Innsbruck Cathedral (Dom St. Jakob)

Innsbruck Cathedral, also known as the Cathedral of St. James, is the main church of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Innsbruck in Austria. The cathedral is dedicated to the apostle James the Elder, who is honored on his feast day of July 25th. The cathedral is a splendid example of Baroque architecture, with a rich history and artistic treasures.

History

The origins of the cathedral date back to the 12th century, when a church was built on the site of the present cathedral. The church was mentioned in a contract from 1180 as “ecclesia in foro” or “church in the market”. The oldest reference to a St. Jakobskirche (St. James’ Church) in Innsbruck is from 1270. The church was originally a subsidiary of the Wilten Abbey, but became an independent parish in 1643. The parish coat of arms features the symbols of St. James: a pilgrim’s staff and a scallop shell.

The church underwent several changes and renovations over the centuries. In 1494, the famous painter Albrecht Dürer depicted the Gothic church in one of his drawings. In 1556, the church was illustrated in the Schwaz mining book. In 1650, the painter Lucas Cranach the Elder brought a miraculous image of the Virgin Mary, known as Mariahilf, to the church. The image became a focal point of Marian devotion and pilgrimage. In 1689, the church was damaged by an earthquake.

The most significant transformation of the church occurred in the early 18th century, when the church was rebuilt in the Baroque style. The architects Johann Jakob Herkomer and Johann Georg Fischer designed the new structure, which was completed between 1717 and 1724. The church was adorned with lavish decorations, paintings, and sculptures. In 1904, the parish of Innsbruck was elevated to the rank of provost, and the provost was granted special privileges by the Pope. He was allowed to wear a miter, a pectoral cross, and a ring, and to be called an Apostolic Protonotary.

The church suffered some damage during World War II, when it was bombed by the Allies in 1944. The church was restored and renovated in the following years. In 1964, the church was raised to the status of a cathedral, when the diocese of Innsbruck was established. In 2000, a sacrament chapel was added to the south tower. The same year, the cathedral celebrated the 350th anniversary of the arrival of the Mariahilf image, and inaugurated a new organ.

The cathedral’s dedication to St. James reflects Innsbruck’s position on the Way of St. James, the pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela in Spain. Santiago de Compostela was one of the three major pilgrimage destinations in the Middle Ages, along with Jerusalem and Rome. The cathedral still attracts many pilgrims and visitors who admire its beauty and history.

In 2022, an emergency archaeological excavation in front of the cathedral gate revealed traces of the old 14 Nothelfer chapel from the 15th century and a priest’s crypt. The chapel was dedicated to the 14 Holy Helpers, a group of saints who were invoked for protection against various diseases and dangers. The crypt contained the remains of several priests who served in the cathedral.

Architecture

The cathedral is a striking example of Baroque architecture, with a symmetrical facade, a dome, and two towers. The facade is decorated with statues of saints and angels, and features a large portal with a relief of the Last Judgment. The dome is crowned with a lantern and a cross, and has a diameter of 20 meters. The towers are 57 meters high and have onion-shaped domes.

The interior of the cathedral is richly decorated with stucco, frescoes, and sculptures. The nave has a barrel vault and is flanked by side chapels. The main altar is located in the choir, which is separated from the nave by a wrought-iron grille. The altar is dominated by the Mariahilf image, which is framed by a gilded retable. The retable was made by Cristoforo Benedetti and his son Teodoro in 1729. The choir floor and some of the side altars were commissioned by the Prince-Bishop of Brixen, Kaspar Ignaz von Künigl, who was also buried in the cathedral.

One of the most notable features of the cathedral is the mausoleum of Maximilian III, the Archduke of Austria and the Grand Master of the Teutonic Order. He was the ruler of Tyrol from 1612 to 1618, and was known as a patron of the arts and sciences. His mausoleum is located in the north transept, and consists of a bronze sarcophagus and two columns. The sarcophagus was designed by Caspar Gras and cast by Heinrich Reinhart. The columns are known as the Solomon’s Columns, and are decorated with plants, snails, birds, and grasshoppers. At the top of the columns, the archduke is shown kneeling with St. George and the dragon. St. George was the patron saint of Tyrol until 1772, when he was replaced by St. Joseph. St. George remains the second national patron of Tyrol since 2005.

Another important monument in the cathedral is the gravestone of Archduke Eugen, who was the commander-in-chief of the Austro-Hungarian Army during World War I and a member of the Teutonic Order. He was a cousin of Emperor Franz Joseph I, and a descendant of the Habsburg dynasty. His gravestone is located in the south transept, and bears his coat of arms and his motto: “Viribus Unitis” (With United Forces).

The cathedral also boasts a magnificent gilded pulpit, which was created by Nikolaus Moll in 1724. The pulpit is supported by three angels, who represent the theological virtues of faith, hope, and love. Faith is shown with a cross, hope with an anchor, and love with a heart. The pulpit canopy has a statue of St. James, holding a book and a sword.

The ceiling of the cathedral is covered with frescoes, which were painted by Cosmas Damian Asam, one of the most famous Baroque painters in Germany. The frescoes depict scenes from the life of St. James, as well as the glory of the Virgin Mary and the Holy Trinity. The frescoes are complemented by the stucco work of Egid Quirin Asam, the brother of Cosmas Damian. The stucco creates an illusion of three-dimensional space, and enhances the visual impact of the frescoes.

The cathedral is also home to a splendid organ, which was built by the organ builder Reinhard Seifert in 2000. The organ has four manuals, 57 stops, and 3,730 pipes. The organ case is decorated with angels playing musical instruments, and has a clock and a carillon. The organ is used for liturgical and concert purposes, and is considered one of the finest organs in Austria.

Innsbruck, Austria