Pilgrimage Church Maria Fieberbründl
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East Styrian Treasures Sacred art and culture in the ApfelLand Lake Stubenberg and the Nature Park Pöllau Valley Cultural tourism and “Organ Hikes” with culinary delights With support from the federal government and states, and the European Union East Styrian 2 Treasures East Styrian Treasures 3 Wilhelm Krautwaschl Hermann Schützenhöfer Diocesan Bishop Governor of Styria Dear Visitors! Styria is blessed with a multitude of cultural treasures. Especially Styrian architecture, which developed over centuries, enables us today to enjoy I am delighted with this publication in which the sacred buildings of the countless architectural jewels all around us. Many of them are famous regions ApfelLand Lake Stubenberg and Nature Park Pöllau Valley are beyond our region and some are true insider tips. Both have shaped the introduced. The hike goes from Pischelsdorf to Pöllauberg. Beautiful pic- Styrian identity and society. In this magazine about sacred art the artistic tures as well as the descriptions of the organs and bells invite you to visit and cultural importance of churches and chapels of the region is high- the churches, indeed, to go on an “organ hike”. Organs from the years lighted. It helps visitors to discover, enjoy and admire these Styrian trea- 1680 to 2003 enable you to experience almost the entire stylistic breadth sures. Church organs and bells are also being introduced. of organ music. You are also invited to go on an “organ hike” – when As Governor of Styria I am proud that our federal state offers such a rich you visit the churches at certain times, the bells remind us to pray and to cultural heritage and I am delighted that this magazine puts it centre commemorate: At 6 or 7 o’clock in the morning, at 12 o’clock noon and stage. I hope all visitors experience unique and thrilling moments while usually at 7 o’clock in the evening the angelus bells chime, and in addi- enjoying the sacred art of Styria. I want to thank the editors for their ded- tion, in the evening the smallest bell is rung to commemorate the dead. ication. A Styrian “Glück auf!” – “Good luck!” On Fridays at 3 pm the largest bell chimes to remember Christ’s hour of death. May this publication delight visitors and residents alike! East Styrian 4 Treasures Dear Cultural Tourists! The two adjoining tourism associations ApfelLand Lake Stubenberg and Nature Park Pöllau Valley have developed this proj- ect in cooperation with the LEADER-Region “Zeitkultur Oststeirisches Kernland”. It is designed to highlight the sacred cul- tural treasures of both regions and introduces “organ hiking”. More than a dozen churches as well as their organs and bells are being portrayed. Visitors are furthermore invited to acoustically experience the organs and bells. The churches stem from the periods of Gothic, Baroque and Historicism. They were elaborately renovated and are part of the sacred and artistic life in East- ern Styria. Together with the gastronomic offerings around the churches, the traditional “Kirchenwirte” (church innkeepers), they have always been places where locals, pilgrims and hikers met. This magazine, assorted brochures as well as an audio guide will help you to find out many interesting things about Styrian cultural treasures. We look forward to our many guests that visit our regions and that enjoy hiking, sacred art and culinary delicacies. Josef Hirt and Christine Schwetz, Tourism Managing Directors The “Lokale Aktionsgruppe (LAG) Zeitkultur Oststeirische Kernland” (Local Campaign Group Time and Culture East Styrian Heartland) approved EU funds for the LEADER-Project Cultural Tourism. The two tourism associations submitted an innova- tive concept which emphasizes the quality of life and the characteristic cultural and artistic treasures. Special thanks are owed to the project managers for the invariably good collaboration. We love to support innovative ideas with our longstanding experience in regional development and our financial expertise in the area of project management. For the LAG-Team: Dr. Wolfgang Berger, Managing Director East Styrian Treasures 5 CONTENT Overview Art History. ................................................. 6 Organs ............................................................................ 8 Bells .............................................................................. 10 Sacred Art and Cultural Tourism ApfelLand Lake Stubenberg ..................... 12 Sacred Art and Cultural Tourism Nature Park Pöllau Valley. ........................ 13 Parish Church Anger ................................................. 14 Fourteen Holy Helpers Church Anger .................... 18 St. Ulrich’s Church Külml ......................................... 