Stadtpfarrkirche

Mureck, Styria

The Mureck Parish Church Pastor Luithold of Mureck was already mentioned in 1187. Until recently, it was assumed that the church at that time stood in the castle area on the southern bank of the Mur. However, during renovation work in the spring of 1998, remains of a Romanesque church built in the 11th century were discovered. After geological investigations by the Federal Monuments Office, new insights into the history of the Mureck Parish Church were gained. Above the original floor of the Romanesque church lies a brick floor dating back to the Gothic period. Since the house of God was still too small, a new Gothic church was built around 1500, the ground plan of which formed a cross. In 1532, the Turks destroyed the church and also the market. The church then had to be rebuilt again. In 1756 and 1768, the rebuilt church and the town fell victim to a major fire. In 1780, the church was renovated in a Baroque style. The generosity of the benefactors, the Counts of Stubenberg, and the artistic sensibility of the builders ensured precious altars, magnificent statues, and beautiful paintings. In 1892, a small extension was built for the main altar. Due to the work, old building parts could be admired again. However, how carelessly past epochs were treated can be seen on the outer north side. Next to the north entrance, clear spolia of Gothic and Romanesque columns have been walled into the masonry. In the course of the renovation, the Federal Monuments Office officially determined the dimensions of the old church parts, and these can now be traced through the glass plates laid on the floor. In 1998, the church also received a "district heating system", a new loudspeaker system, and new lighting. Further information at: The reason why the church was built (from the perspective of that time) so far from the village was probably protection from floods and fires. A cemetery was established around the church. Probably the current nave, without the side altars, is the largest Romanesque nave in the South Styrian region. Even experts are surprised by the size of the building in this area. In January 1999, the Mureck parish community sincerely thanked for the successful renovation of this church. Now the granite-shaped folk altar has been moved closer to the faithful, and the ambo even forms the end of the altar area. From this reading and speaking desk, the word of God will be proclaimed and the help of the church will be conveyed to the faithful. Patrizikirche On the north side, directly behind the church, stands the small filial church of St. Patriz with an attached organist's house. From 1739 to 1740, the current Patrizikirche was built by the Mureck master mason Georg Maritschnigg in place of the former Patrizi Chapel in the cemetery and consecrated in 1748.