Churches & Cathedrals In Kitzbühel
Located in the mediaeval town of Kitzbühel, the churches and cathedrals of this Austrian location are not only places of prayer but also have great historical and cultural worth. Originally from the 12th century, Kitzbühel is well-known for its ski resort and winter sports competitions. Beyond the hills, nevertheless, the town features several breathtaking churches and cathedrals highlighting its rich religious legacy and architectural styles spanning centuries.
The main draw is the Pfarrkirche “Zum Heiligen Andreas,” the central parish church honoring Saint Andrew, the patron saint of Kitzbühel and Scotland. First documented in 1271, this Gothic church has seen several repairs and growth especially in the 15th and 16th centuries. Inside, guests can find a Baroque high altar, pulpit, baptismal font, and assortment of paintings and sculptures. The highest point in the town, the church’s 77-meter-tall tower provides an amazing panoramic perspective of the surroundings.
The modest Romanesque Liebfrauenkirche, devoted to Our Lady, is another noteworthy church. Built around the 14th century, it boasts a Baroque altar and a Gothic choir. Though simple, the Liebfrauenkirche is among the oldest churches in Kitzbühel and surrounds a well-kept cemetery containing many notable local residents. Although those who merely visit the parish church sometimes ignore this hidden gem, its serene surroundings and breathtaking vistas make a visit absolutely worth it.
Attached to the former Kitzbühel hospital lies a little church called Spitalkirche Zum Heiligen Geism. Established in 1390 by the honorable Lamberg family, who also gave the hospital to the town, this church is honoring the Holy Spirit. The Spitalkirche presents a calm and cosy environment with its Gothic design, Baroque altar, and Last Judgment fresco. For the impoverished and ailing, it provided a place of prayer and treatment.
Visitors can locate the Franziskanerkloster, a Franciscan monastery founded in 1617 by the Count of Lamberg, above Kitzbüheler Horn. Comprising a church, a cloister, and a monastery, this Baroque complex Dedicated to Saint Francis of Assisi, the church offers a beautiful interior complete with organ, choir, and high altar. The cloister has a garden where the friars grow herbs and flowers and a patio including a fountain. For the friars, who maintain a modest and simple existence, the monastery provides a place for meditation and retreat.
The modern Evangelische Christuskirche Kitzbühel sits on the outskirts of the town and serves individuals of the Protestant faith. Designed by architect Clemens Holzmeister, who also produced the Austrian Parliament building in Vienna, this circular chapel with a glass dome represents the openness and togetherness of the Christian faith. Inside will be a simple wooden cross, baptismal font, and organ.
Pfarrkirche St. Andreas
Rising on the brink of the steep Lebenberg hill near Kitzbühel, the Roman Catholic church known as Pfarrkirche St. Andreas It is dedicated to St. Andrew, the local coat of arms’ patron saint of fisherman, who also happens to be From the eighth century, when a little early medieval church was erected on the site, the church has a rich and ancient legacy. Reflecting the evolving tastes and demands of the society, the church saw various modifications and expansions over the ages.
Built in the 13th century when Kitzbühel was established as a market town, the Romanesque tower is the oldest component of the church. The tower boasts a unique octagonal form and a pointed roof as well as a bell going back to 1512. As it is clearly visible from a distance, the tower also acts as a landmark and a local emblem.
Built between 1435 and 1506, the major body of the church is a late Gothic hall church. The church boasts a polygonal choir and three naves split apart by thin pillars. Frescoes from the 15th and 16th centuries, showing events from Christ’s life and the saints, cover the vaulted ceiling. Mostly from the Baroque era, the church also boasts a great array of altars, sculptures, paintings, and stained glass windows.
Between 1661 and 1663 Benedikt Faistenberger and Veit Rabl produced the great altar, regarded as the masterpiece of the church. Comprising a big wooden construction decorated in gold and silver, the altar features reliefs and figures. Christ’s crucifixion is shown on the central panel beside St. Andrew and St. Catherine. The side panels show the four church Latin doctors and the four evangelists. Mary’s coronation is shown on top of the altar amid angels and saints.
