The onion tower is shining new: a festival for Sankt Bartholomä!

The onion tower is shining new: a festival for Sankt Bartholomä!

Sankt Bartholomä, Österreich - It is an occasion to celebrate in Sankt Bartholomä: The magnificent onion tower of the old church shines in new splendor after extensive restoration. On July 16, 2025, the ceremonial revival of the newly renovated tower took place, which marked the conclusion of an elaborate restoration project. Work on the church facade and the roof began two years ago and were urgently necessary to put the 54 -meter high onion tower, which is almost 300 years old, in a useful condition. Unexpected damage to the tower dome even required a complete renewal of the shingle covering, as also reported [meinzirk.at].

For security and occupational safety reasons, the onion tower had to be temporarily removed, while the renovation work on the ground was continued. The new shingle cover was installed by the renowned company Pendl from Hallein, while the overall coordination was carried out by the Wiesinger carpentry from Krottendorf. In addition, the artistic copper coalition and the gutter were made by the Kocher company from Graz. All measures were made in close coordination with the Federal Monument Office, which speaks for the quality of the work.

funding and monument protection

A profit for the community: The extensive restoration work was not only financed from own funds, but also with the support of the Federal Monument Office and the State of Styria. Monument protection plays an important role in such projects. The Federal Monument Office offers financial support for the preservation and care of monuments, whereby certain requirements must be met for the funding. Among other things, the requirements include the legally binding entry in the list of monuments and obtaining a permit for monuments for the planned measures, according to [Future-kirchen-raeume.de].

The St. Barttholomäus Church is not only local, but also national and international importance. The church is a cultural center, known for its cooperation with events such as the Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival and the Brahmsgesellschaft. In addition, choir concerts with the Wesselburen cantore and the organ summer on the Klapmeyer organ are organized, which also makes them attractive for tourism.

social responsibility

Another aspect of the St. Bartholomäus Church is their commitment to social interaction. Since this year the Vesperr program "Mohltied- Much good for everyone" has been taking place, which is carried out in cooperation with local economic and social associations. In the cold season, the church opens its doors to people in need and offers warm meals and cultural offers, which makes the church rooms a place of encounter and support.

Overall, the example of the onion tower shows how important monument conservation and cultural institutions are for the community. It remains to be hoped that such projects will continue to be encouraged and supported in the future to preserve the historical heritage. For the municipality of Sankt Bartholomä, the restoration of the onion tower was an important step into the future, which combines the temporal change in the place with respectful handling of its inheritance.