Barbarakirche Fließ

Between 1794/1800 and 1804, the new church was built here in a commanding position, as the old parish church was no longer large enough to accommodate the large number of worshippers. Initially, it was consecrated, like the old parish church, to the Assumption of Mary; however, the new building soon took on the patronage of St Barbara’s Chapel, which had previously stood on this site.
The first mention of a St Barbara’s Chapel dates back to around 1300. There are several records of events relating to the chapel throughout the 14th century, including one from Avignon in 1352. From the 17th century onwards, the chapel served as a much-visited place of pilgrimage; its popularity was further enhanced by the folk legend play ‘Comedia Barbara’, written in 1644 by the Fließ parish priest Michael Raggl, which was performed west of the village by amateur actors.
The chapel itself, surrounded by a cemetery, was refurnished in the late 17th century, and the final building was consecrated in 1682. The new building, serving as the parish church and consecrated on 9 October 1804 by Karl Franz von Lodron, Prince-Bishop of Brixen, was based on the plans of Nikolaus Tolentin Schuler, then parish priest of Fließ, who also contributed a considerable portion of the funds for its construction. It was not until later, in 1817, that the façade tower on the valley side was completed. The church was renovated in 1902–04, and the exterior was restored in 1970–72.