Peeking out from Maria Enzersdorf’s heart, stands the Franziskaner- und Wallfahrtskirche. This is no ordinary church. This is a story etched in stone and faith.
The Franziskanerkloster Maria Enzersdorf is the oldest existing Franciscan monastery in Lower Austria. Founded in 1454 by Johannes Capistran, both church and monastery were finished in 1472. Imagine the dedication poured into every stone.
Disaster struck in 1529. Turkish forces destroyed the church and monastery during the Turkish War. Then, in 1533, due to the destruction and a lack of personnel, the settlement was abandoned. The property was handed over to the Spanish Hofmeister of the Viennese Court. By 1569, the Franciscans lost all claim to the property through an imperial decree.
But the story doesn’t end there. In 1632, Emperor Ferdinand II ordered the monastery’s return to the Franciscans. By 1641, the church was rebuilt and reconsecrated. Yet, fate wasn’t finished. The Turks struck again in 1683. Following this second devastation, the monastery tract along the main street was rebuilt. In 1726 the church was consecrated again.
Between 1727 and 1729, the church and monastery underwent structural expansion. In 1730, the statue of Maria, Heil der Kranken, or Mary, Health of the Sick, became the focus of a pilgrimage. A foundation was established. By 1784, the church was elevated to parish church status. A Kirchturm was built in 1788. This tower faces the Hauptstrasse. From 1907 to 1909, Richard Jordan oversaw further expansions.
The Klosterkirche was originally dedicated to Maria Magdalena. After its reconstruction in 1730, it was rededicated as the Wallfahrtskirche Maria Heil der Kranken. It served as Maria Enzersdorf’s parish church from 1784 to 2014.
Pause for a moment. Look at the two-story structure. It evolved from the 15th to the 20th centuries. Notice the elongated street tract and the two narrow courtyards. These courtyards connect to the Klosterkirche. Passages link them in the east and the interior. Some parts were demolished in 1961/1966 and replaced with new buildings.
The street tract presents a slightly curved front. Its core dates back to the second half of the 15th century. It was expanded and partially renovated in 1725. The simple Baroque facade features flat-band and plaster frame windows. A Baroque broken gable portal showcases a cartouche with the Franciscan coat of arms.
The Josefhof is a small square courtyard. It has irregular window arrangement and Baroque flat-band windows. In 1983, remnants of two-story Renaissance arcades were revealed. They feature Tuscan columns and original sgraffito balustrades dating back to 1578.
East of the Josefhof lies another courtyard. The north and west tracts are Late Gothic. Fragments of the former cloister remain. On the ground floor, pointed arch windows display weathered Gothic frames within Baroque flat bands. Small, almost square windows with Baroque frames adorn the upper floor.
See the statue of Saint John Capistran? It stands on a tree column bearing the years 1762 and 1880, marking restoration efforts.
Inside, vaulted passageways from the second half of the 16th century line the courtyard side. Floors feature Kelheim plates dating back to around 1600. In the street tract, a triple-flight staircase with segmented barrel vaults leads upwards. On the first landing, a Baroque altar niche is visible.
The Franziskaner- und Wallfahrtskirche Maria Enzersdorf is more than bricks and mortar. It embodies resilience and faith. It’s a testament to the enduring spirit of Maria Enzersdorf. Take a moment to reflect on the stories these walls hold.