Photo: Alpbachtal Tourismus

Spitalskirche zum Hl. Geist

Rattenberg, Tyrol

A small Holy Spirit Chapel at the former Lendtor and later Spitaltor is documented for the year 1390. The BürgerSpital, which gave the church its name, originated from an initiative by the Augustinian Eremite Prior Johannes Spieß in the mid-15th century. Probably to meet the increasing need for space, the hospital complex was expanded and rebuilt at the beginning of the 16th century. In the course of this, the current Spitalskirche was also built under master builder Jörg Steyrer and consecrated in 1506. The external appearance did not undergo any significant changes over time. Inside, however, a Baroque transformation occurred in the early 18th century. The artists involved are not known. However, the frescoes on the vault are presumably by Thomas Gwercher. Since the beginning of the second half of the 20th century, the Baroque high altar has featured a painting of Saint Notburga created by Ludwig Neuhauser, a copy of a painting created by Josef Liebmann for St. Jakob's Church in Innsbruck.