Pfarrkirche Gallspach

The Pfarrkirche Gallspach stands in the village of Gallspach in Upper Austria. It is a modern Roman Catholic church built in 2005, yet it keeps the old tower and apse of its medieval predecessor. Inside, fourteen bronze stations of the cross by local sculptor Erwin Burgstaller line the walls, added in 2007. The church is dedicated to Saint Catherine and protected as a listed monument. Its setting is quiet, surrounded by farmland and a few scattered farmsteads. The church’s history reaches back to 1343, when Eberhard V of Wallsee separated Gallspach from the large parish of Grieskirchen. A small chapel already stood on the site, serving the few houses clustered around the local noble seat. The new parish covered only the castle precinct and market area, with the bishop’s confirmation arriving the following year. Economic foundations came from noble families like the Geymanns, who donated fields and tithes across the region. Their gifts kept the parish and priest financially secure for centuries. Inside, visitors find a bright nave that opens under a modern roof while the old tower and apse remain visible. The bronze cross path winds along the walls, each scene cast in metal that catches the light. Outside, the churchyard holds weathered gravestones and epitaphs from the 14th to the 19th centuries. Beyond the gate, the surrounding lanes lead past farm buildings and open fields, giving a sense of the small rural community that has grown around this place.