Toutes les églises & monastères du Sud-Tyrol

The Franciscan Church was consecrated by the archbishop of Bressanone in 1697. The church is characterised by being back to basics, as the friar churches built during the Counter-Reformation clearly differ from traditional Collegiate Churches dedicated to belongings and culture through their simple and clear method of construction (planning: Franciscan friar Vitus Rastbichler from the Ötztal Valley). The Order's ideal of simplicity and poverty is reflected in the absence of a high bell tower and complex vaults and frescoes. After the entrance there's the small Chapel of Saint Anthony annexed to the nave destined for private meditation. The Fathers originally recited the choral prayers from the gallery. Not much of what distinguished the initial version of the church remains to be seen today, with the exception of the large oil paintings behind the side altars and the Franciscan saints on the southern wall. Today's altars are nice examples of Rococo art. The careful restoration works performed between 1992 and 1994 provided the Convent with its original appearance. The restoration project was awarded the Europa Nostra Prize in June, 1994. Visiting hours: daily (except Monday morning) 8 am - 6.30 pm

The local parish priest, Anton Martin Schenk, had the Santissima Trinità (Church of the Holy Trinity) built in the Velloi (Vellau) district in 1742. The church soon became too small for the growing population of the village and was extended by local peasants, completed between 1894 and 1895. Only then Velloi could accommodate its priest for the first time. The latest restoration of the small church was in 1975.

In the eastern part of the Lagundo "Garden Village", bordering the Merano district of Quarazze (Gratsch), lies the Lagundo district Paese (Dorf). The old Sant'Ippolito and Erardo Parish Church is found here. First documented in 1200, the church features three distinct architectural styles - Romanesque, Gothic and Baroque. The church holds many valuable treasures of art, both internally and externally, all of which testify to the turbulent political and cultural history of Tyrol. Between 1618 and 1628 a new Early Baroque nave designed by the architect Francesco Lucchese was added to the parish church. The church is closed because of restoration work.

For a long time, the entire religious life of the valley revolved around the church of La Pli/Pieve Marebbe. Once the most important house of prayer in the valley, records state that since the appointment of one Marquardus as the first pastor in 1214, Marebbe has always had its own resident pastor. Records dating back to 1347 list the church as the "parish church of the Virgin Mary of Marebbe".

Today, it is a grand four-naved Baroque church with a particularly beautiful wooden high altar, skilfully carved in Renaissance style in 1636 – at a time when the Black Death raged through the valleys. The centre features a statue of St. Mary of Graces. Both for the population of the Badia valley and many pilgrims from the Pusteria valley, this picturesque temple remains a well-loved and much-visited place of pilgrimage.

Although this church originally built in Romanic style dates back to the 12th century, renovation performed after 1735 transformed it to the Baroque jewel we see today with the lavish ornamentation that recalls the exuberance of Rococo. The outside is characterised by arched windows, niches with statues, the impressive main facade crowned by a cross, angels blowing trumpets and bearing glowing braziers, and the walls' buttresses in the form of scrolls. Without doubt, this church is one of the most beautiful sacral buildings in Tyrol.

The first church was dedicated to St. Maria Magdalena and was built in the 12th century. In the 14th century there were structural changes, which served the beautification and were necessary for conservative reasons. The change of the patron of Magdalena to Martin was supposed to have been completed in 1613, from then on, only a church of Saint Martin is mentioned.

The San Giuseppe Parish Church is one of the most beautiful and modern churches in the Alps and is a fine example of contemporary architecture. The church was built and designed by the famous architect Dr. Willy Gutweniger between 1966 and 1971. It represents a successful attempt to combine ancient and modern architecture and it is important that visitors allow themselves enough time to understand the rich symbolic language of the building. The church opened on March 13, 1977 in the presence of the Bishop of the Diocese at the time, Dr. Josef Gargitter. Further information and images of the church and its furnishings are available at the vicarage and in the Tourist Association. Guided tours are held every Thursday at 5pm (except when funerals are held), from Easter to All Saints Day (November).
The church is opened daily from 7am to 7pm.

The present parish church, which we have before us is already the third church in Weißenbach/Rio Bianco. Already in the year 1000 stood near the present-day Kirchler-yard (hence the farm name), a small church, on a small level. However, this small church was a flood in 1336 not withstanding and was swept away.

The romanic church of Saint Valentine was built between the 12th and 13th century. The development of the church is connected with the ruins of Castle Greifenstein. The tower was built around the 15th century. 

