Where History Comes Alive: My Summer Project in Oswaldiberg Church
- Amelie Ehrismann
- 6 days ago
- 2 min read
This summer I had the chance to spend four weeks working in the little filial church on Oswaldiberg in Villach. My task: bringing new life to an 18th-century baroque pulpit.
The conservation and restoration concept was developed together with the Federal Monuments Authority. The focus was on consolidating the paint layers, but I also filled and retouched losses and cleaned the surface.
It was a wonderful place to work. The small mountain church offered a cool retreat from the summer heat, and many friendly hikers and mountain bikers stopped by. Some came to enjoy the quiet or climb the tower – from the top there’s a breathtaking view of Villach and the Carinthian lakes.
The church is dedicated to Saint Oswald, a beloved patron saint of lovers. Tradition says that if you ring the church bell, it will bring luck in finding a partner. Many visitors asked me questions about my work and were curious to see a restorer in action. Some even returned several times during those four weeks, just to check on the progress and have a chat.
At the end of the project we celebrated the Vassach village feast (Kirchtag) in the mountain church – with a mass, live music, local food, and dancing. The ledige Zechgemeinschaft (a traditional association of young, unmarried people) arrived in dirndls and lederhosen and performed traditional dances. During this celebration I had the chance to present the finished pulpit to the community and talk about my work. I can hardly imagine a more beautiful way to conclude a project.
What touched me most was how much the local people care about preserving their church – many of them volunteering their time. The plan is to restore the rest of the furnishings as well, with a quarter of the costs covered by donations.
I often work on church interiors, and I always find it moving to see communities come together to protect their heritage. But this project was especially close to my heart: I grew up at the foot of Oswaldiberg. So for me, it was a little back to the roots – and I am deeply grateful that I could contribute to preserving this beautiful pulpit, a true centerpiece of the church interior, standing close to the congregation between the pews.
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