Civic Hospital Church of the Holy Spirit

Civic Hospital Church of the Holy Spirit, or Bürgerspitalkirche is a rare example of a medieval hospital church, with a unique three-pillar structure and a rich baroque decoration.

The Foundation of the Hospital and the Church

The Civic Hospital Church of the Holy Spirit was founded in 1417 by two noble benefactors: Hartprecht Harskircher and Nikolaus Auer von Lichtenau. Harskircher was a chamberlain under Duke Frederick the Wise of Bavaria-Landshut, who ruled over Braunau at the time. Auer was a knight and a relative of Harskircher. They made their donation at Zangberg Castle, where they resided. Their donation was generous: they gave land, money, and privileges to the hospital and the church. They also stipulated that the hospital should provide care for the poor, the sick, and the elderly, regardless of their social status or religion.

The construction of the hospital and the church began shortly after the donation and was completed by 1430. The hospital consisted of two large halls on the ground floor, where the patients were accommodated, and several rooms on the upper floor, where the benefactors and the staff lived. The church was attached to the hospital on the east side, forming a single complex. The hospital and the church served their original purpose until 1956, when the hospital was closed and converted into a museum. The church, however, remains active and is used for religious services and cultural events.

The Three-Pillar Structure of the Church

The most distinctive feature of the Civic Hospital Church of the Holy Spirit is its three-pillar structure. The church has a rectangular nave with a polygonal choir on the east end. The nave is divided into three bays by two pairs of columns on the west and east sides. The columns on the west side support a gallery that overlooks the nave. The columns on the east side, however, were removed in 1687 to improve the visibility of the choir from the nave. The original central column that supported the nave vault was also removed at the same time. The nave vault is a diamond-shaped vault with three ribs, which is similar to the design used by Hans Krumenauer in the chancel of the Martinskirche in Landshut.

The three-pillar structure of the church is attributed to Hans von Burghausen, a master builder from Landshut who worked in Braunau in the early 15th century. He is also credited with the construction of the town hall and the parish church in Braunau. He had previously worked on the Heilig-Geist-Kirche in Landshut and the choir of the Franziskanerkirche in Salzburg, where he experimented with similar spatial solutions. The three-pillar structure of the Civic Hospital Church of the Holy Spirit is considered the prototype of a series of similar churches in the region, such as the parish church of Eggelsberg and the parish church of Anger.

The church also has a tower on its north side, which is connected to the nave by a narrow passage. The tower has a square base that gradually transforms into slender octagonal floors. The tower is crowned by a spire with four pinnacles at the corners. The tower was originally lower, but it was raised in 1564 to match the height of the town hall tower.

The Baroque Decoration of the Church

The interior of the Civic Hospital Church of the Holy Spirit is decorated with baroque furniture and art, dating from the late 17th and early 18th centuries. The altars, the pulpit, the organ, and the statues were made by local artists, using some elements from the late Gothic period.

The main altar is located in the choir, behind a wrought-iron grille. The altar consists of a column retable with an altarpiece, both made by Sebastian Högenauer, a sculptor from Braunau. The altarpiece was painted by Johann Froschauer in 1697. The altarpiece depicts the Pentecost, showing the Virgin Mary surrounded by the apostles, receiving the Holy Spirit in the form of tongues of fire. The predella shows the Ascension of Christ, rising to heaven from a cloud of angels. The statues on the sides of the altar represent the four Church Fathers: Saints Ambrose, Augustine, Jerome, and Gregory.

The side altars are located in front of the side apses, on the north and south walls of the nave. They were built in 1689 and 1691, respectively. They have a similar design, with twisted columns and segmented gables decorated with coat of arms cartouches above the central field. The left altar shows the Fourteen Holy Helpers, a group of saints who were invoked for protection against various diseases and dangers. The right altar shows the Adoration of the Magi, the scene of the three wise men bringing gifts to the newborn Jesus.

The pulpit is located on the south wall of the nave, near the choir. It dates from around 1690 and is also attributed to Högenauer. It consists of a rectangular basket with pilasters and projecting columns at the beveled corners. The basket is decorated with reliefs of the four Evangelists and their symbols. The soundboard is adorned with a depiction of Saint Michael, the archangel who defeated Satan. The pulpit is accessed by a spiral staircase that is hidden behind a wooden door.

The statues of Saint John of Nepomuk and a crucifix with Our Lady of Sorrows are two separate figures that date from the late 17th century. They are placed on the triumphal arch, the arch that separates the nave from the choir. Saint John of Nepomuk is the patron saint of bridges and confessors, who was martyred by being thrown into the Vltava river in Prague. The crucifix shows Jesus on the cross, with Mary standing at his feet, expressing her sorrow. The crucifix is also known as the Gnadenstuhl, or the mercy seat, because it symbolizes the mercy of God for the sinners.

The organ is located on the west gallery, above the entrance. It was made by Albert Mauracher, an organ builder from Salzburg, in 1912. The organ has a single manual with seven stops, which can produce various sounds and effects. The organ is housed in a baroque-style case that dates from around 1700. The case is decorated with carvings of angels and musical instruments.

Braunau am Inn, Austria