The Saint Christoph Church, at the hill called "Vorbichl", was buil during the 13th Century. Today, only the tower with its double arch windows is still visible. The rest was restructured in 1603.
The original parish church of St. Walburga is thought to have already been in existence around 1203, and is located close to the permanent settlements by the stone river surfaces in Val Martello. The church was consecrated in 1440, it was extended in 1650, and an upper section was added in 1759. The neo-romanesque altar was completed in 1887.
The location of the chapel on the highest point of the San Silvestro Valley, has been identified as a prehistoric hillfort. Pre-christian sanctuaries were mostly build in such high located spots. It is therefore possible that also the San Silvestro Chapel was one of the pre-german shepherd's sacred places with a sacrificial altar.
In November 1809 thousands of soldiers from Napoleon’s army advanced over the Jaufenpass and into the Passeiertal Valley. They were heading for Meran. At St. Leonhard, however, there was a violent confrontation with Passeier insurgents, 22 of whom were killed, while 200 soldiers and 30 officers were reported dead on the French side.
According to subsequent accounts, the dead Frenchmen were buried in an old cemetery – probably a plague cemetery – at the edge of St. Leonhard. In the anniversary year of 1959, 150 years after the rebellion, the local company of marksmen affixed a marble tablet there. The French Embassy to this day sends funds for the maintenance of the cemetery, with the French tricolore flying over the grass.
No trace was found of the dead Frenchmen during an archaeological excavation carried out in 2009. This seemed to confirm earlier doubts about any mass grave containing French soldiers. But in 2013 the French Ministry of Defence arranged for further excavations; these actually found a knife and the remains of bones and articles of clothing, which suggest such a grave.
During the 12th and 13th Centuries, this church was rebuilt in Roman style and again fully redesigned during the 16th Century. Since then, little has been changed. The Baroque high altar with the statues of Saint Franz Xaver and Johann Nepomuk was built around 1730 and redesigned in 1819. Apart from the four altars in the church, there are a number of valuable individual sculptures such as the late-Gothic Saint Sebastian and the Baroque Saint John the Baptist. The cross stations originate from the middle of the 18th Century. During the restoration work carried out in 1975, some beautiful old frescoes were discovered and the statues were skilfully restored. John’s chapel, which was extended toward the South-East, brought to light some very well kept frescoes from the 14th Century. These were found during the renovation work of the 80s. The frescoes show scenes from the legends about John and Pankraz, as well as the wise and the foolish virgins, the evangelists, angel choirs and other pictures of saints. Since the completion of the new parish church in 1931, it has been used for another purpose, rather than its originally intended goal. It has served as a store room and a practice room for the choir. In March 1981, the church was reopened and once more consecrated. Today, it offers a great framework for religious services and devotions in small circles and weddings. Just across the road, in the sexton’s house, there is a marble relief as part of a wall, which shows the coronation of Mary, which was created during the 14th Century.
The parish church of Laives/Leifers – Where past and future meet
The parish church of Leifers is made of two parts, a historical one and a modern one. The historic part was first mentioned in 1286 and contains the miraculous image of Maria Weissenstein. Thanks to the former curate of Laives/Leifers, Johann von Kolb it is still possible to admire the statue. During the 70s there was already the intention of expanding the church. The Italian speaking community first wanted an own parsonage, but the bishop of that time was keen on reinforcing the connection between the two communities (Italian and German speaking), not separating them. Therefore, the decision to extend the already existing church has been made. The construction began in 2000 and ended 4 years later. The modern part has been christened in 2004. The form of the building is a symbol for acceptance, home, friendship and understanding and shows the way to an eternal home. As a sign for Christianity and resurrection, a triumphal cross has been put up over the altar. The different light inside the church symbolise Christ, who is the world’s light.
In 1709, Eustach Waldner built the Radund Chapel in Val Martello. Following a serious mountain accident, he promised to build a chapel if his life would be spared. The chapel is dedicated to the fourteen emergency helper, who were involved in his rescue.
The keys are available at the familiy Waldner Alois
Tel. +39 0473 744675
In the St. Georg and St.Jakobs Church in Soprabolzano you can admire beautiful murals from the late 13th century.
next to the parish church is the "Cappella del Santo Sepolcro" (Chapel of the Holy Sepulchre, 17th century), with lagre marble angels and fígures depiciting Jesus Christ
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)
The Church of St. Valpurga is already recorded in 1233 as the Basilica in Gevelano and was rebuilt in late gothic style in 1502. It is the only sacral late gothic edifice in the whole of the Venosta Valley and today it serves as a funeral chapel. Opening times: during the church service, sun 8.15 am
The unique tabernacle is particularly interesting: the Cross is made from a grapevine. The key can be collected at the nearby Gasthof Lamm.
The church Maria of Loreto, a very well maintained, in 1700 accomodated in the present form of worship, was built by the owners of "Ahrner Handel". The church "The Black Madonna" is also visited by pilgrims today.
The St. Ulrich-Kirchlein in Gschleier gives hikers a beautiful view over the surrounding mountains. The originally very simple Romanesque construction was rebuilt in 1859. The altarpiece of the holy Bishop Ulrich was painted by the painter Psenner from Ums.
At St. Ulrich-chapel in Gschleier the hiker enjoys a magnificent view of the surrounding mountain world. The original simple Romanesque building was renovated in 1859. The altarpiece with Bishop Ulrich was painted by artist Psenner from Ums.
