Pfarrkirche Moosdorf

The parish church of Moosdorf stands in the village of Moosdorf in the Braunau district of Upper Austria. It is dedicated to Saint Stephen and belongs to the Ostermiething deanery in the Diocese of Linz. The building has been listed as a protected monument since the 20th century. The first church on this site was recorded in 1150. The present structure dates from 1682, when Josef Vilzkotter rebuilt the earlier Gothic church. The new church was consecrated in 1709 after a long construction period. The tower still bears the scars of a fire in 1807, when its metal roof was replaced. Inside, the single-nave layout and three-bay design create a clear, symmetrical space. Visitors step into a stately interior where the high altar of stucco, made around 1700, dominates the view. The altar painting of Saint Stephen, by Anton Hitzenthaler in 1797, hangs above the mensa. Side altars from the 1630s survive from the older church, their figures and carvings still intact. The pulpit, with its rich carving, dates from the late 17th century. The wrought-iron chancel screen, added in 1839, completes the ensemble.