Murau – Saint Matthew Church

Murau’s Roman Catholic parish church is in the municipality of Murau, district of Murau, Styria.St. Matthew’s parish church is part of the deanery of Murau in the diocese of Graz-Seckau.

In 1284, Freiherr Otto I von Liechtenstein sponsored the church, which was maintained by his son Otto II and dedicated in 1296 by the Bishop of Lavant.In 1333, the church was raised to the rank of parish church.In 1640, chapels were constructed at the two angles between the east bay of the side aisles and the transepts.1947-1948 were years of recovery.The exterior was refurbished between 1971 and 1972.

The church is placed halfway up the castle’s southern slope and is surrounded by an old cemetery wall.

The outstanding early Gothic pillar basilica with a crossing tower and transepts was built from yellow tuff in a continuous march from west to east.The basilical nave has three aisles and four bays, with a tall central nave with pointed arches and clerestory windows.The open central nave is connected to the side aisles by pointed arch arcades on squat octagonal pillars.The nave vaulting is groined, with belt ribs on variously shaped corbels dividing the bays.The chapel expansions on the two east bays of the side aisles are adorned with stucco and paintings.

Strong belt arches with an applied curved rib and crossing pillars with three-quarter round services highlight the two-step higher crossing.A yoke is located on either side of the transept.Ribbed vaults with round keystones adorn the crossing and transept, with a hand of blessing in the crossing, the Liechtenstein coat of arms in the north arm, and a flower rosette in the south arm.The transept has a high and narrow lancet window to the north and south.The northern transept is linked by a 1469 spiral staircase fashioned from an octagon.There is also a Gothic frieze band.The crypt of the Liechtensteins is located beneath the northern transept.

The baroque pulpit, 14th-century high altar and murals, Protestant wall paintings from the Renaissance period, the wooden twelve-armed apostle candelabra, enormous baptismal font, rosary altar, and crucifixion group are particularly noteworthy.