60 years of church tower in Hallein: a sign of hope and history!

60 years of church tower in Hallein: a sign of hope and history!

Hallein, Österreich - Today we look back on an important chapter in Hallein city history that started sixty years ago. The construction of the new church tower of the parish church was started on July 1, 1965. This happened after the tragic collapse of the old, late Romanesque tower on September 26, 1945, which was badly damaged by a devastating city fire on March 22, 1943. The initiative for this new building came from Dechant Johann Rasp and the architect Jakob Adlhart, whose vision soon turned into concrete forms.

The concrete shell was completed in March 1966, and the tower cross was set up on Rupertitag of the same year. This event was duly celebrated - the break of wine glasses symbolized the departure to new heights. For many Halleiner, the new tower became a sign of hope, as the then altarer Michael Neureiter reminds.

financing and peculiarities of the tower

The financing of the project proved to be a community performance: not only the church and the municipality of Hallein contributed to this with 300,000 Schilling, but also numerous private donors made their contribution. In 1968, six new bells, which were made by the renowned Glockengießerei Oberascher . This foundry, which worked in Salzburg from 1618 to 2003, has made a name for itself and produces some of the biggest bells in Europe.

The parish church of Hallein itself, the HLL. Antonius Hermit and Hieronymus is consecrated, enjoys an exciting story that goes back to the 12th century. The church is listed and houses an impressive classicist hall building and a Gothic choir with crypt. The organ, which was created in 1704 and was extensively changed in 1962, is also an important cultural asset of the church.

a trip through history

From the first documentary mention in 1206, to a conversion in the Gothic style in the late 14th century to the restoration after the destruction in the Second World War, the parish church of Hallein testifies to a rich and eventful past. The Romanesque tower, which received a new dome in 1787, is another example of the eventful history of this church.

In 1916, all bells were removed from the tower for the armaments industry in 1916, and it took until 1926 for new bells to be financed and consecrated by a folk collection. The fate of the old bells illustrates the challenges that the community has opposed over the decades.

slowly, but certainly, Hallein blooms through the commitment of its citizens and the tireless efforts of the church and its institutions. The construction of the church tower is therefore not only an architectural project, but also a symbol of the cohesion and resistance of the community.

A good reason to take a look at this historic place, combines history and the present. The parish church of Hallein is not only a center for the believers, but also a piece of lively history that is invited to discover and appreciate.