Located on the north side of the church, the funeral monument of the coppersmith is another noteworthy element of the church. Rich coppersmith Hans Tannheimer, a church supporter as well, built the monument in 1513. The monument consists of a stone tomb atop which a life-size bronze statue of the coppersmith rests. The monument is wearing a fur coat and a cap and has a pair of tongs and a hammer. Considered as among the best Renaissance sculptures in Tyrol, the monument is
Apart from a house of worship, the Pfarrkirche St. Andreas is a cultural and historical gem of Kitzbühel. The church provides a window into the past and present of the society as well as represents the creative and spiritual legacy of the town. Every day the church welcomes guests; mass is observed on Saturdays and Sundays. Particularly in the Advent and Christmas seasons, the church is also a frequent site for activities and concerts.
Katharinenkirche
Found in Kitzbühel, Tyrol, the little Gothic church known as the Katharinenkirche boasts a strong bell tower and a lower church. Rising in the old graveyard close to St. Andreas’ parish church, the tower is a city emblem including the Kitzbühel town bell. The presence of a miraculous figure on the high altar makes the Katharinenkirche also regarded as a pilgrimage church.
Believed to be built in the 14th century as a High Gothic grave chapel, the Liebfrauenkirche boasts a small turret on the northern side. Master Wilhelm Egarter deftly built a soaring monument above the burial chapel in the 16th century to house the big bell of the parish church. Purchased in the early 16th century, this bell was too big for the little tower of the parish church, hence the tower above the Liebfrauenkirche was built.
Built on the upper level of the Liebfrauenkirche in 1702, the baroque high altar with the miraculous figure was Master builder Jakob Singer, plasterer Hans Singer, and painter Simon Benedikt Faistenberger restored the Baroque interior of the church in the 18th century.
Three separate churches—the upper church, the lower church, and the church tower—make up the Katharinenkirche. The ossuary is in the basement church; the nave of the top church was divided into two sections upon tower completion. Both the church interior and the vestibule under the tower and were built with a polygonal chancel. Many votive plaques decorate the anteroom, attesting to the pilgrimages taken and answered prayers received.
Designed by Georg Faistenberger in 1702, the high altar inside the church replics Lucas Cranach’s well-known Innsbruck Maria Hilf picture. Around the miraculous image are statues honoring Mary’s parents, St. Joachim and St. Anna. Ignaz Faistenberger’s artwork showing God the Father in human form hangs above the altar.
Designed by Franz Witting in 1778, the church also features a wrought-iron rose trellis in front of the high altar, and finely carved church seats from 1720. Simon Benedikt Faistenberger’s frescoes from 1739 exhibit a range of creative depictions, including the Glory of the Mother of God, King David playing the harp, St. Andrew as the city’s defender, and the suffering people looking to Mary for aid.
Evangelische Christuskirche Kitzbühel
The Evangelische Christuskirche Kitzbühel is the Protestant church located in the Austrian state of Tyrol in the town of Kitzbühel. Rising on a hill with a view of the town, the church is an amazing example of modern architecture that beautifully fits the alpine scene. Rich in history, the church represents the artistic vision of its eminent architect, Clemens Holzmeister as well as the hardships and successes of the Protestant community in Kitzbühel. The church hosts a variety of events and activities all year long, therefore functioning as a cultural and religious hub for the community.
Founding and History
Founded in 1962 following protracted persecution and discrimination against the Protestants in Tyrol. Kitzbühel’s Protestant community originated in the sixteenth century when the Reformation expanded throughout the area. But the Counter-Reformation and the Habsburg government persecuted the Protestant faith, therefore driving many people to convert to Catholicism or flee. Those who stayed had to practice their religion in secret without legal acknowledgment or protection. Thanks to the involvement of Emperor Joseph II and the Napoleonic Wars, the Protestants in Tyrol acquired some civil rights and freedom of worship only in the 19th century. Still, they suffered social and financial setbacks as well as Catholic majority animosity.
