St. Blaise's Church (Civil Hospital Church)

Church of St. Blaise in Salzburgh

T. E. Watts

Located at the end of the Getreidegasse, a famous street in Salzburg, where many of the world-renown guesthouses and shops are located in the old town is St. Blaise's Church looking toward the Moenschsberg. The Gothic St. Blaise's Church (Blasiuskirche) is located at the very base of the limestone cliff, and has been described as "Gothic Salzburg at its unaltered best." Unlike many of the other churches in the town, this one is pristine, as it was not damaged or rebuilt numerous times. Construction began in 1327 and it was consecrated in 1350 and served as a hospital church. Being a rather stark Gothic church, it lacks some of the elaborate decor of later baroque churches in the city, but is no less magnificent. It contains some rare medieval art, including paintings, sculpture, a marble relief of St. Sebastien on the exterior north wall and a 15th century tabernacle which is quite famous. It features a Gothic sacramental hall and a beautiful arcaded courtyard.