Pfarrkirche Altenmarkt im Yspertal

The parish church of Altenmarkt im Yspertal stands on the western edge of the market square in the heart of Yspertal. It is surrounded by a cemetery and dedicated to Saint Mary Magdalene. The building combines different styles: the nave shows late Romanesque to early Gothic features, the choir is late Gothic, and the west tower is late Baroque. The church is worth visiting for its layered history and fine craftsmanship. A fire in 1743 led to a Baroque remodelling, possibly by Leopold Wißgrill. Restoration work in 1961 uncovered the original rubble core of the nave with its window openings. The interior vaulting dates from 1743–44, and the stained glass includes copies of 14th-century panels from Graz. Inside, the three-bay nave has a barrel vault with deep lunettes, and the west gallery is richly profiled. The north aisle, once the Sebastians chapel, now opens into a modernised choir. The high altar was removed in 1964, but the free-standing tabernacle survives. Side altars from the 1770s carry statues of Mary, Sebastian, Florian and John of Nepomuk. The organ, built by Leopold Breinbauer in 1903, completes the ensemble.