Particularly following World War II’s end and the founding of the Second Austrian Republic, the situation got better in the 20th century. Growing in numbers and impact, the Protestant community in Kitzbühel drew celebrities and travelers from all around. A local donor, Alfred Gebetsberger, kindly donated a piece of land to the town in 1957 to construct a parsonage and a church. Other Protestant churches and organizations—both in Austria and abroad—sent moral and financial assistance to the community as well. Under the direction of the Kufstein pastor, Wolfgang Schmidt, and the architect, Clemens Holzmeister, building of the church started in 1960. Completing and consecrating the church in 1962, the Protestant community in Kitzbühel reached a turning point in its history.
Architectural Design
Designed by one of the most eminent Austrian architects of the 20th century, Clemens Holzmeister, the Evangelische Christuskirche Kitzbühel is a masterwork of contemporary architecture. Known for his varied and creative works spanning from public buildings and monuments to churches and mosques, Holzmeister was also a politician and academic. Among the several architectural trends and styles he was inspired by were regionalism, functionalism, and expressionism. Along with a reverence of the natural and cultural surroundings, he also possessed strong sense of aesthetics and symbolism.
Reflecting Holzmeister’s design and philosophy as well as his personal connection to the community, the Evangelische Christuskirche Kitzbühel Born in Fulpmes, a hamlet close to Innsbruck, Holzmeister spent many summers both as a child and a young man at Kitzbühel. He intended to build a chapel that would blend in and stand out at the same time as he knew the terrain and the customs of the area. Using local materials and techniques including copper, stone, and wood, he selected a straightforward yet elegant design. Along with characteristics of Tyrolean folk architecture, he included the balcony, gable, and steep roof. Emulating a tent or a ship, he gave the church a unique form to represent the pilgrimage and the journey of the devoted. He also pointed the church east, the path of the sun rising and Christ’s resurrection.
The church is a unique and remarkable construction with numerous noteworthy elements. Among the most obvious characteristics are:
The exterior design: The church’s outside layout is rectangular, with a gently sloped roof sloping from the front to the rear. Copper tiles cover the roof, lending the chapel a golden sheglow in the sunlight. A big triangular window on the front wall lets natural light into the inside and provides a panoramic view of the mountains and town. Little rectangular windows in the side walls produce a rhythmic pattern and a contrast between light and darkness. The cross-shaped window at the rear wall brightens the choir and altar. On the left side of the church, behind a projecting balcony providing cover and a gathering space, the entrance is found. Made by sculptor Josef Thorak, the bronze relief on the entrance door shows the scene of the Last Supper.
The interior design: The church’s inside is straightforward and roomy, with a minimalistic and practical décor. White paint on the walls evokes purity and clarity. Stone makes up the floor, which lends a sturdiness and longevity. Wood makes up the ceiling, which gives the space cosiness and warmth. Exposing beams on the ceiling also highlight the building’s construction and workmanship. Comprising a single nave with 225 seats, the church’s arrangement calls for rows facing the altar. Wood makes up the benches; pillows and hymn books abound on them. On an elevated platform, at the end of the nave, is the altar. Made of wood, the altar features a basic cloth covering over a cross. A choir loft with an organ and a piano lies behind the altar. Johann Pirchner, the organ builder, constructed the instrument with 1,200 pipes and eighteen registers. On the right side of the nave the church features a sacristy, vestry, and baptismal font.
The church features several symbolic objects meant to convey the faith and the identity of the Protestant population in Kitzbühel. Among the most important components are some like:
- The church bears the name Christ, the central personage of Christianity and the provider of atonement. The name also captures the ecumenical attitude of the church, which accepts persons from many backgrounds and denominations.
- The church’s form suggests a tent or a ship, therefore signifying the trip and the journey of the devoted. Along with the history of the Protestant community in Kitzbühel, who suffered persecution but also found safety and freedom, the form also reminds one of the biblical tales of the Exodus and the Ark of Noah.
- The triangle-shaped window of the church represents the Trinity, the theory of the three persons of God: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The window also depicts the mountain, which stands for the alpine area and Kitzbühel’s natural splendor. Furthermore suggested by the window is the eye, the emblem of the vision and the church’s understanding.
- Representing the crucifixion and the resurrection of Christ, the cross of the church is the most often occurring and global emblem of Christianity. Apart from the dedication and the work of the church, the cross also marks the suffering and the hope of the church.