The chapel was built by the local "Alpini" groups and it is dedicated to their patron saint, St.Maurice. It was inaugurated in Spring 2004. Open from mid of May till mid of October.

Baroque chapel at the eastern part of the town. The simple building with dome and lantern was built in 1713. The chapel of "Our Lady of Sorrows" in the eastern part of Laces is a baroque construction. The chapel can be visited during the summer months.  

The Lodner Chapel is situated at 2,259 metres above sea level near the Lodner refuge hut in the Zieltal valley. On 16 August 1933 the chapel was dedicated by Chaplain Gasser from Partschins/Parcines. Partschins/Parcines Band played at the dedication. Father Schulien, a German missionary from Rome, conducted the mass.

The landlord of the Lodner refuge hut, Toni Raffeiner from Karthaus/Certosa in the Senales valley, built the chapel following plans by the Meran/Merano Architect, Torggler. It is five metres long, three metres wide, five metres high and built completely from stone. On the wooden roof is a small tower containing the bell from the former Oberhauser chapel, which was destroyed by a landslide in 1917. When the doors are closed there is room for 30 people in the Lodner Chapel.

The wood was cut on the Nasereit Alp and carried beam by beam up to the Lodner hut. The boards came from the old Stettiner Hut and had to be carried over the Johannesschartl wind gap. The woodwork was undertaken by master carpenter Josef Hueber from Partschins/Parcines. The statue of St. Joseph on the altar was donated by the priest from Karthaus/Certosa in the Senales valley. 

To mark the occasion of the chapel’s dedication, Cardinal Eugenio Pacelli sent a telegram and donated a picture. On 2 March 1939 Cardinal Pacelli became Pope Pius XII.

Every year in August, Partschins/Parcines alpine club, in cooperation with the Ziel Alp Association (Alminteressentschaft Ziel), organises the traditional mass for mountaineers and herdsmen in the Lodner Chapel. In accordance with tradition, Partschins/Parcines Band also plays there.

Our pastor, Mr. Florian Pitschl, is pleased to meet you for consultation at the parish office.
(Every monday and friday or at an arranged time)

Just like the innkeeper Georg Paprion from San Candido, also the innkeeper Johann Klettenhammer from Prato Drava, was a zealous pilgrim. Both lived around the same time, and like the outer church realised by Paprion, the Loreto Chapel realised by Klettenhammer also provides a testimony to Baroque devotion. The town of Loreto in Italy was a popular destination for pilgrims even in the 17th century, since drawings and paintings of its Chapel of Mercy can be found everywhere in Tyrol. Johann Klettenhammr brought back a copy of the miraculous image from his pilgrimage to Loreto, and constructed a chapel in the style and shape of the Chapel of Mercy - the Loreto Chapel - beside his house. The chapel was consecrated in 1650. It was struck by detritus carried by the flooding of the two rivers, the Mittereggerbach and the Mühlbach several times - the last time in 1965. For the inhabitants it was a miracle, that the chapel had never been destroyed by these miseries: hence, the Loreto Chapel became more and more of a destination for pilgrims. The fresco on the outside wall depicts the legendary transport of the house of the Sacred mother by angels to Loreto. Visiting times: daily from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The church is consecrated to St. Petrus and the earliest recorded mention of the building dates back to the start of the 13th century. The ceiling frescoes were painted by Christoph Brandstätter and combine with the interior of the church to produce a remarkable example of a room dating from the late Baroque or Classical period. Open all day long.

Not far from the San Giuseppe (St. Joseph) Parish Church in Riomolino (Mühlbach) is the early Gothic church of St. Mary and the adjacent Maria Steinach Convent. These were built in 1241 by Countess Adelaide, the daughter of Alberto, Count of Tyrol. Legend has it that two doves appeared to show where the Countess should build the convent. During the reign of the Austrian Emperor Joseph II, the convent was closed. It was re-opened in 1848 by the Dominican Nun´s Order of Linz.

At the parish church St. Martin in Hofern the longhouse walls are romanic, the vaults, the choir and the tower were built in the year 1473. At the inside there is a sidepiece altar which dates bach to the year 1520.

Due to population growth, the little church of San Giacomo/St. Jakob had become far too small. So it became necessary to think about a new church in the centre of the village. The foundation stone was laid in 1951 and the church was completed in 1954. In 1964, ten years after its completion and opening, the church was consecrated by Bishop Josef Gargitter.

The church of St. Martin is located in the homonymous place. St. Martin belongs to St. Johann/S. Giovanni. Aficionados consider it to be one of the best example of late Gothic church architecture. The church never had the function of a parish church, therefore there was no necessity for artistically redesigning.

