Höttinger Kirche

Höttinger Kirche, or the old parish church of Hötting, is a historical and artistic treasure located in the Innsbruck district of Hötting. The church, which dates back to the early Middle Ages, has been renovated and expanded over the centuries, resulting in a stunning blend of Gothic, Baroque, and Renaissance elements. The church is dedicated to St. Ingenuin and St. Albuin, two early bishops of the Tyrol region, and it is listed as a Historical Monument by the Austrian government.

The Exterior

The church stands out for its late Gothic architecture, which is characterized by a single-nave structure with a four-axle nave and a three-sided closing choir in the east. The facades have a sparse structure, with only a few windows and decorative elements. The western entrance facade features corner pilasters adorned with simple capitals and a main portal made of Nagelfluh, a type of conglomerate rock. There is a small, late Gothic portal located on the south side, right in front of the easternmost nave bay, which leads to the sacristy.

One of the most striking features of the church is the round tower that marks the southern transition from the nave to the choir. This tower, which has origins in the Romanesque period, features an octagonal bell storey and is topped with a Welsche hood and lantern. The tower houses four bells, the oldest of which dates back to 1478. The tower also serves as a landmark for the village of Hötting and the surrounding area.

The Interior

The interior of the church is equally impressive, with a vaulted ceiling with a flat barrel shape, adorned with lunettes. The structure is further enhanced by pilasters with composite capitals, which support the vault. The three-sided choir, featuring a Gothic umbrella vault, is elevated by a single step and separated from the nave by a triumphal arch. The western organ gallery features a beautifully adorned swinging parapet, embellished with stucco cartouches.

The church boasts a rich collection of artworks, especially from the Baroque period. The high altar, constructed in 1996 by carpenter Luis Heis from Hötting, faithfully replicates the original Baroque high altar, which was destroyed by a fire in 1964. It features the original altarpiece by Johann Michael Strickner, a prominent Tyrolean painter. The painting depicts the Madonna and Child seated on clouds, with the church patrons Ingenuin and Albuin kneeling in front as intercessors. They are surrounded by angels, who hold the symbols of their martyrdom: a sword and a book. The folk altar and ambo, which are located in front of the high altar, were both designed by Jörg Streli in 1996. The folk altar features a wooden cross with a bronze corpus, while the ambo features a bronze relief of the Last Supper.

The side altars, which flank the nave, are also of Baroque style and were acquired in 1992. The left side altar portrays the Crucifixion, with Mary, John, and Mary Magdalene at the foot of the cross. The right side altar portrays the miraculous image of Mariahilf, or Mary of Help, which is a popular devotion in Austria and Germany. The image shows Mary holding the Child Jesus, who looks at the viewer with a gesture of blessing. The side altars also feature statues of saints, such as St. Joseph, St. Anthony of Padua, St. Francis of Assisi, and St. Theresa of Avila.

The 1584 Renaissance-style baptismal font is another remarkable piece of art in the church. It is made of marble and features elegant decorations on a red marble base. The font has a hexagonal shape and is crowned by a bronze lid with a dove. The font is located near the entrance of the church, symbolizing the entrance to the Christian community.

The Frescoes

The church is also adorned with magnificent ceiling frescoes, as well as stucco-imitating and illusionistic decorative painting on the walls and vault, which were created by Johann Michael Strickner in 1752. The ceiling fresco in the choir portrays the apotheosis of Mary, or her assumption into heaven. Mary is shown surrounded by angels and saints, while God the Father and God the Son welcome her with open arms. The Holy Spirit, in the form of a dove, descends from above. The fresco is framed by a stucco border with floral motifs.

The frescoes in the nave depict scenes from the lives of the church patrons Ingenuin and Albuin, who were both bishops of Säben, a former bishopric in South Tyrol. The first fresco portrays Ingenuin’s submission to Pope Gregory the Great and the condemnation of his anti-papal writings. Ingenuin, who was influenced by the schismatic Three Chapters Controversy, repented and burned his books in front of the pope, who forgave him and confirmed him as the bishop of Säben. The second fresco portrays Albuin’s transfer of the relics of his predecessors from the old bishopric of Säben to Brixen, where he established a new bishopric. Albuin, who was a reformer and a missionary, carried the relics in a procession, accompanied by clergy and laity. The third fresco portrays the redemption of the deceased through the sacrificial act of the mass. The scene shows a priest celebrating the mass, while the souls of the dead rise from their graves and ascend to heaven, guided by angels. The frescoes and the high altar picture exhibit the evident influence of Paul Troger, a famous Austrian painter, in terms of coloring and composition.

Innsbruck, Austria