Ebelsberger Pfarrkirche

The Ebelsberg Parish Church, also known as the Church of St. John the Baptist, is a Roman Catholic church located in the Ebelsberg district of Linz, the capital of Upper Austria. The church is part of the Diocese of Linz’s Linz-South Deanery and serves as a spiritual and cultural center for the local community.

The Origins of the Parish

The parish of Ebelsberg dates back to the 13th century, when it was established as an autonomous parish of the Sankt Florian monastery, a Benedictine abbey located about 10 kilometers south of Linz. The church was first mentioned in a document in 1263, confirming its existence and its patron saint, John the Baptist. The parish was under the jurisdiction and protection of the monastery until 1784, when it was transferred to the Diocese of Linz by Emperor Joseph II.

The parish of Ebelsberg also included the neighboring village of Kleinmünchen, which became a branch of Ebelsberg in 1778. However, due to the rapid population growth and industrialization of the area, Kleinmünchen was separated from Ebelsberg and became an independent parish in 1892.

The Parish Cemetery

The parish cemetery of Ebelsberg was originally located near the church, as was customary in the Middle Ages. However, in 1787, the cemetery was moved to a new location at the intersection of Wiener Straße and Florianer Straße, about one kilometer away from the church. The reason for the relocation was the sanitary and aesthetic concerns of the Enlightenment era, which favored cemeteries outside the urban centers. The new cemetery was designed by the architect Johann Nepomuk Krinner and features a neo-Gothic chapel and a monumental cross.

The Destruction and Reconstruction of the Church

The most tragic event in the history of the Ebelsberg Parish Church occurred on May 3, 1809, during the Napoleonic Wars. On that day, the French army of Napoleon Bonaparte clashed with the Austrian army of Archduke Charles in the Battle of Ebelsberg, one of the bloodiest battles of the war. The battle resulted in the death of about 10,000 soldiers and the destruction of most of the town of Ebelsberg, including the church, which was set on fire by the French troops.

The church was rebuilt between 1819 and 1829, under the supervision of the architect Johann Lachmayr. The new church was designed in the neo-Classical style, with a rectangular nave, a semicircular apse, and a tower with a dome and a lantern. The interior of the church was decorated with frescoes by the painter Johann Baptist Wenzel Bergl, depicting scenes from the life of John the Baptist. The church was consecrated by Bishop Gregor Thomas Ziegler on September 20, 1829.

The Present-Day Church

The Ebelsberg Parish Church has undergone several renovations and restorations in the 20th and 21st centuries, to preserve its historical and artistic value and to adapt it to the needs of the modern parishioners. The church features a rich collection of paintings, sculptures, altars, and relics, some of which date back to the original church. The church also hosts various liturgical and cultural events, such as concerts, exhibitions, and lectures, throughout the year.

Linz, Austria