The history of the wooden churches: A treasure from Au and the surrounding area!

The history of the wooden churches: A treasure from Au and the surrounding area!

The fascinating history of the wooden church in Au is the focus of a new historical work that was presented to the public last Sunday in the Au cultural hall. Ernst Metz spent twelve years researching countless archives to shed light on the stories surrounding the old wooden church and the location of the cemetery. With the support of Brigitte Scheucher and financial help from the communities of Au, Hof, Mannersdorf and Sommerein, his two-volume work “Scharfeneck am Leithagebirge” was completed and published noen.at reported.

Holzkirchen: A look into the past

Wooden churches are an important form of construction for Christian worship. These churches made of wood differ significantly from stone buildings and are widespread in many parts of Europe, especially in Scandinavia. The tradition of wooden construction can be traced back to early Christianity, when there was a shortage of stone in the areas north of the Roman Empire. Here mainly wooden churches were built, while in Germany the construction of these churches practically came to a standstill in the 13th century, as the information from Wikipedia explain.

Despite the declining numbers in Central Europe, there are still impressive wooden churches, such as the largest wooden church in Kerimäki, Finland, which seats over 3,400. In Germany, the remains of medieval wooden churches are rare, but the oldest, such as the chapel in Sammarei, date from the 16th century. This construction method is not only culturally valuable, but also reflects the craft traditions and materials that were available.