Deutschordenskirche Friesach

The Deutschordenskirche in Friesach stands just south of the town walls, dedicated to Saint Blasius. Its core is a 12th-century Romanesque hall-church, later enlarged and altered. The Gothic choir and Baroque tower were added in stages between the 15th and 18th centuries. The church survived fires, occupations and changes of ownership while retaining important artworks. The Gothic high altar, moved here in 1883, was painted around 1512 by Thomas of Villach. Frescoes from about 1170–1180 were uncovered in 1946. The tower’s Baroque helmet and the sacristy’s ribbed vault date from 1738. Inside, the two-bay choir shows late-Gothic ribbed vaulting and tall lancet windows with original tracery. The single-ship nave still has its Romanesque walls, now lit by Baroque windows. The late-Gothic west gallery and the sacristy’s Renaissance stained glass add further layers of detail.