Auersthal Pfarrkirche

The parish church of Auersthal stands in the village centre of Auersthal in Lower Austria. It is a large, prominent building raised slightly above the surrounding houses. The church is dedicated to Saint Nicholas and has been under official protection since the 14th century.

The church’s history begins with a Gothic choir built in the 14th century. In the 18th century the nave was rebuilt in Baroque style and in 1784 the church became the parish church. Josef Wenz carried out further alterations in 1859, adding new sections. The interior features a three-bay nave with barrel vaulting and a two-bay choir with ribbed vaulting. The high altar, painted by Franz Schams in 1859, shows Saint Nicholas flanked by figures of Saints Anthony and John of Nepomuk.

Outside, the west façade is framed by pilasters and topped by a pointed gable containing a statue of the Immaculate Conception. The Gothic choir is supported by buttresses and tall pointed windows. Inside, the nave’s west gallery is reached by a small stair turret. The side altars hold statues of Saints Barbara and Leopold, and the pulpit displays symbols of the theological virtues. The organ, with twenty stops, was installed in 1934 by Josef Panhuber.