The Parish Church of St. Giles in Zreče

Fees:

Visit to the church is free of charge

Working hours:

The church is open at all times.

The Parish Church of St. Giles in Zreče appeared for the first time in the written sources in 1375, but in fact its beginnings date back to the 11th century.

How do we know that the Parish Church of St. Giles is older?

• The church has an old Romanesque base, with Gothic and late Gothic elements and Baroque altars that were created later.
• In the 11th century, the worship of St. Giles, and consequently the construction of his churches, was at its peak. He became the patron saint of Carinthia and Styria, later replaced by St. Joseph.

Special characteristics of the Parish Church of St. Giles:

• In the old part there is an altar under the bell tower, which is very rare in the Slovenian churches.
• The church is, in fact, a unity of two churches: the ancient St. Giles' Church and the modern Church of the Risen Savior from 1988. An interesting mixture of both churches can be seen from afar.

Did you know?

Saint Giles, or Tilen, Aegidius, also Elijah, was a Greek from Athens who lived as a hermit in French Provence. He is considered the founder of the Benedictine monastery, where he died as abbot in 725. Among other things he was a patron saint of beggars.

In addition, on the main altar of the Parish Church of St. Giles in Zreče, St. Giles is depicted as a Benedictine abbot with a doe at his feet.