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Nikolauskirche
Topics: Summer | Autumn | Winter
Bad Gastein
Insider tip in Bad Gastein for historians!
This church from the 15th century is considered a jewel of the cultural region Bad Gastein. Particularly noteworthy are its well-preserved late Gothic frescoes and the awe-inspiring baroque altar. It also houses the oldest stone pulpit in Salzburg Land.
Building History and Architecture
On the northern edge of the village, the parish church of St. Nicholas stands on a slope along the old road. The year 1389 is recorded as its date of construction. The dedication to St. Nicholas indicates that the church must have once been a guild church. Architecturally, the church is representative of the single-nave space.
Mural Paintings
Unique in the church are the large-scale murals, mostly dating from the 2nd half of the 15th century, attributed to the less well-known “Master of Schöder.” These paintings, covered over during the Baroque period, were uncovered again in 1893 (nave) and 1950-1952 (choir).
The picture fields in the northeast corner of the church show the passion and resurrection of Christ up to his ascension. The image on the north wall of the choir shows the miracle of manna (Ex 16) near the high altar and the sacrament niche. Next to it is an ornamental field with the inscription “Sancta Maria ora pro nobis.” In the upper part is depicted the Madonna of the Mantle, below which is a group of three saints, with the patron of the plague, Sebastian, in the center, flanked by the apostles Peter and Paul. On the opposite wall, scenes from the life of St. Nicholas are found. The depiction in the southeast corner of the lay space shows the Last Judgment. Younger, dating from 1517, is the family tree of Christ on the south side of the nave.
The High Altar
The structure of the high altar dates from 1755, created by artists whose names are not known. The central altar painting depicts the church patron, St. Nicholas, with the three grateful virgins and their father. Statues of St. Martin (with goose) and St. Ulrich (with fish) are found on the left and right. The upper image of the high altar shows the assumption or crowning of Mary in heaven.
The Pulpit
The late Gothic prism-shaped stone pulpit is located on the choir steps and is attached to the south wall. It is the oldest pulpit of this type in Salzburg Land. Two of the three sides are adorned with blind tracery. The front side is decorated with the red marble grave slab of Jörg Framinger the Elder.
The Side Altars
The two side altars originally stood at the triumphal arch wall but were moved to the center of the north and south walls in 1951 to make the frescoes visible. They are identical in their structure.
The older altar on the right, dedicated to St. Sebastian, was donated in 1652 by the widowed tavern keeper Katharina Hofer of Mitterbad. The painting depicting St. Sebastian bound to a tree is likely by Georg Haim, and the structure is by carpenter Michael Pruest (cf. the side altars in the parish church of Dorfgastein).
The left altar was donated in 1659 by the miners' brotherhood in honor of the passion and death of Christ (the corresponding inscription on the predella is flanked by kneeling miners in their work clothes). The altar painting shows the crucifixion of Jesus with Mary and John at the cross.
Statues
The crucifixion group at the triumphal arch comes from the 18th century. While the cross hangs in the arch, Mary and John stand on either side in the canopies of the arch surround.
On the services in the choir are two modern statues of St. Isidore and St. Notburga, created by Jakob Adlhart around 1954.
Noteworthy on the south wall is the baroque figure of the immaculate Virgin and Mother of God Mary from the 1st half of the 18th century, a Pietà from the mid-17th century, and several epitaphs of prominent citizens of Bad Gastein.
Until 1890, St. Nicholas served the function of a cemetery church. In 1945, this tradition was revived with the establishment of soldiers' graves.
Visitations in Summer
daily 8.00 a.m. - approx. 6.00 p.m.
Opening Hours
Sunday and public holidays:
Parish service at 8.30 am.
Links
Addresses
Nikolauskirche
Bismarckstraße
5640 Bad Gastein, AT
5640 Bad Gastein, AT
