St. Kathrein Church - Todo Südtirol

The romanesque church called St. Kathrein has a gothic apse and dates from the thirteenth century. It has well-preserved frescoes from the fourteenth century and a winged altar in the late-Gothic Tyrolean style (which can only be see through an opening in the portal). The history...

The romanesque church called St. Kathrein has a gothic apse and dates from the thirteenth century. It has well-preserved frescoes from the fourteenth century and a winged altar in the late-Gothic Tyrolean style (which can only be see through an opening in the portal).

The history

There was probably already a small church there in the 12th century, which fell victim to a fire in 1202. The only thing that remains from the time before the church fire are the regularly layered walls of the flat-roofed nave. 50 years later, a Romanesque church was already built, which was consecrated anew in 1251 by Bishop Egon of Trento. The church was rebuilt again in the late Gothic period. Two hundred years later, in 1452, it was again rebuilt and consecrated.

The Legend

According to legend, the local people wanted to build a Christian church on this site. They charged two giants to procure stones. The giants, however, had promised to build at church in Lafenn at the exact same time. Having only one hammer between them, the two giants had to share. Eventually, a conflict arose between the pair over the hammer, so the Lafenn giant picked up an enormous boulder and threw it at the St. Catherine giant. The boulder missed its target, but can still be seen in the meadow near Sulfner, just below the church.

Guided Tours 2021

From 4.10 – 5.10 p.m.
31 May
14 + 28 June
in July & August every Monday
13 + 27 September
11 + 25 October
20 + 27 December

Romanesque Day
9 October – open all day, time of tour to be announced