Pfarrkirche hl. Martin, Ferlach

The parish church of Ferlach stands on higher ground away from the town square, dedicated to Saint Martin. It began as a branch of the old parish of Kappel and became an independent parish in 1799. The present building is mostly a modern structure designed by architect Anton Zemann in 1969–70, replacing a small Baroque church. The old west façade with its tower and a north chapel were kept. A 1747 tower with a bulbous dome and lantern crowns the structure, and its ground floor holds a Baroque west portal. The stained-glass windows in the nave were created from designs by Karl Bauer. Inside, three altars date from the late 18th century. The high altar’s painting of Saint Martin was made by Josef Sattmann in 1844, flanked by statues of a bishop and Saint Lawrence. Side altars feature figures of the Virgin, Saint Joseph, and various saints, while a 18th-century processional cross and 17th-century lavabo with a knight’s head add to the furnishings. Three glass paintings from the old church depict scenes from the Turkish wars, and a 19th-century wall painting shows the Crucifixion. The organ loft is supported by figures of the plague saints Sebastian and Roch, and the Stations of the Cross come from another local church.