Barackenkirche Graz-Liebenau

The Barackenkirche Graz-Liebenau stands in the Graz district of Liebenau, a former emergency church now serving as a cultural and community centre. Built in 1948 and moved from Graz-Thalerhof airport, it is one of only two surviving barrack churches in Austria. The building was placed under Denkmalschutz protection in recognition of its historical importance. The church was dedicated to the Annunciation of Mary and became the parish church when Liebenau was raised to a parish in 1949. For decades it served as the main church before a new parish church was built in 1984–1987. The church’s history reflects the post-war years in Austria, when temporary structures were used to meet urgent needs. A hand-carved wooden cross made by imprisoned Austrian soldiers in 1946 remains inside the building. After the new St Paul’s parish church opened, the old barrack church was used only as a weekday chapel. In 1992 it was transformed into a cultural and community space, preserving its role as a gathering place. Inside, visitors find a simple hall with wooden benches and the original military-made cross on the wall. The plain interior reflects its origins as a temporary structure. Outside, the building sits on St Paulus Square, surrounded by modern residential blocks. The contrast between the modest barrack church and the surrounding urban environment highlights its historical significance.