The charming little church of St. George and St. James is located just below the village of Oberbozen and can be visited during a scenic hike along the Sommerfrischweg trail from Oberbozen.

Its exposed position on a wooded hill, its patron saints, architectural features, and particularly the interior frescoes all suggest that this church is very old. Although much of the wall painting still lies hidden beneath layers of whitewash, the frescoes that have been uncovered indicate not only the oldest fresco cycle on the Ritten, but also a unique artistic treasure of more than just local significance. However, as noted, much remains hidden beneath the surface, and the few scattered documents that could shed light on its history are still covered in dust.

Earliest Mention

The year 1289 is documented with certainty, though it refers only indirectly to the church. In the related legal document, mention is made of the Gadner Farm, which was acquired by Count Meinhard II in that year and is described as being "below the Church of St. George." This means that the church itself must have been built before this date.

Construction and Interior

We do not know exactly when construction began. However, the renovation and expansion of what was originally a rather small chapel likely concluded shortly before 1502, since that year an original document records the consecration of the high and side altars by the auxiliary bishop of Trento. The trefoil-arched portal with two concave moldings also dates from this period.

The Gothic bell tower, with a base and tracery in the sound openings, bears the date 1625. At that time, the church was baroqued: the windows were enlarged, a barrel vault added, and three frescoes of saints painted.
Unfortunately, the church has recently been targeted by thieves, and several elements of the high and side altars, including valuable paintings and statues from the 17th and 18th centuries, were stolen. The remaining pieces have been secured.

Of the three bells, dating from 1654, 1585, and 1838, the middle bell had to be surrendered during World War I.
On the choir loft, there was once a portable positive organ, which was sold to Nuremberg in 1930. The proceeds were used to help fund a new organ in Unterinn.

The Frescoes

In 1917, restoration work began to uncover the frescoes in the apse vault. An upper layer of paintings from around 1380 was removed and has since disappeared.
Beneath it lay an older layer, which has recently been restored. These frescoes depict Christ as the Judge of the World, surrounded by the symbols of the evangelists and angels. Below Him, the apostles are grouped in pairs, seemingly engaged in conversation.

While the themes and layout of the frescoes still reflect Romanesque traditions, art historians recognize in the strong contour lines and the depiction of the apostles the emergence of a new artistic style: the Gothic.
This places the frescoes at a significant transitional moment in art history — quite literally at the grave of Romanesque and the cradle of Gothic. From this, a fairly accurate dating can be inferred: around the year 1300.

Patron Saints

There is some ambiguity regarding the sequence of patron saints associated with the church. Renowned scholars (J. Garber, J. Weingartner, M. Frei) primarily refer to the church as dedicated to St. James, with M. Frei adding that “later, the knightly saint St. George was added as patron.”
However, in the 1903 publication by K. Atz and A. Schatz describing the German-speaking areas of the Diocese of Trento, the church is referred to as the ancient filial chapel (of the Unterinn parish) dedicated to St. George and St. James, with additional patron saints mentioned: St. George, St. Erhard, St. James, and St. Blaise.

Access & Information

The key to the church is available at the Tourist Office at Oberbozen train station.
We’re happy to reserve it for you: Tel. +39 0471 345 245