Pfarrkirche St. Andreas

Kitzbühel’s Roman Catholic town parish church, dedicated to St. Andrew, is located on the sloping Lebenberg in Kitzbühel (North Tyrol).It is a three-aisled late Gothic-Baroque building.It was originally part of the mother parish of St. Johann in Tirol and is now part of the Deanery of St. Johann in Tirol of the Archdiocese of Salzburg. It is a prominent landmark and a historical and cultural treasure of the region. The church has a rich history, a beautiful architecture, and a remarkable collection of art and sculptures. It is open to visitors and offers guided tours, events, and services. It is also surrounded by other attractions that make Kitzbühel a popular destination for tourists and pilgrims.

History of Pfarrkirche St. Andreas

The history of Pfarrkirche St. Andreas dates back to the 8th century, when a small early medieval church stood on the site of the present church. The church was dedicated to St. Andrew, the patron saint of fishermen, as Kitzbühel was originally a fishing village on the banks of the Kitzbüheler Ache river.

In 1271, Kitzbühel was granted the status of a town and a market by the Duke of Bavaria, and a larger Romanesque church was built to accommodate the growing population. The only remaining part of this church is the tower, which still stands today and is the oldest building in Kitzbühel.

Between 1435 and 1506, the church was rebuilt in the late Gothic style, with a three-aisled hall and a polygonal choir. The church was consecrated in 1506 by Cardinal Matthäus Lang von Wellenburg, the Archbishop of Salzburg. The church underwent several modifications and additions in the following centuries, especially in the Baroque period, when the interior was decorated with stucco, frescoes, altars, and paintings.

The church suffered some damage during the Napoleonic Wars and the World Wars, but was restored and preserved by the efforts of the parish and the local authorities. The church is still an active place of worship and a cultural center for the community of Kitzbühel.

Architecture of Pfarrkirche St. Andreas

The architecture of Pfarrkirche St. Andreas is a harmonious blend of Romanesque, Gothic, and Baroque elements. The exterior of the church is dominated by the 46-meter-high tower, which has a distinctive onion-shaped dome and a clock face on each side. The tower also houses a carillon of 12 bells, the oldest of which dates back to 1516.

The main facade of the church faces the Kirchplatz, or the Church Square, and features a Gothic portal with a tympanum depicting the Last Judgment. Above the portal, there is a large rose window and a statue of St. Andrew holding a cross. The facade is flanked by two smaller towers with pointed roofs and spires.

The church has a rectangular plan with a nave and two aisles, separated by octagonal pillars with ribbed vaults. The nave is 36 meters long, 18 meters wide, and 16 meters high. The choir is 15 meters long and 10 meters wide, and has a five-sided apse with large windows. The church has a total of 14 side chapels, dedicated to various saints and patrons.

The interior of the church is richly decorated with Baroque elements, such as stucco, frescoes, paintings, and sculptures. The main colors are white, gold, and blue, creating a contrast with the dark wooden pews and the red carpet. The church has a total of 12 altars, the most important of which is the high altar, located in the choir.

Art and Sculptures in Pfarrkirche St. Andreas

The art and sculptures in Pfarrkirche St. Andreas are among the finest examples of Tyrolean Baroque art. The high altar, created by Benedikt Faistenberger and Veit Rabl between 1661 and 1663, is a masterpiece of wood carving and painting. The altar depicts the martyrdom of St. Andrew, surrounded by angels and saints. The altar also contains a relic of St. Andrew, a piece of his skull, which was brought from Rome in 1704.

The other altars in the church are also adorned with paintings and sculptures, depicting scenes from the life of Christ, the Virgin Mary, and other saints. Some of the notable artists who worked on the altars are Johann Georg Dominikus Grasmair, Johann Martin Schmidt, Franz Anton Zeiller, and Martin Knoller.

The church also has a remarkable collection of paintings, frescoes, and stucco work, covering the walls and the ceiling of the nave, the choir, and the chapels. The paintings and frescoes depict biblical stories, historical events, and allegorical scenes, such as the Creation, the Fall, the Flood, the Annunciation, the Nativity, the Crucifixion, the Resurrection, the Last Judgment, the Coronation of Mary, the Glorification of St. Andrew, and the History of Kitzbühel. Some of the notable artists who worked on the paintings and frescoes are Christoph Anton Mayr, Josef Adam Mölk, Matthäus Günther, and Josef Schöpf.

The stucco work, which covers the vaults and the arches of the church, is a fine example of Rococo style, with intricate patterns, floral motifs, and cherubs. The stucco work was done by Johann Georg Höttinger and Johann Michael Umhauser between 1749 and 1752.

The church also has a remarkable collection of sculptures, both in wood and in stone, depicting various saints, angels, and patrons. Some of the notable sculptures are the funerary monument of the coppersmith, located on the north side of the church, the statue of St. Florian, located on the south side of the church, and the statues of the four evangelists, located on the pillars of the nave.

Visiting Pfarrkirche St. Andreas

Pfarrkirche St. Andreas is open to visitors and offers guided tours, events, and services. The church is a popular destination for tourists and pilgrims, who come to admire the beauty and the history of the church, and to pray and worship at the altars and the relics.

The church is open daily from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., except during the services and the events. The services are held on Saturdays at 5:00 p.m. (winter) or 7:00 p.m. (summer), and on Sundays at 10:00 a.m. The events are held on various occasions, such as concerts, festivals, and ceremonies.

The admission to the church is free, but donations are welcome and appreciated. The donations are used for the maintenance and the preservation of the church.

Kitzbühel, Austria