Hallstatt Catholic Parish Church (Maria am Berg)

The Roman Catholic parish church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, also known as Maria am Berg, is the principal religious institution for the market town of Hallstatt in Upper Austria’s Salzkammergut area.The aforementioned parish is part of the Deanery of Bad Ischl, which is overseen by the Diocese of Linz.

The first Catholic church is said to have been built before 1150.This structure’s tower is still standing.In 1320, Auxiliary Bishop Hermann von Passau dedicated the Maria Hilf Church as the second, larger Romanesque church.During the late Gothic era, work on the current church atop the precipitous cliff began.The present church building was built and completed in 1505.Following a catastrophic fire in 1750, the Romanesque tower was modified and ornamented with a baroque helmet.

The main entrance to the church is through the broad southern gateway, which was built in 1519.Above the doorway are two paintings produced by an anonymous Danube School master.The anteroom features a crucifixion group from around 1500, which is said to have originated with the master of the main altar.

The interior area consists of a two-aisled hall with a dual choir at the eastern end.The center column, which is octagonal in shape, divides the chamber into two sections: western and choir.A late Romanesque-style corridor has been built over and links to the western side of the back wall.During the interior restorations in 1966/67 and 2002, efforts were made to restore the condition of 1500.

Hallstatt, Austria