The first testimony of this gothic construction is dated 1577. In 1789 a barrel vault ceiling decorated with rough frescoes was built. The modern-day choir was added when the Church was enlarged, after damages caused by an avalanche in 1817.

The Church of Blessed Henry, patron saint of Bolzano/Bozen, is the youngest church in the district of Laives/Leifers. In 1853 donations were collected to make the construction possible. All donors were immortalized on a board in the church. In the church there are three altars, the picture of the high altar shows Blessed Henry. 

Located on the left bank of the Adige River in the direction of Val Venosta (Vinschgau) valley, there is an accumulation of rubble from Plars. The villages of Plars di Mezzo (Mitterplars) and Plars di Sopra (Oberplars) are found here, as well as the beautiful Late Gothic Church Sant'Ulrico, surrounded by orchards and vineyards. The church was first documented in 1493, although it was most likely built even earlier. At the time, the church belonged to the Bavarian monastery of St. Mang in Füssen. The external frescoes on the southern side of the church are particularly worth visiting.

The saga of Weissenstein depicts the life of the religious farmer Leonhard. He was very ill and fell into a ravine. The Mother of God appeared to him and promised to safe him, if he built a chapel in her honor. The Mother of God told him: "So that you don't doubt my promise, i will leave you in this cave for nine more days and nights, without meat and drink. On the ninth day your family will find you. But don't forget my words!".

It happened how the Mother of God predicted, but Leonhard forgot to built the chapel and became ill again. From that moment on a light was shining where Leonhard fell in the cave and nobody had an explanation why. Leonhard eventually remembered his promise to the Mother of God. He quickly began to build the chapel and was then cured from his illness. When digging he found a little statue which represented the Mother of God. Leonhard continued to finish bulding and placed the statue in the chapel.

Soon after Maria Weissenstein became a popular place of pilgrimage. In 1787 the statue of the Mother of God was relocated to the church of Laives/Leifers.

The Rio di Lagundo (Aschbach) district is separated from the rest of the city. It is located on Mount Tramontana (Nörderberg) in Val Venosta (Vinschgau) valley, forming a small enclave between the towns of Parcines (Partschins) and Plaus. Rio Lagundo can be reached by cable car and of course also by car. Particularly worth visiting is the Maria della Neve Church (Our Lady of Snow) and the Santissimo Cuore di Gesù (Sacred Heart of Jesus). The small Maria della Neve Church was built in 1695 and stands on top of a hill. In 1889, a larger church was built and dedicated to the Santissimo Cuore di Gesù (Sacred Heart of Jesus).

In the year 1848, Christian Altstätter, the ‘Kaiserjäger’, vowed to build a chapel if he returned alive from the Battle of Custoza. Dedicated to St. Martin, the chapel was built in 1873 and today it is privately owned.

The Collegiate Church in San Candido is one of the most beautiful sacral buildings in Roman style in the Eastern Alps. The Collegiate Church was constructed around 1143 when the Benedictine Convent of San Candido founded in the 8th century by Duke Tassilo from Bavaria III was transformed into a Collegiate Church. The Church assumed its present appearance around 1280, while the bell tower dates back to between 1320 and 1326. The monumental walls recall the style of the fortresses favoured by the crusaders and the many castles built in the days of the Hohenstaufen. Also the church was meant to be a fortress of God. Worth seeing are the monumental Roman fresco, the special crucifixion group, and the crypt.

A church in Flaas is documented for the first time in 1237. The present church was built around 1500 and has a Romanesque predecessor with a half-round apse.

This very early church stands in the south-east part of the village, in the midst of green meadows. The church was built in the Romanesque style by the von Tschengels as their proprietary church at the end of the 13th century; it then benefited from the pastoral care of clerics from Tschengls. The last member of the Tschengls died in 1421. Inside the church John the Evangelist and John the Baptist are revered as patron saints. In the course of time the church was adapted to contemporary architectural styles and enriched with devotional pictures. Particular sights worth seeing are:

• Romanesque and Gothic frescoes
• the gallery from c. 1600
• the wooden baroque ceiling and pews
• a grave-stone from the Counts of Tschengels
• the frescoes uncovered in the last century
• two frescoes by Karl Plattner (1948)

The last constructional measure was the reroofing with small shingles in 2002.

For visits, contact the Prad am Stilfserjoch tourist office.

The gothic church of Avigna/Afing was approximately built in the 15th century, its patron saint is Saint Nicolò.