Group 1 | Station 7A – Friesach QR Project

Group 1 | Station 7A | Dominican Church

Image Gallery 1

Dominican Church

The Church of St. Nicholas is also known as the Dominican Church.

It lies to the north of the town’s moat. It is 74 metres long. This makes it the longest church in Carinthia.

In accordance with the rules of the Dominican order, the church does not have a tower, but only small roof turret.

The patron saint of the church is Saint Nicholas.

History

– The oldest Dominican monastery in the German-speaking area was founded in Friesach, in 1217 CE.

– After 1255, the Dominicans moved to the north of Neumarkter Tor (current location of the Dominican Monastery and church).

– The construction of the nave began after 1255 and was completed around 1265.

– The long chancel was built around 1270.

– The consecration dates of the church are 1300 and 1320.

– In 1320, the chapel-like sacristy was added.

– In 1509, the St. Dominic’s Chapel was attached to the south aisle. The chapel was built by Balthasar Thannhausen.

– The church was restored from 1596 to 1626.

– The original beamed ceiling was replaced by a groin vault in 1690 by Lorenz Moser.

Church Building, Layout

Nave

Chancel

Two-bay sacristy and St. Dominic’s Chapel

Church Building

Nave
The nave consists of a central aisle and two side aisles.

Aisles
The (five-bay) central aisle merges seamlessly into the (three-bay) long chancel with a 5/8 end. The two side aisles end in apses (5/8 apses).

Sacristy
On the north side of the chancel is the two-bay sacristy.

Chapel
The St. Dominic’s Chapel is on the south side of the nave.

Roof Turret
A roof turret rises between the nave and chancel. The roof turret has eight pointed arch windows and a slim, pointed helmet with four faces.

Buttresses
The long chancel is supported by double-tiered buttresses, the sacristy choir by single-tiered buttresses.

Windows
Double lancet windows with original tracery pierce the walls of the chancel end and also the walls of the sacristy chapel. Single lancet windows pierce the walls of the chancel sides and also the walls of the side aisles. The central aisle of the nave is illuminated by round clerestory windows and also by a large triple pointed arch window (on the west wall).

Stone Cross
The gable of the west wall is adorned with a stone cross.

Stone Heads and Gargoyles
Gothic stone heads and gargoyles are also attached to the facade.

West Portal
The west portal has a pointed arch and is the main entrance to the church.

Tympanum
The stone relief in the tympanum shows Mary as the Rosary Queen with Saint Dominic of Caleruega and Pope Pius V. It was created around 1890 by the Styrian sculptor Rochus Haas.

Former Wooden Door
The former wooden door with the painted depiction of Saint Nicholas from the 13th century has been in the possession of the Joanneum in Graz since 1937.

Image Gallery 2

Labelled Images

Map: 7A
Stations: 5 | 6A | 6B | 7A | 7B | 16 | 17A