Nikolai-Kirche in Villach, Protected parish church in Villach, Austria.
Nikolaikirche Villach is a Gothic Revival pillar basilica with a transept and a two-bay choir ending in a 3/8 polygonal apse. Its four-storey southwest tower has diagonal buttresses and a steep spire, and the main facade carries a three-axis loggia with a Maria Immaculata statue in a gable niche. The north side has the Franziskuskapelle with a 5/8 apse, and the monastery adjoins the choir.
The parish of Saint Nicholas was first mentioned in 1309, with the original church located southeast of the current building on Trattengasse street. The site was later relocated and the new structure built following Gothic Revival principles.
The parish is served by the Franciscan friars who took it over in 1886 and built their monastery beside the church. Six large wall paintings above the nave arcades, made by Emanuel Walch in 1895, show scenes from the childhood of Jesus in the Nazarene style. The carved Stations of the Cross from 1896 are by Franz Schmalzl of Gröden.
The church is open daily for visitors and holds regular services throughout the week. Details about current visiting hours and special events can be checked locally or with the parish office.
The main altar created in 1896 by Clemens Raffeiner houses a statue of Saint Nicholas at its center. This artwork demonstrates late 19th-century craftsmanship and continues to be a focal point of devotion.
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