Skip to content

Group 2 | Station 10 | St. Peter’s Church on Petersberg

Image Gallery 1

St. Peter’s Church on Petersberg

St. Peter’s church is visible from afar and is located on the southeast tip of the Petersberg, above Friesach. It is a Roman Catholic subsidiary church of the town’s parish church.


History

The first documented mention of the church dates back to 1130 CE. The predecessor building of the church was a chapel built into the outer ring of the castle. Until the Josephine parish regulation at the end of the 18th century, the church had the status of a parish church. 

Church Building | Exterior

Chancel and Apse
The oldest part of St. Peter’s Church is the massive chancel square with apse, built in the first half of the 13th century CE. 

Nave 
The short and wide nave was built at the end of the 13th century. 

Open Porch
To the west of the nave, there is an open porch with a pitched roof on pillars. 

Sacristy
To the south of the chancel square, there is a Gothic sacristy with a lectern roof. 

Bell Tower
A small bell tower from 1798, which was renovated in 1846, rises above the chancel square. 

West Portal
The church is accessed through a rounded arch portal with a stone frame made of spolia. These probably come from the predecessor chapel.

Church Building | Interior 

Flat Ceiling
The interior surprises with its great modesty. Even during the Baroque era, the flat ceiling of the nave was only structured by simple stucco frames. 

Wooden Gallery
A wooden gallery from the 19th century has been added to the west.

Windows
On the north side, the nave wall is pierced by two small rounded arch windows. On the south side, the nave wall is pierced by a small rounded arch window (above the gallery) and a large pointed arch window (late medieval).

Triumphal Arch and Groin Vault
A strong, rounded triumphal arch with Romanesque fighter profiles leads to the chancel square with a deep apse. A modern groin vault stretches over the chancel room.

Sacrament Niche
The sacrament niche with an ogival stone frame was set into the wall in the 14th century. The wrought iron grille with rosette decoration was installed at the beginning of the 19th century. 

Floors
The floor of the chancel square is raised by two steps compared to the floor of the nave. The floor of the apse is raised by one step compared to the floor of the chancel square.

Labelled Images | South Face

Labelled Image | South and West Faces

Labelled Images | West Face

Labelled Images | North Face

Image Gallery 2

Map: 10
Stations: 9 | 10 | 11 | 12A

Station 9 | Jester’s Path
Station 10 | St. Peter’s Church on Petersberg
Station 11 | Castle’s Keep 
Station 12A | Petersberg Castle Ruins