St. Jacob's Church, Kastelaz

St. Jacob's Church is a Romanesque church on Kastelaz hill in Tramin an der Weinstraße with a rectangular nave and rounded apse. The southern side was expanded with a Gothic aisle during the 15th century, while a sacristy was later added on the northern side.

Before construction in the 13th century, an ancient Roman temple dedicated to the goddess Isis stood on this site. The building of the church marked the transition from ancient times to Christianity in this region.

Inside, the walls display some of the earliest frescoes in German-speaking regions, featuring apostles and Christ depicted with authority. These painted scenes show how religious beliefs were expressed visually in medieval times.

The location is open daily from March through November and can be reached without difficulty. Wearing comfortable shoes is advisable since the climb up the hill requires some effort.

The base frescoes display extraordinary hybrid creatures combining human and animal forms, including fish-warriors and bird-people. These unusual depictions stem from an artistic tradition that is rarely seen today.