Churches And Cathedrals In Steyr
Steyr boasts a variety of churches and cathedrals that exhibit a range of architectural styles, including Gothic, Baroque, and modern. These religious buildings serve as both sacred spaces and remarkable testaments to art, history, and culture.
The Steyr Parish Church, also known as the Bummerlhaus, is a remarkable and ancient structure in Steyr. The building was constructed during the 15th century in the Gothic architectural style. Its towering height of 68 meters commands attention and dominates the town’s skyline. The church’s interior is adorned in the opulent Baroque style, featuring a lavishly decorated altar, a pulpit, and a choir. In addition to its main structure, the church features a crypt that serves as the final resting place for certain members of the Lamberg family, who were the owners of the nearby castle. Visitors are welcome to explore the church at their leisure, with the option of guided tours available upon request.
The Lamberg Castle Chapel is a beautiful Renaissance chapel that is located within the Lamberg Castle. The castle itself was once the home of the noble Lamberg family. The castle has a rich history, with its origins dating back to the 10th century. Throughout the centuries, it has undergone numerous reconstructions and expansions. The chapel was constructed in the 16th century by Wolfgang von Lamberg, a bishop and cardinal. The chapel features a magnificent vaulted ceiling adorned with stunning frescoes that beautifully portray various moments from the life of Christ. Additionally, a remarkable marble altar takes center stage, showcasing a captivating painting of the Last Supper, skillfully crafted by the renowned Italian artist Francesco Solimena. The chapel welcomes visitors from May to October and offers a variety of concerts and events all year round.
The Christkindl Basilica is situated in the peaceful suburb of Christkindl, just 4 kilometers away from the bustling center of Steyr. This church was constructed during the 18th century in the elegant Baroque style. It features a magnificent dome adorned with a lantern, as well as a facade embellished with statues of revered saints. The church is renowned for its Christmas crib, which holds the distinction of being one of the largest and oldest in the world. This crib was crafted in the 17th century by the skilled woodcarver Thomas Schwanthaler. It boasts an impressive collection of over 700 figures and 300 animals. The crib is showcased from the first Sunday of Advent until February 2, drawing in a multitude of visitors annually. The church also houses a museum that provides detailed explanations of the history and artistry of the crib.
There are several other churches and cathedrals in Steyr that are worth a visit, including:
- The St. Michael’s Church is a Romanesque church constructed in the 12th century. It boasts a remarkable fresco of the Last Judgment dating back to the 15th century.
- The St. Anna’s Church is a magnificent Baroque church constructed in the 17th century. It proudly showcases a captivating painting of the Holy Family, created by the renowned Flemish artist Peter Paul Rubens.
- The St. Sebald’s Church is a magnificent example of Gothic architecture, constructed in the 14th century. It proudly houses a statue of St. Sebald, created by the renowned sculptor Veit Stoss, who beautifully captured the essence of the patron saint of Steyr.
- The St. Francis Xavier’s Church is a modern church constructed in the 20th century, featuring a stunning stained glass window created by the renowned Austrian artist Alfred Hrdlicka.
Steyr boasts a captivating religious heritage that beautifully reflects its rich history and vibrant culture. When you explore the churches and cathedrals in Steyr, you’ll be captivated by the beauty and significance of these religious structures, creating an unforgettable and one-of-a-kind experience.
Gleink Benedictine Abbey
The Gleink Benedictine monastery in Steyr, Upper Austria, is a former Benedictine monastery that was significantly influenced by the Austrian Baroque monastic construction movement in the second half of the 17th century and the beginning of the 18th century. The church construction took place in three phases: the Romanesque era, the Gothic style, and the Baroque era. The Romanesque era saw the construction of two altars in 1223 and the consecration of the church in 1273. The nave, with its steep proportions, was reconstructed in the Gothic style in 1436, with the nave transformed into a trapezoid-shaped Gothic choir. The church’s core walls, with buttresses and a finely formed window, date back to the 15th century.
The Baroque era began in the mid-seventeenth century, with renovations by Abbot Augustin Kausler. The church’s modern appearance was achieved under the administrations of abbots Cölestin Pestaluz and Rupert I. von Kimpflern, who also raised the church tower. The final construction was completed by Abbot Rupert II Freysauf von Neudegg in 1709, with the church painted in 1709, the gateway in 1714, and the organ in 1732. The church’s last renovation was completed in 1954, and between 1981 and 1994, the church and monastery buildings underwent extensive renovations.
