St James's Church

Dompl. 6, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria

The Church of Saint James was built in the 18th century as a Baroque castle. The church was rebuilt twice: once between 1717 and 1724 by Johann Jakob Herkommer and the second time after suffering heavy damage during World War II. Fortunately, the church has been restored with a Baroque interior and two large domed towers. Inside, tourists will find an elaborate altar called Maria Hilf, Mary of Succor, and other worthy works honoring Archduke Maximilian III

The city of Innsbruck was founded in 1180 by Count Berchtold III. When he came back from the Andechs. The exchange contract with Wilten Abbey allowed the creation of a new city on the right bank of the Innufer. It also refers to the future church of the Church in the foro Church. The existence of the church can be as early as 1181. From this time, the patron saint of the church is St. James the Elder because this new city was an important stop. The church of St. James in Innsbruck was first known in a letter from 1270. The oldest model of this Gothic church was handed down on drawings by Albrarou Dürer from 1494 (Albertina, Vienna) .

An earthquake in 1689 destroyed the tower and the church rebuilt as a baroque church. Construction was completed in 1724. Prince Bishop Caspar Ignaz Graf Künigl of Brixen inaugurated the church on 9 September of the same year.

Notable are the ceiling paintings and stucco work, done by Cosmas brothers Damian Asam and Egidius Quirinus Asam in 1722. The work depicts the legend of saints and patron saint James the Elder.

The first restoration took place between 1884 and 1891 under Dean Johann Kometer. Another major milestone was the renovation following a severe air raid on Innsbruck on Saturday, December 16, 1944, in which two bombs fell inside the church. The vaults of the southern transept were broken, the pulpit was broken, and great water damage did the rest. Reconstruction began shortly after the end of the war and was only completed in 1950. Construction management belonged to architect Theodor Huter.

After the Second World War, ceiling frescoes were added based on photographs by Paul Rechendorfer, Toni Kirchmayr and Wolfram Köberl. The modern fresco was painted in memory of the bombing and the restoration of the church by artist Hans Andre. He also made statues of Tyrolean saints on the exterior of the church.

From 1990 to 1993, the church underwent a thorough interior renovation. All damaged areas in the marble floors and walls as well as on the marble sections of the side altar were repaired. The ceiling and pulpit frescoes have been cleaned and restocked; silver plated altar. The old roof vinegar is replaced and the new roof is covered.

The organ in the west gallery has 3,729 pipes and 57 registers and sounds along with the Maria Mariahilferglockeith bell that gives the second loudest bell in Tyrol, minted in Innsbruck in 1846 at the historic Grassmayr Bell foundry.

Innsbruck's peace bell rings every day at noon. With over 57 bells and a combined weight of 4,100 kg, it is the largest bell system in Austria. The seven Grassmayr bells are housed in the south tower.

St James's Church is an indispensable point in the tourist map of visitors to Innsbruck.

Business hours

May 1 - October 25:

Monday to Saturday: 10:15 – 18:30

Sunday and public holidays: 12:30 - 18:30

October 26 - May 2:

Monday to Saturday: 10:15 – 19:30

Sunday and public holidays: 12:30 – 19:30

Ticket price: free admission

Address:

DOM ZU ST. JAKOB
Domplatz 6, 6020 Innsbruck
Tel: +43 512 / 58 39 02
dompfarre.innsbruck@dibk.at
http://www.dibk.at/st.jakob

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