St. Nikolaus Kirche

The branch church of St. Nikolaus in Matrei i.O., together with the sacristan's house and the neighboring farm, forms a widely visible ensemble. Coming from Lienz towards Matrei i.O., the valley basin widens, and visitors see the church of St. Nikolaus enthroned on a hill on the shady side, as the southern part of the village is called. Romanesque building with Gothic elements The church is first mentioned in 1346, but archaeological finds from recent years suggest that it is even older. Presumably, an older predecessor building stood here three to four hundred years before the first documented mention, as the paintings in the interior can be dated to the year 1200. The new construction of the Romanesque church probably took place at the time of the transfer of ownership from the Counts of Lechsgemünd to the Bishops of Salzburg in 1207. The church consists of two floors. Above the altar, which is dedicated to St. Nikolaus, a double staircase leads up to the Georgskapelle (St. George's Chapel). The paintings of both vaults show influences from the Carinthian and Salzburg regions. The depicted scenes are unique for the East Tyrol region. Here are almost the only depictions in Romanesque style - in a still strong splendor of color. The scenes show, among other things, the creation of the world, the Revelation of John, the allegory of the four elements, and many other impressive depictions. The bells of St. Nikolaus A special feature is the original bell suspension, which was built in the style of Leonardo da Vinci. This system is called a bell cradle because the bells do not rotate on a rigid axis but sway when ringing, thus producing a longer and warmer sound. Popular film location The romantically situated church is not only popular with wedding couples; it has also repeatedly been a filming location for television productions. Probably best known is the film "Das ewige Lied" (The Eternal Song) with Tobias Moretti, which is about the creation of the song Silent Night. Some interior shots were filmed in the branch church of St. Nikolaus.