and hiking.
Bachsfall castle ruins
Named for the neighboring Gainbach waterfall, the Bachsfall castle remnants are located in Bischofshofen, in the Salzburg province’s St. Johann am Pongau region. Built by the Lords of Pongau in the twelfth century, the castle came to be significant historically in 1230 when the ministerial family of Burg Gutrat became Pongau’s judges. Even though historical records then became few, local lore holds that in 1522, stones from the house were used to construct a funeral church at Bischofshofen.
Situated on the orographic right bank of Gainfeldbach, the remains are reached by automobile in around thirty minutes from the Bischofshofen ski jump (Gaisberggasse) by a marked hiking track. Two routes are available on the trail: a moderate slope that leads to the ruins or an ascent via the steps at the Gainbach waterfall.
The surviving remnants of a castle wall situated on a plateau spanning about 30 by 30 meters were investigated through archaeological study, excavation, and security measures between 1983 and 1985. The methodical research sought to provide historical information and help to preserve the location. Standing on the right bank of the Gainfeldbach, the remains provide a physical link to the ministerial family of Burg Gutrat and the Lords of Pongau, and they are a monument to the region’s medieval architectural and cultural legacy. Local stories and the actual ruins of the castle highlight its historical significance in the context of Pongau’s mediaeval government and architectural environment, even in the absence of much historical record.
The site is easily accessible thanks to the marked hiking track that starts at the Bischofshofen ski jump and invites guests to interact with the historical ruins. Different tastes and hiking levels are catered to by the choice to climb the steps at the Gainbach waterfall or walk a gentle slope to the ruins. The remnant castle wall was found and preserved in large part thanks to archaeological study carried out between 1983 and 1985, which also clarified the original proportions and historical background of the building. All things considered, the Bachsfall castle remnants provide a concrete link to Bischofshofen’s mediaeval past and advance knowledge of the social and architectural changes that took place in the Pongau region in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries.
Bischofshofen Parish Church
Within the Deanery of St. Johann im Pongau of the Archdiocese of Salzburg lies the Bischofshofen Roman Catholic parish church, which is situated in the town of Bischofshofen, Salzburg. On the northern side of the church is a late Gothic fresco cycle that dates to around 1490 and depicts events like Calvary, Christ’s Entombment, Christ in Limbo, and the Resurrection. These pictures have faded dramatically over the decades. To the east is another same-era fresco that shows Joseph’s death. The collection of pictures below, which resembles a Lent book and depicts Christ’s agony and resurrection, is thought to have been made after 1600. Paintings on the south wall, which date from 1651 to 1654, show St. Michael, the Flight into Egypt, and the Massacre of the Innocents at Bethlehem.
The church’s magnificent two-story, twisted-columned high altar was built in Bavaria in 1680. Emperor Heinrich, his wife St. Kunigunde, Mother Anna, and Joseph are represented by figurines in the bottom portion, which is fashioned like a late Gothic carved altar. Johann Senoner’s sculpture of St. Maximilian, added in 1923, completes the group.
Remains of two Lungau baroque altars are used for the two side altars. Known by most as the cross altar, the right-side altar has late Gothic representations of Mary and John from a previous crucifixion group next to baroque crucifix figures. About 1490, a Salzburg artist sculpted images of the Mother of God with the Child Jesus, Saints Margaret and Barbara, and the left altar.
Richness in history and art also permeates the church’s painstaking workmanship; the high altar is a particularly striking example of late 17th-century Bavarian beauty. The religious stories and creative techniques that were popular in the late Gothic and mid-17th-century are glimpsed via the fresco cycles on the church walls. The fact that these artworks have survived attests to the Bischofshofen Roman Catholic parish church’s continuing cultural and theological importance. Johann Senoner’s 1923 additions, which combine more modern and historical components, add even more to the church’s changing artistic scene. All things considered, the church is a storehouse of sacred art from many eras that provides guests with a window into the rich creative and cultural legacy of the area.
Paul Ausserleitner ski jump
The largest hill in the famous Four Hills Tournament, the Paul Ausserleitner Schanze is located in Bischofshofen, Austria. Tragically named after local athlete Paul Ausserleitner, the ski jump got its name when Ausserleitner died in a training accident on January 5, 1952. The initial competition winner, Sepp Bradl, is honored by the stadium itself. Built as a natural ski jump facility in 1941, the location has gained international notoriety for hosting the yearly Epiphany event of the Four Hills Tournament.
Among the many contests held in the Paul-Ausserleitner-Schanze are the two Continental Cup events that come after the Epiphany event. Significantly, the location’s historical value in the field of ski jumping was increased in 1999 when the big hill contests became a part of the Nordic World Ski Championships.
When Dawid Kubacki broke the official hill record at 145.0 meters on January 6, 2019, during the same-day qualifying for the Four Hills Tournament, it was a turning point in Schanze history. This record confirmed even more that the Schanze is a difficult and significant ski jumping location.
