Filialkirche zur Schmerzhaften Muttergottes, Aschau

The Filialkirche Schmerzhafte Muttergottes stands in Aschau, a quiet village within the Brandenberg municipality in the Kufstein district of Tirol. This small Roman Catholic church is dedicated to the Sorrows of Mary and belongs to the Archdiocese of Salzburg. Protected as a listed monument, it occupies a modest but dignified place among the surrounding farmhouses and meadows. Built in 1707, the church was consecrated in 1852 and restored in 1926. Inside, Johann Georg Lackner painted the walls in 1852, covering the chancel with scenes from the life of Jesus and the Crucifixion. The nave shows images such as Constantine’s vision of the cross, the Transfiguration, and the brazen serpent, all drawn from Old Testament stories. The 19th-century high altar holds a baroque group of figures from the 18th century: a crucifix flanked by the Sorrowful Mother, two angels, Saint John the Evangelist and Mary Magdalene. Statues of Saints Sebastian and Isidore stand on consoles, and a figure of the Good Shepherd completes the furnishings. The church’s simple exterior features a west-facing gable topped by a small onion-domed turret with a lantern. A two-storey annex with a lean-to roof was added in 1968, extending along the main roof line. Inside, the barrel vault with lunette windows gives a sense of space despite the modest size. The single bell, cast in 1725 by Johann Hackl, still rings for services and festivals, calling villagers to gather in this small but finely decorated sanctuary.