Built in the 13th century, with numerous frescoes dating back to the 15th century. Contemorary round shaped church annex exists since 1975. The grace stones of the nobles, tax collectors and keepers in the church wall are worth seeing.
The chapel Gruber was rebuilt in 1872 and decorated in 1884 by the painter Rudiferia. The interior is friendly and light. The wooden sculpture in the altar, Christ in misery, was built around 1800.
The church in Antlas was built around 1360 and has two stone framed arch doors. During the restoration an early gothic mural was found. The key to visit the church can be borrowed at the Zunerhof.
The St. Valentine chapel in the Fraction Schlaneid was built upon request by the population in 1769 in a simple Baroque style. The ruins of the old Valentines church (exposed in 1990) are in the forest “Valteswald” below the village. The altarpiece with the Bishop Valentin was made by Franz Unterberger from Cavalese. The Stations of the Cross were made in 1770 by Josef Sparer.
The year of construction of the first church is uncertain, but certainly in the year 1490 it was destroyed by a landslide that destroyed a large part of the village. 1492 another church was rebuilt. Over the centuries this church changed style several times and was also enlarged. In recent times the altar has been modernized with works from the artists Mellauner y Promberger. The church can be visited all year round.
The parish church dedicated to the Assumption of Mary represents a monument to generous design.
The Church of St. Nicholas was recorded for the first time in 1432. In 1840 a landslide seriously damaged the entire town and the church, which was rebuilt ten years later. Since St. Nicholas is the patron saint of travellers, one can assume that the old Venosta road was already used by the ancient Romans to reach Vezzano/Vezzan. The church is open all year. Worship Sun 8.30 am in German
To the north of Rechtenthal Castle lies the hamlet Söll whose church is dedicatet to St. Mauritius. The steeple with its paired round arch windows and its brick-built pyramidal roof dates back as far as the 13th century, whereas the church nave and décor are basically realized in Gothic style. Of particular interest is a fresco, unfortunately seriously damaged, depicting the church's patron saint in a cavalry battle. The same patron also features as the central charakter in the winged altarpiece. When leaving the church, you will notice an inscription on the outer wall, just above the small rectangular window. Written in Gothic minuscules it tells that the south annex of the sacred building was wewcted later, in 1470. Just below the church you can see a building that is architecturally very interesting. Its structure is well-proportioned and the elegant wrought iron window grilles aforning the upper floor bear witness of the centuries-old craftsmanship that was at work here. A little further uphill from the church another architectual gem is hiding: here you will come across a group of two or three picturesque old farmhouses, and on the archway of one of these you can still read the initials of one of its formers owners who perpetuated his name back in 1684.
The left nave is Romanesque. The high altar was built around 1520. The left side nave is Gothic. The altar there contains picture panels of Adam and Eve, probably from Bartlmä Dill Riemenschneider.
The gothical building was established between 1467 and 1470 of master Jörg. From the outside on recognize the simple portal, the small pyramid-shaped ridge turret and that gothical five-eighth choir with the four windows.
Patronal feast: January 17th The oldest parts of the church are in the tower (13th century) and in the nave walls. Around 1430, the Gothic Polygon Choir was added. The uniformly re-creation of the choir from 1472 have been carried out by the two painters Bernhard and Jakob, who worked in Bolzano. The great Christophorus on the southern façade is also a work of this painting group.
The church is accessible only during the holy masses (Monday 8 am).
Source: Parrish office Kaltern
The Franciscan order settles in town in 1221; the present building Dates back to the rist haf of the 14th century, but the original ceiling, flat and with a choir of polygonal shape, has been replaces by a vaulted ceiling from the 15th century. The coister is a beautiful example of gothic art, which replaces the Romanesque style in which the rest of the building was built; there are different frescoes from various periods of time, including some from Giotto's School and some from the 17th and 18th century. The church still preserves an astounding wooden altar by Hans Klocker of Brixen (painted Wood - 1500) which was dedicated to the Nativity Scene. The choir of the church is embellished by the modern glass panels of Widmoser.
About 1300 the Boymont family built a small church on this spot and employed the chaplain Perdonig. From the 18th century onwards, the chaplain was resident here, and travelled back and forward to Perdonig. Today, a pensioned dean lives here and reads the mass. Architectural style: parts of the walls at the entrance, from the Romanesque, and wall frescoes in the apse in the eastern part have been preserved. The apse was renovated at a later date. You can also find Baroque red chalk inscriptions and two square windows that are set into an arch. The late Gothic tower has a pyramid shaped roof. The entrance in the eastern part was given a stone frame between 1645 and 1649. Peculiarities: the carved altar and the pictures and relieves from the 16th and 17th century are well worth seeing. The early Gothic gravestone of the Boymont family, which has been moved to the Bozen Town Museum, came from this church. Walking: if you walk to Paulser Aich, or from Eppan/Berg towards St Pauls, you will pass this beautiful little church. It can also be incorporated into walks to Perdonig or Boymont and Festenstein, Hocheppan and Schloss Korb (starting in St Pauls). An ideal starting point is the hotel and restaurant St Justinahof.
On 15 October 1993, the consecration of the parish church Maria Hilf took place. The church district is in the east of new homes, in the north of the new school building and bandstand, in the west of historically valuable Count House (stand hunting Gasegg) and in the south west of the parish church "To our Lady of Loreto" and the "granary" as well as in the south of the old elementary school and private houses limited.
The chapel Floriani is located directly on the village square next to the church.