Parish Church of St. Niklas an der Drau

The Roman Catholic parish church of St. Nicholas in St. Niklas a der Drau in Villach was first mentioned in papers in 1370 and 1410, and it was reconsecrated by the Bishop of Grado in 1486 following the Turkish invasions.The current neo-baroque church was erected in 1862 and refurbished following a fire in 1910.

The three-bay nave is connected by a single-bay flat-vaulted choir with a semi-circular apse.A pointed gable helmet crowns the two-story tower with pointed-arched sound openings at the northern choir corner.To the west, there is a new mortuary.The nave and chancel of the church have pointed arch windows.The triumphal arch is severely depressed and dragged down, and it features a basket arch with a broad reveal.A straight lintel entrance leads from the choir into the cross-vaulted sacristy in the tower.The western gateway, which is shaded by a wooden canopy, features a flattened arch, strengthened impost, and keystone, and is dated 1862.The gable above has a star window.A late baroque organ may be seen in the brick balustrade of the west gallery, which is supported by two pillars.The wall murals, which date from 1862, depict God the Father in the choir and the Mount of Olives scene above the triumphal arch.

Ignaz Oblak designed the neo-baroque high altar with sacrificial gates in 1899.The figure of Saint Nicholas in the center niche is flanked by Anna and Joseph holding the infant.Saint Florian is represented by the top figure. The late Baroque side altar with column architecture was built in the mid-eighteenth century.Mary with child is depicted in the centre image.The neo-Gothic addition depicts John the Baptist.The pulpit, which was built in 1780, is supported by a stone base.The painted figures of the good Samaritan and the sower are seen on the parapet panels of the pulpit basket.The soundboard is capped with foliage-decorated volutes bearing a shell.A Holy Spirit dove is mounted to the underside of the sound cover.