Church of Epiphany
Kirchenplatz 5, Gmunden, Austria
Description:
In Upper Austria in the city of Gmunden is the Roman Catholic parish church of Epiphany. The first chronicle mention of it refers to 1270. It was originally a small cemetery chapel. It was rebuilt in 1844, but the church gates and towers have survived. The appearance of the church became typical of the Baroque style. The architect was Johann Michael Prunner. He restored the ancient appearance, adding poppies to the towers and thereby increasing their height to 52 meters.
The main treasure of the church is the altar of the Three Kings, made by the Bavarian sculptor Thomas Schwantlerst. Carved sculptures for the altar were made by Michael Zurn Jr. During World War II, the church, like many others in the country, lost its bells. They were replaced in 1949. The last restoration of the church was in 2001, when the facades and mosaic floor were restored. From the ancient cemetery that once surrounded the church, only a few tombstones remain on the south side.