22 Chapel Mariabrunn Kulm......................................... 24 Parish Church Puch bei Weiz ................................... 26 Parish Church Stubenberg am See ........................... 30 Parish Church St. Johann bei Herberstein .............. 34 Pilgrimage Church Maria Fieberbründl ................. 40 Parish Church Pischelsdorf ...................................... 44 Cemetery Church Pischelsdorf ................................ 47 Succursal Church Blaindorf ...................................... 48 Succursal Church St. Stefan in Hofkirchen ............ 52 Parish Church Pöllau bei Hartberg ......................... 56 Parish and Pilgrimage Church Pöllauberg ............. 64 Anna Chapel Pöllauberg ........................................... 70 Church of the Sacred Heart ...................................... 72 Stone Wayside Shrines and “European Trail of Reflection” ................................. 74 Chapel of Good Fortune Masenberg ....................... 75 Church St. Anna atop Masenberg ............................ 76 Picture Index ............................................................... 77 Cartography: Advertising Agency geografik, Graz / 19-32 / 11 19, Topographic map outline: ©BEV KM500R, 11 11 19 East Styrian 6 Treasures Overview Art History The region ApfelLand Lake Stubenberg – Nature Park Pöllau Valley has a rich and diverse sacred heritage, which offers works from almost all epochs. In St. Johann bei Herberstein numerous Roman relief stones, portraits and in- scriptions have survived including the well known frieze depicting the centaur fight. Parts of the Romanesque ashlar masonry give a hint as to where the oldest medieval church stood. Some of the masonry can be viewed in the cloister of the adjoining women’s shelter. A great example of the Gothic period is the pilgrimage church Pöllauberg from the late 14th century, which is of exceptional quality and size. The smaller pil- grimage churches from the 16th century in Hofkirchen (1501) and Blaindorf (1508) as well as the Holy Helpers church in Anger (1517) are also important sacral buildings of the region. The square medieval tower of the parish church Anger with its important fres- coes from the late 14th century is another sacral highlight. The oldest Early Baroque church of North-Eastern Styria was built from 1652 onwards in St. Johann bei Herberstein. It was a strictly monastic building for the Augustinian monastery there. It was later converted to the Baroque style in stages. East Styrian Treasures 7 The largest church building of the region, albeit only a third of the size of the Contrary to St. Johann, the parish church in Stubenberg was constructed (1758- actual St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, was built from 1701 onwards in Pöllau. The 1760) as a light-flooded sacred space. In the 19th century only small chapels were former abbey church of the Augustinian monastery is one of the most important built including the pilgrimage church Maria Fieberbründl (1879), to which a de- sacral buildings of the time in Styria. The expansion of the abbey church in Vorau tached Neo-Roman prayer hall was added in 1894, and only in 1954 were they coincided time-wise with the construction work in Pöllau, and there was certain- converted to one unified church building. ly a bit of rivalry going on between the two monasteries. While Vorau managed to superbly hide flaws in the architecture with sumptuous furnishings, Pöllau Although it was planned to build a pilgrimage church in honour of saint consciously utilised spatial impact and the art of painting. Pöllau also put an Nepomuk in Pischelsdorf where the present-day cemetery is located, construc- impressive dome on top of their new church building but couldn’t finish the west tion work had to be stopped after the sanctuary was finished because of a short- facade and the second bell tower. age of money. Nonetheless, Pischelsdorf should have its large church. Between 1898 and 1902 the present-day church with its distinctive tower was erected. This With the Baroque bell tower from 1678 and the music gallery from 1691 the pil- tower in return set the impulse for the extensions of the towers in Stubenberg in grimage church atop Pöllauberg was cautiously converted to the Baroque style. 1907 and later likewise in Kaindorf. The Anna chapel was built next to it around 1730. The fine arts are of course represented in a unique way in the sacred buildings The oldest church (1466) of Puch bei Weiz had acquired its current form by 1678. of the region. The pilgrimage church in Blaindorf was converted to Baroque in 1693. The Holy Helpers church in Anger was extended in 1633, a mighty bell tower was added The Schokotnigs, a family of sculptors, were responsible from 1710 onwards for in 1684 and in 1719 it acquired its current form. the large altar constructions in Pöllauberg,