In Sankt Peter in Holz, history can be explored through a range of different evidence: the archaeological city of Teurnia is located here, and the parish church of St. Peter in Holz tells the story of another era. Those interested in culture and history will find a variety of highlights, from Roman artifacts and ancient buildings to medieval church paintings.
Teurnia: Ancient City and Archaeological Evidence
In the 5th and 6th centuries AD, Teurnia was the fortified capital of the province of Noricum and also a bishop's seat. The forum served as a Roman marketplace. The bath complex included rooms that were largely equipped with hypocausts—that is, underfloor heating. Together, these functions reveal different aspects of ancient urban life, from trade to bathing.
The surviving architectural remains also offer a range of perspectives. The bishop's church survives as imposing ruins; the cemetery church has a mosaic floor dating from around 500 AD. Its southern side chapel is covered by a protective shelter. At Teurnia's western entrance, the Late Antique defensive wall can be seen as an earthen mound more than two metres high. The open-air museum also includes a residential building whose floor area in its final construction phase was about 340 square metres.
Another indication of the area's religious history is a building inscription from St. Peter in Holz. It refers to a temple dedicated to the Celtic healing god Grannus, whom the Romans identified with Apollo. The inscription adds another kind of evidence to the buildings: it points to a deity and shows how the Romans classified him.
Museum, Collection and Programme
The Teurnia Roman Museum displays marble sculptures, inscriptions, jewellery, weapons and coins. The collection explores Roman and Celtic society, daily life and art. Those who would first like to engage with the past through objects and the stories behind them will find a different approach here than among the archaeological buildings.
The museum programme includes workshops on Roman jewellery, mosaic drawing and junior archaeology. The availability of individual programmes may change, so check the current offerings in advance. A legion march across Holzer Berg takes visitors to the individual archaeological sites at Teurnia. Alongside exploring objects, visitors can therefore choose a workshop format or an activity connected with the sites.
The Parish Church and Its Paintings
The parish church of St. Peter in Holz was first mentioned in a document around 1060/1070; the Gothic church dates from around 1400. These dates refer to different things: the church's first documentary mention and the approximate construction date of the Gothic building. A depiction of St. Christopher from the early 15th century is located on the west façade. The frescoes above the entrance date from around 1430.
Important medieval wall paintings were uncovered inside the church in 1970. Their subjects include the Passion of Christ, the resurrection of the blessed and their procession to the Heavenly Castle, as well as fragments of the legend of St. Dorothy. Together with the depiction of St. Christopher and the frescoes above the entrance, the wall paintings form a distinct focus within the area's history, with images rather than inscriptions, coins or architectural remains.
Which Historical Perspective Suits Your Interests?
The differences between the subjects can help you choose: the museum focuses on finds and how they fit into society, daily life and art. Teurnia's archaeological remains reveal, among other things, the marketplace, baths, churches and fortifications. In the parish church, the medieval wall paintings and their religious motifs take centre stage. This lets you explore Sankt Peter in Holz through the kind of history that interests you most, rather than grouping the Roman and medieval evidence together as a single period.
For the broader travel overview: Lendorf.