Among the biggest sports grounds in Austria, the Paul-Ausserleitner-Schanze can accommodate 25,000 spectators. But on New Year’s Eve of 2012, a Bengal fire damaged the facilities and the anticipated repair bill came to 10,000 euros. Notwithstanding this setback, the Schanze is still very much a part of the ski jumping community, drawing competitors and fans to its well-known events, especially the Epiphany event of the Four Hills Tournament.
Museum am Kastenturm
Situated at Rathausplatz 5 in Bischofshofen, Salzburg, the Museum am Kastenturm has its origins in an Augustinian abbey from the twelfth century. Built as a collegiate monastery at first, it was included into the new diocese in 1216 when Archbishop Eberhard II founded the diocese of Chiemsee. Importantly linked to the Chiemsee Hofmark of Bischofshofen, the Kastenhof housed princely quarters for the Chiemsee bishops as well as a tithe and grain collecting site. Regretfully, in 1775 a flood event destroyed the majority of the Kastenhof’s structures.
The property moved into the cameral era in 1803, after secularization. Anton Wickler bought the Kasten residential tower in 1917. The Museum am Kastenturm opened to the public in 1998. The box courtyard lies northwest of the St. Maximilian parish church and consists of two-story buildings encircling an irregular courtyard with a medieval dwelling tower dominating the scene. Upper floors of the tower include late Romanesque bifore windows, and entry is via a tiny round-arched doorway.
The museum itself is a storehouse of the five thousand-year history of the Bischofshofen villages. Archaeological relics include replicas of smelting furnaces, decorative fibulae, and clay bowls are among its displays. Holy art works on display include the Georgstafel, a Gothic half-relief, chalices, monstrances, and Baroque paintings. Notable addition is an exhibit on mine archaeology by mining researcher Robert Pils, which is housed in the Arthur tunnel on the Palfnerkogel.
A fragment of copper sheet from the Rupertus Cross, found in 1998 in the parish church of Bischofshofen during excavations by the Salzburg Museum Carolino Augusteum, headed by archaeologist Eva Maria Feldinger, is one important archaeological find adding to the museum’s collection. Early Middle Ages Rupert Cross is considered a significant example of continental Anglo-Saxon art. Replica of this important artefact is on display in the museum.
The Museum am Kastenturm and the Kastenhof have been rebuilt and renovated several times over. After being devastated in a mudslide in 1755, the courtyard buildings were rebuilt in the late 18th century and again in the 20th. With its varied millennium-spanning collection of religious art and archeological artifacts, the museum today is a monument to the rich history of Bischofshofen.
Church of Our Lady in Bischofshofen
Roman Catholic church Our Lady branch church, sometimes referred to as the Frauenkirche in Bischofshofen, Salzburg, has a long history and architectural value. Its about a millennium-old Roman masonry and antechambers point to a varied historical background. Used as a people’s church at first, then as a parish church and burial place until about 1403, it was first recorded in 1359.
Built in the early part of the 15th century, the existing Gothic building has a gabled roof, lancet windows with neo-Gothic tracery, and stepped buttresses. The church is decorated by Gothic frescoes from 1457 and outside pieces of paintings from around 1300. The crypt of the building is reachable via an outside passageway.
Three pointed arches and four floors make up the tower hall. The northward sacristy has a barrel vault, a pent roof, and a pointed arch entrance. Retracting two-bay choir with a 3/8 end and a two-story gallery are housed in the nave, which has a Gothic ribbed ceiling and ornamental pillars.
Within are a number of noteworthy frescoes, one of which is a Gothic picture of Christ, St. Catherine, Mary, John, and other saints from about 1420. Rich visuals are enhanced by baroque details and a 16th-century mural of the Madonna and child.
An altarpiece showing Mary with infant and saints adorns the 1648 baroque high altar. There is historical relevance added by a Renaissance Tabernacle from 1618, regarded as one of the oldest in the Salzburg region. Inscribed in the 17th century, baroque side altars show a variety of saints and biblical subjects. Historical background for the church is enhanced by wall memorials from the Bischofshofen and Kastner families.
The church’s artistic and religious atmosphere is enhanced by the pulpit from 1647 with its soldered scroll saw tendrils and the 1660 picture of St. Maria holding a baby on a globe. Confessional and choir stalls from the middle of the 17th century highlight even more the artistic and historical legacy of the Our Lady branch church in Bischofshofen.
Georgikirche Bischofshofen
The Romanesque Georgikirche is a historical site located in Bischofshofen, Salzburg. Overlooking the Liebfrauenkirche on a ledge in the western part of the city, the chapel served as a memorial church for World War II victims from 1950 until 2006. First recorded in a 1403 indulgence document, it is regarded as the private church of the Lords of Pongau and was once a component of a fortification.