Pilgrimage church Christkindl
Steyr-Christkindl parish and pilgrimage church is a baroque church in Steyr, inspired by the Roman Pantheon. The church’s name comes from a wax figure of Jesus as a baby (Christkindl), which rests above the high altar. Carlo Antonio Carlone designed the blueprints for the current church in 1702, but construction was prohibited due to lack of approval from the bishop ordinariate in Passau. Permission was obtained five years later, and the church was consecrated on September 28, 1709.
The parish was formed in 1891 after Garsten Abbey was secularized in 1785. The Kirchweiler includes the current rectory and structures erected by Prandtauer between 1710 and 1715. The former hermitage (now Hotel-Restaurant Christkindlwirt) has been used as an inn for 200 years. The church is a Roman-style basilica with four apses and two façade towers in a circular shape.
The church was designed around a place of worship, featuring Leonhard Sattler’s baroque high altar, a gilded copper globe, and Johann Karl von Reslfeld’s cupola fresco. The crucifixion painting on the right side altar comes from the monastery of Tegernsee, and the altar frames were designed by Marian Rittinger, a Garstner lay brother. The church’s history dates back to the Josephine reforms and the establishment of the Christkindl Christmas post office since 1950.
Parish Church of St. Egydius and Coloman
The Roman Catholic parish church in Steyr, built in the 15th century in the Gothic style, is the most visible religious structure in Upper Austria. The church features a magnificent sanctuary designed by Hanns Puchspaum, a hall church with three aisles and side aisles that are roughly the same width. The choir has a stunning ribbed roof and blends seamlessly with the nave. The church’s vaulting is supported by continuous wrapped pillars with sculptural corbels.
The 80-meter-high six-sided north tower connects the nave and choir, crowned with a neo-Gothic tower rising from a star-vaulted tower hall. The transverse west construction houses the great passage hall, which was built in 1522. Two entrance gates lead into the church area, including the organ gallery on the upper floor. The church’s northern side faces Pfarrgasse, with a five-sided gateway with a double entrance and ribbed vaulted ceiling.
The church’s art treasures include superb stained glass windows, a well-designed tabernacle, unusual iron work, a baptismal font, and church seats. The altar, pulpit, side altars, and pillar sculptures are from the Gothic period between 1854 and 1857, designed and executed by Engelbert Westreicher. The neo-Gothic high altar, consecrated in 1856, inspired the placement of the Gothic tabernacle on the left side of the central apse.
The modest entry of the sacrament house is distinctive, with six separate openwork swirl designs. The organ of Franz Xaver Krismann, played by Anton Bruckner, is located on the west gallery. Carl Ritter von Reslfeld’s artwork of Saint Sebastian hangs on the back wall of the left aisle. The baptismal font, made of tin plates over a wooden core, has a relief and intricate design. The sacristy door is a 1470 Nuremberg work with the municipal coat of arms, the imperial eagle with a crowned lion.
Michaelerkirche
St. Michael, also known as Michaelerkirche, is a Roman Catholic parish church in Steyrdorf, Upper Austria. It is a listed building in the Diocese of Linz and belongs to the Deanery of Steyr. The church’s building style is similar to that of the Jesuit Church in Munich, with a single nave with four bays north-south and lunetted barrel vaults on girders. The southern bay houses a three-axis organ gallery over a groined roof. Three barrel-vaulted side chapels are located in three neighboring bays. The church’s vaults are stucco-decorated with palmettes, pearl and egg wands, and angel heads.
The church’s most recent major refurbishment occurred in 1989, when the original interior architecture was restored. Building-era frescoes depicting the four archangels (Michael, Gabriel, Raphael, and Uriel) have been unearthed. The Ionic order of enormous pillars distinguishes the church’s interior.
The towering church dominates the townscape of Steyr, with a grand entry portal dated 1677 and a larger chapel dedicated to St. Francis Xavier on the left side. The majority of the furniture dates between 1763 and 1771, and the interior is designed in late baroque and classical styles.
The high altar, built in 1766/67, is classically influenced and features statues of Saint Raphael Archangel with Tobias and Saint Guardian Angel. The pulpit and organ are two of the most essential pieces of furniture in the parish church.
Steyr-Resthof Parish Church
The Steyr-Resthof parish church can be found in the beautiful municipality of Steyr in Upper Austria.The Saint Francis of Assisi Roman Catholic parish church is situated in the Deanery of Steyr, which falls under the jurisdiction of the Diocese of Linz. The parish of Gleink purchased land in 1977, and two years later, the Diocese of Linz gave their approval for the construction of a pastoral care facility at Resthof.In 1982/1983, a pastoral care center was constructed and consecrated in December 1983 by Bishop Maximilian Aichern.Discussions about constructing a new church have been ongoing since the parish was merged in 1991.
