St. Margaretha Pfarrkirche (St. Margaret Parish Church), Zell am See

St. Margaretha Pfarrkirche stands on a rocky rise known as “St. Margaretha auf dem Stein,” reflecting an older village setting shaped by church, cemetery, parish house, and community life. The site began as a modest medieval chapel without a tower. A brick tower was added on the western side in 1722, while the slender silhouette seen today comes mainly from the major 1898 renovation by builder Joseph Mang, who raised the bell tower and added its pointed triangular “helmet” roof.

The church’s present appearance combines Neo-Romanesque and Neo-Gothic forms, shaped largely during the late 19th-century rebuilding. Its single-nave layout, pointed details, solid exterior, and tall tower reflect the revival of medieval church styles. Inside, Virgil Groder’s wall paintings from around 1910 include triumphal-arch medallions of Pope Leo XIII, the Sacred Heart, and Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque, linking local parish art with wider Catholic identity.

Two notable objects are the 15th-century late-Gothic figures of Saint Catherine and Saint Barbara, moved from Kaprun Castle’s chapel during the Second World War for protection. Saint Barbara’s statue was first carved as Mary Magdalene, then later altered and reidentified. The gallery’s 12 panels show the Holy Helpers and Saint Florian, linking the church with local fears of fire, mining culture, and parish memory.