A retractable semi-circular apse and a gabled roof, together with arched windows, define the chapel’s unstructured rectangular nave. Closing an early Gothic pointed arch entryway with a gorged reveal in the west has produced a round arch. Now obstructed is the Romanesque round arch entrance from the south.
Within, the simple, level hall area has a bricked-up doorway on the right side. Rediscovered in 1950 and rebuilt in 2006, the semi-circular apse is located behind the round-arched triumphal arch and has Romanesque murals from about 1230. These show the Father God, the four evangelists, the crucified Redeemer, the apostles, and Mary. Frescoes on the chancel arch show St. George and Margaret together with two prophets, Jeremiah and Jesaia. 1950 saw Albert Birkle create two glass paintings on the south side that depicted peace and war. One 1627 bell is also kept in the chapel.
A new monument of seven marble plaques was built on the south side of the chapel in honor of the dead soldiers. The Georgikirche is proof of its historical importance as well as its function as a memorial for the sacrifices committed during World War II.
Buchberg Church
Known by most as the Buchberg Church, the Roman Catholic church of St. Primus and Felizian is located near Bischofshofen in Salzburg. Perched above the St. Rupert Mission House on a hill on the Buchberg in the northeast of the city, the church is surrounded by ancient buildings. The Romanesque chapel was spared from demolition in the 13th century when the Lords of Pochburgh built a fortress on the site.
Initiated in 1200, the church was formally documented in 1370. Circa 1200, external frescoes on the south side show a Romanesque core. The present building was added built in the fourteenth century with a Gothic chancel with buttresses.
The rectangular single nave with its unstructured Romanesque core has a western chamfered early Gothic pointed arch doorway. The entrance of the southern Romanesque arched doorway is spirally fitted. A Gothic fresco frieze from the first half of the 14th century lies over the south door. The chancel has Gothic tracery and two-tiered buttresses with pointed-arch windows. North of the nave stands a Gothic-style tower with bifore and trifore windows, shingled pyramidal roof, and pilaster strips.
The church’s interior has a 1641 flat coffered ceiling and carved parapet beams decorating the wooden gallery. Beside the chamfered ogival triumphal arch starts the single-bay choir with a round keystone and a ribbed vault on belt arches. Angel heads around the miraculous picture of Maria Plain on the stucco ceiling. Churchgoers are shown on the 1645 high altar, which also has a predella that shows the massacre of infants in Bethlehem. Saw work abounds on the pulpit, which was probably built by Konrad Schwarz around 1642. The church is decorated with a number of late Gothic Pietà and other Gothic and Baroque saint statues.
A major part of the church’s surrounds was historically played by the horse market, which was first documented in 1421 and moved to Werfen in the middle of the 1800s.
Mission House St. Rupert
At Bischofshofen, Salzburg, the Steyler Missionaries’ founder, St. Arnold Janssen, founded the Missionshaus St. Rupert. The St. Rupert mission private high school occupies a structure that was built in phases; the school opened in 1907 after the foundation stone was put in 1906. It functioned as an emergency reserve hospital during World War I and between 1925 and 1929, a chapel was constructed. It was a military hospital until 1945, having been closed following the Anschluss in 1939. 1946 saw the start of post-war reconstructions; other restoration efforts followed in 1964–1965 and 1975, as well as continuous routine maintenance.
With its many outbuildings and annexes, the large four-story complex has architectural features including a brick gable extension to the west, a recessed center facade, and a notable corner projection. A courtyard within was created by northward additions and the joining of churches facing east and south.
Operating as a publicly funded grammar school, Privatgymnasium St. Rupert provides courses in humanistic grammar or upper secondary school and begins teaching Latin in the third grade. Among the many courses students can graduate in are computer science and languages including Italian, Spanish, French, Greek, and English. Sponsorship of the school moved from the Steyler Missionaries to the Association of Religious Schools in Austria (VOS) in September 2018 in order to guarantee its long-term survival. It has about 400 pupils enrolled right now.
Neighboring the southern wing of the mission home, the neo-baroque Kreuzbergkirche has a façade supported by pilasters and a retractable low choir with a polygonal end above a detachable base level. On the bell level of the 47.5-meter-tall neo-baroque tower are arched windows and an onion dome perched on a curving cornice.
Within the church, a barrel vault on belt arches and pillars supports round arch entrances to cross-vaulted side chapels. Above the side chapels is an open gallery floor that links to the organ gallery to the west. Below the triumphal arch, a profiled cornice encircles the choir, which is elevated beneath a barrel vault on pilasters.
An altarpiece by Wolfram Köberl showing Rupert von Salzburg dressed as a Benedictine monk is flanked by columns with a profiled cornice on the neo-baroque high altar from 1961. Neo-baroque side altars from 1929 show angels in the front and statues of the Sacred Heart and St. Mary on the sloping sides of the triumphal arch. Modern furniture surround simple wooden altars in a few side chapels.