The collaboration with architect Treml led to a four-person architectural competition in 1994, ultimately won by architects Gabriele Riepl and Peter Riepl.The draft was accepted in 1996 after amendments, and the groundbreaking ceremony took place in March 2000, with the foundation stone being laid on May 7, 2000.The church was dedicated by Bishop Maximilian Aichern on May 20, 2001.The church was acquired by the Order of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate.
The sculptural components consist of a diverse range of cuboids.Glass surfaces provide unique perspectives by disrupting traditional boundaries.The rectangular hall space is enclosed with angular lines, extending towards the east where a pool of water awaits, and towards the south where a serene meditation garden can be found.The daily chapel concludes with a glass block that serves as a captivating light sculpture in the building’s south-eastern corner. The altar is a striking brick-red monolith, perched on a pedestal covered in slate and raised by a single step.The standard ambo is constructed from metal.The pews made of birch wood are arranged in a U shape, facing the altar.
Neue Pfarrkirche Münichholz
The Neue Pfarrkirche Münichholz, located in the charming municipality of Steyr, is a Roman Catholic parish church that was built during the time of National Socialism. The church, which was consecrated in December 1946, was built in a barracks chapel during Soviet authority. The church’s construction resumed in the summer of 1946, and the Order of the Oblates assumed responsibility for pastoral care in 1947. The church’s construction began in 1964 with the foundation stone laying, and the plans were designed by architects Hans Riener and Helmut Kern.
The church features a dark gray exposed concrete structure with wooden ceilings and seats, a 41-meter tall church tower, and a striking entrance with embossed cubes and solid concrete walls. The interior is lit by a triangular arrangement of windows in the gable portion of the roof. The church tower, standing seven stories high, is a remarkable structure with two solid concrete walls and vertical concrete beams. The parish center, located south of the church, is a two-story, flat-roofed concrete structure with large windows. The church’s rich history and dedication to its community make it a significant landmark in the town of Steyr.
Evangelical parish church of Steyr
The Steyr Evangelical Parish Church, situated in Steyr, Upper Austria, was constructed from 1897 to 1898. It has connections to the Evangelical Church AB in Austria and the Evangelical Superintendency of Upper Austria. The church, commonly referred to as the town church, is protected as a monument, along with the sacred building and the vicarage, known as Evang. Vicarage. The church’s architectural style is neo-Gothic, exuding a sense of elegance and grandeur with its five-story tower and slightly restrained design.
The church showcases a memorial dedicated to the victims of World War II, a three-part window structure, and a plaque that pays tribute to the soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice or went missing. The church is beautifully adorned with stained glass windows and an altar that showcases stunning neo-Gothic characteristics. In addition to its historical significance, the church is home to a baptismal font that dates back to the 16th century. The evangelical vicarage, completed in 1898, was designed by Vienna’s neo-Gothic architect Schöne. The parsonage is a two-story building, featuring colored plaster bricks that add a touch of elegance to its edges. The parish church and rectory are enclosed by a stunning wrought iron fence.
Parish Church Steyr-Ennsleite
The Roman Catholic parish church of Steyr-Ennsleite, located in Upper Austria’s Ennsleite district, is a historical site that includes the church and the vicarage, which serves as a pastoral care center. The church was built on land available for construction after a block of land was made available for an emergency church and a children’s home. However, construction was delayed due to the February uprising in 1934. After the civil war, the church acquired the property and exchanged it for the original purchased one.
The parish’s standing worsened with Austria’s takeover in 1938, leading to the closure of the kindergarten. In 1939, five teenage National Socialists robbed the emergency church, which was later hijacked by the NSDAP and used as a HJ home. After the war, services resumed in the building, but the church remained unpopular among workers.
In May 1958, talks for a plot of land on Arbeiterstrasse were concluded, and preliminary plans for the parish hall were submitted. The diocesan council favored the preliminary plan of Johann Georg Gsteu and working group 4 over Bruno Schwamberger. The groundbreaking ceremony for the building took place on September 14, 1959, and the parish hall, vicarage, and youth center were completed and opened on October 14, 1961, before being consecrated on December 10, 1961.
The church and kindergarten were slated to commence at the end of 1966, with architects Johann Georg Gsteu and working group 4 from Vienna chosen again after multiple changes to the plan. The groundbreaking ceremony for the church took place in September 1968, and the church was practically finished in the first half of 1970. The exterior shell, originally made of Profilit glass, has no load-bearing purpose and suggests that room boundaries can be changed in the medium or long term.
