Old Cathedral in Linz

St. Ignatius Cathedral stands on the south side of the main square of the city, which is called Hauptplatz. The square is one of the largest in Europe. The temple with a green facade, also called Alter Dom (Old Cathedral), is only 25 m high and looks quite simple.: It is decorated with a modest wide dome (nave) surrounded by three side chapels. The cathedral is named after the founder of the Jesuit male monastic order, Ignatius de Loyola. Sometimes the temple is called the Jesuit Church.

The history of the Old Cathedral

The project of the church was commissioned by the Jesuit Order. Architect P. F. Carlone, invited by the Order, was engaged in the development of the project and construction. The foundation of the church was laid in 1669, the construction was completed in 1676. In 1773, by the decision of Pope Clement XIII, the Jesuit order ceased to exist officially. In 1783, the Holy Roman Emperor Joseph II, without the approval of the Vatican, founded two dioceses, one of them in Linz. By his sole decision, the emperor approved the bishop, and gave the Jesuit church the status of a cathedral. The Vatican supported and approved this decision only 2 years later – in 1785 Linz became the capital of the archdiocese, and the cathedral was transferred to the status of a Cathedral. From 1785 to 1909, the church was proudly called the central Cathedral of the Diocese of Linz. At the beginning of the last century, the Jesuits returned to Austria again. After the completion of the construction of the New Cathedral, the Cathedral of St. Ignatius was handed back to the Jesuit order. The Old Cathedral in Linz housed the college of Jesuit monks for quite a long period of time.

The interior of the Old Cathedral in Linz

Externally, the Old Cathedral in Linz looks rather modest. But the interior, made in the Baroque style, impresses with luxury and some pomp: magnificent pink marble columns, statues, marble sculptures, pulpits with delicate carvings, a stunning high altar painted by artists of the XVII century. The dome has a gold ornament on the inside. The walls are decorated with paintings by artists. The most famous painting is "Saint Aloysius", the work of the famous Italian master Antonio Bellucci. It hangs above the altar. The painting depicts the Jesuit monk Aloysius Gonzaga. He died very young at the age of 23. During the plague, Aloysius helped the sick and dying. The disease did not pass him by either. Later, Aloysius was canonized.

During the service, an 18th-century organ sounds solemnly and sadly in the cathedral, making the hearts of parishioners tremble. It was played by the future famous Austrian composer A. Bruckner, who worked as an organist at the cathedral in 1856-1868. This is stated by a commemorative plaque placed on the organ. At the direction of A. Bruckner, the instrument was improved for a flawless sound. The organ in the singular has been preserved in its original form to the present day. The cathedral hosts an annual organ music festival in honor of A. Bruckner.

Nowadays, the Old Cathedral in Linz is open daily for free visits by everyone. Guided tours are available only in the morning.