Pfarrkirche Weißenkirchen in der Wachau

The Catholic parish church of Mariae Himmelfahrt stands on a hill above the village of Weißenkirchen in the Wachau valley. It is surrounded by a medieval fortification with three corner towers, making it a striking landmark for miles around. The church belongs to the Diocese of St Pölten and has been protected as a listed monument for decades. The building tells the story of the Wachau in stone. A chapel first mentioned in 987 was later replaced by a church tied to St Florian’s Abbey in the 12th century. The present nave dates from the 13th and 14th centuries, while the late-Gothic choir was added between 1519 and 1529. The massive north-west tower, finished in 1502, dominates the skyline, and the entire complex was expanded into a proper fortress in the early 16th century. Inside, the church mixes Gothic and Baroque styles. The red-marble font and a Madonna statue from 1520 survive from the original furnishings. The high altar, painted by Karl von Reslfeld early in the 18th century, shows the Assumption of Mary surrounded by life-size saints. The green-and-gold Rococo organ, built by the Gatto family around 1770, fills the nave with music during services. Outside, the three-towered wall still encircles the churchyard, offering views over the Danube and the vineyards of the Wachau.