Pilgrimage Church of Maria Gail

The Maria Gail pilgrimage church is located in the same-named municipality south of Villach in Carinthia.

The church was first referenced in the founding deed of the monastery of St. Gallus in Moggio Udinese ( Friuli ) in 1136 (text passage: “Villis in plebe sanctae Mariae de Villach”, hamlet in the parish of Saint Mary of Villach ).The old Romanesque choir tower church was expanded in 1450, when the late Gothic rib vault, organ gallery, Anna chapel, and presbytery were completed.During the 15th century Turkish wars, the church was desecrated and destroyed in 1478 during a Turkish assault.This is when the “Turkish Bell” was built, which is still standing today.In 1486, the church was reconsecrated following renovation.The church tower fell in 1580 owing to poor construction fabric.The Maria Gail pilgrimage church, like the other churches in the area, was reformed in the 16th century and remained under Lutheran control for several decades.

The church’s southern exterior walls are adorned with eye-catching stone sculptures.The representation of Archangel Michael with a sword and spirit scales, as well as another angel with a trumpet and a cross, is most likely a partial vision of the Last Judgment.The relief was most likely made before 1300.The nave’s ceiling features a net rib construction with ornate painting in the middle fields.The chorus concludes in semiquavers.

The earliest components of the furnishings are well-preserved late Romanesque murals from the second half of the 13th century on the nave walls, which were discovered during restoration work in 1949/50.They portray Christ’s Passion, the Resurrected Christ, and Mary’s Burial.

The high altar in the baroque style is an aedicula altar.As a miraculous picture of the pilgrimage church, there is a carved wooden Madonna with a child from circa 1600 in the shrine.Saint Sebastian is wounded by arrows on the left, while Rochus is plagued on the right.Other figurines depict the apostles Peter (left) and John (right).St. George is on the left of the sacrificial doorways, while St. Florian is to the right.

The late-Gothic winged altar with elaborate sculptures is significant. As one of the Villach school’s final works, it is likely their most accomplished piece of art.It was made during the years of 1505 and 1515. The major image is Mary’s coronation, which is bordered on the wings by symbols from her life.The exterior of the wings are decorated with scenes from Jesus’ life.Art historians attribute these paintings to the master of the Lazarinic Veronica shrine.The predella has three images of Saint Anne herself in filigree wood carving.

Aside from a Romanesque baptismal font and angels performing music on the vault of the Anna chapel, the two baroque side altars are noteworthy.Late Gothic sculptures of a Madonna and Child, as well as St. Barbara and Margareta, are connected to the north wall.