St.Leonhard in Metnitz, Protected parish church in Metnitz, Austria
St. Leonhard in Metnitz is a parish church with three naves, a gothic tower featuring pointed arched windows, and thick walls enclosing the cemetery. The building sits on a steep slope southeast of the marketplace and is protected by fortification walls with defensive openings.
The parish appears in records from 1121 and moved from the Archdiocese of Salzburg to the Diocese of Gurk in 1131. These early changes marked the religious development of the place.
The church displays frescoes from the 1300s in the choir, depicting religious scenes and sacred symbols. These artworks shape the interior and tell stories of faith through images on the walls.
Access comes from the steep southeast side of the marketplace, where the fortification walls help guide your way. Walking is the best way to explore the cemetery and surroundings, especially when conditions are dry.
An octagonal charnel house next to the church holds Dance of Death frescoes from around 1500 that were restored during the 1950s. These rare artworks depict death and human mortality through a late medieval artistic vision.
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