Kirche der Barmherzigen Brüder

The church stands beside the hospital of the Brothers of Mercy in Linz’s city centre. Its oval plan and sweeping concave façade belong to the late-Baroque style. The building began as a Carmelite convent church in 1710, designed by Johann Michael Prunner, and became the Brothers’ house after Joseph II dissolved the convent in 1782. The church’s history is marked by the transfer of its fittings to Frankenmarkt after the dissolution. The Brothers shortened the original choir and split the space into three storeys when they converted the building. In 1796 the protruding tower was removed, leaving the dramatic curved front that visitors see today. Inside, the oval nave and concave façade create a sense of movement. The former high altar’s painting of Saint Teresa by Martino Altomonte now hangs elsewhere. The church’s interior reflects its dual past, blending Carmelite elegance with the Brothers’ practical needs.