The St. Leonhard church is located on the outskirts of Spital am Pyhrn. The overall picture of the original Gothic St. Leonhard's Church is a mixed of four styles.
The history of this church leads us into the mysteries of ancient times. According to tradition, is on the rocks, which now forms the foundation for the front of the nave and the chancel of the upper church, have once been a pagan sacrificial site.
At the beginning of the 15th century, the upper church was built in honour of the Mother of God Mary and St. Leonhard. The consecration took place on 27 September 1439 by Bishop Friedrich von Aufseß. As a former canon, he had chosen Spital as his retirement home after his time as Bishop of Bamberg. He financed the purchase of the market town of Windischgarsten and promoted the expansion of the monastery. Friedrich von Aufseß died in 1440. Since the restoration of St. Leonhard's Church (1973-75), his gravestone can be seen in the lower church room, to the left of the rock altar.
Building activities with the construction of the lower church was continued at the foot of the rock on the west side. That part was published on 22 August 1462 by Sigismund consecrated Auxiliary Bishop of Passau (Bishop of Salona) in honor of the crucified Saviour. In cross altar are several valuable statues, mainly from the 18th Century. The representations of Christ, the Virgin Mary, of John and Mary Magdalene comes to Lambach by sculptor Franz Xaver leithner. Also the 5 statues on simulated Olives come from the sculptor leithner. The bell in the tower is as old as the foundation of the Church, it was founded in 1440 by a choir master to the hospital. Lead to the upper church 2 spiral staircases, with the stairs on the south side is built around up some earlier than those on the north side of the church.
The upper church has 3 altars. At the high altar there is a painting by Kremser-Schmid from 1774, which depicts Saint Leonhard. A statue of Saint Sebastian and Saint Roch can be seen to the left and right in front of the picture. The former high altar painting by Kremser-Schmid from 1774, hanging on the north wall, depicts the church patron Leonhard. The eastern window, flanked by the plague saints Sebastian and Rochus, still has the original Gothic tracery, although the Gothic pointed arches are no longer there. The north side altar is dedicated to St. Barbara, the altar in the south shows a picture of St. Catherine; again both paintings are from Kremser-Schmid. The organ was developed by the schoolmaster zu Windischgarsten, later organ builder to Spital am Pyhrn Valentin Hochleithner. It is said that a hermit lived next to the choir, who may also have been a sacristan. The tower and roof structure were rebuilt in 1774.
The overall picture of the original Gothic St. Leonhard's Church is a mixed of four styles. The Gothic in construction and in the remarkable frescoes, Renaissance in the chair cheeks, the Baroque in the images of the Kremser-Schmidt and the Rococo in the picture frame.
But not only the rich craftsmanship that the two-storey church building, but also above all the silence is that anyone who has visited the church once under its spell.
The St. Leonard's Church is also the church and cemetery is surrounded by it.
The church can only be viewed from the outside!
Guided tours of St Leonhard's Church only by arrangement with the parish office for a voluntary donation!
660 m
Accessibility / arrivalComing from Windischgarsten, drive through the town of Spital am Pyhrn. At the southern end of Spital am Pyhrn, on the main road, is the cemetery church of St. Leonhard.
Voluntary donations!
Not suitable for wheelchairs. The property is not compliant with Austria's ÖNORM legal standard.