Kath. Filialkirche hll. Peter und Paul

The Catholic branch church of Saints Peter and Paul stands in Pyrawang, a hamlet beside the Danube in the municipality of Esternberg, Upper Austria. The single-nave building has a square tower at its centre, an octagonal dome and a bulbous spire. A small cemetery once lay close by, as bone finds confirm. The church’s Baroque high altar shows Saints Peter and Paul, while the walls hold important Gothic frescoes from the 14th century. These paintings were uncovered and restored in 1982 after centuries hidden beneath plaster. Three bells hang in the tower, marking the hours and calling the few local worshippers. Inside, the nave is plain and white, focusing attention on the vivid altar and the medieval murals above. The tower portal opens directly into the nave, letting daylight fall on the frescoes. From the churchyard gate, the Danube glides past fields and woods, framing the modest spire against the sky.