Pfarrkirche St. Martin-Karlsbach

The parish church of St Martin stands on rising ground in the village of St Martin am Ybbsfelde, part of the municipality of St Martin-Karlsbach in Melk district. It is dedicated to Saint Martin of Tours and belongs to the deanery of Ybbs in the diocese of St Pölten. The building is protected as a listed monument. The church has passed through several building phases since its first wooden structure in the early 9th century. A Romanesque choir square from the 12th century was followed by early and high Gothic work in the early 14th century, including the west tower, former south door and choir. Late Gothic additions in the late 15th century added the west gallery and sacristy. The sacristy was rebuilt in 1988 as part of a modern extension to the nave. The tower carries a double onion dome with clock faces added in the late 18th century. Inside, the two-bay choir has a slightly raised ribbed vault with heavy ribs and a five-part polygonal closure on clustered shafts. A three-seat Gothic sedilia with pointed arches stands on each side. The high altar of about 1725–30 is a Baroque column retable with side doors and a segmental pediment. The oldest dated bell in Austria, cast in 1200, hangs in the tower. Wall paintings uncovered in 1949 show Passion scenes and the cloak-offering of St Martin around 1300.