Stadtpfarrkirche St. Paul

Bad Aussee

The Romanesque-Gothic parish church of St. Paul, with its tower that fits grandly into the Aussee landscape, is an overwhelming structure in its external impression.

The documentary mention of the Aussee parish church around 1301 lags behind the latest structural evidence. The excavations during the church renovation brought the proof that the Romanesque church already stood before 1200. It was a 2-bay, flat-roofed church with a huge rectangular choir ending built as a choir tower. The foundations of this choir are still present below the floor.

In the 15th century begins the late Gothic building period, which is attested by an indulgence granted by Pope Martin V in 1426. In 1464 the Gothic vaulting of the Romanesque church was completed and two Gothic bays were added. In this period the present tower was also completed and provided with a bell (donated by Frederick II). The climax of the Gothic building period closes in 1498 with that of the choir, the star vault and the inclusion of the Lady Chapel and a new sacristy above the former charnel house. Below the Lady Chapel, the All Souls Chapel is still present with an altar mensa made of bricks. The new sacristy in the east, added in 1804 or 1853, unfortunately hides the still completely preserved late Gothic central window.

Baroque altar - Annenaltar: was donated as a plague or Leopold altar by Anton v. Crollolanza in 1726. Rieger organ: new organ from 1983 classicistic pulpit: by Fotschegger from 1782 Baptistery: was added in 1735, in front of the altar with baroque statues there is a neo-gothic baptismal fountain Sacrament house: from the year 1523, carved from red Salzburg marble, 10 m high Florianialtar: from the year 1801 with the old local picture of Bad Aussee Lady's Chapel: there, in the frame of the delicate baroque altar, stands the "Beautiful Madonna" from the first quarter of the 15th century - related to the Krumau Madonna and the Hallstatt Madonna.