Unserer Lieben Frau Mariä Geburt mit Friedhof, Klösterle

The parish church of Stuben am Arlberg stands on a hill in the southern part of the village. It belongs to the municipality of Klösterle in the Klostertal valley, in the Austrian province of Vorarlberg. A walled cemetery surrounds the church, which has been protected as a historic monument. The building combines a Baroque nave from 1696 with a Gothic choir from 1507 under one roof. A school building is attached to the west side of the nave, and a tower rises from the north side. The church began as a small chapel dedicated to the Virgin Mary, first mentioned in 1218. Construction of a larger church started at the end of the 15th century and was completed in 1507. In 1666 it became a parish church in its own right. The interior features a modern people’s altar and a tabernacle with vine-covered columns from the late 17th century. A crucifix on the tabernacle door dates from the 19th century. The organ was installed by the Mayer brothers in 1880. Visitors walk through the quiet cemetery to reach the church. Inside, the contrast between the Baroque nave and the Gothic choir is striking. The tower on the north side houses bells that ring over the valley. The attached school building blends into the ensemble without drawing attention. The church remains a peaceful place where history can still be felt in every stone.