Graz Cathedral

South of the Graz Burg stands the Late Gothic Cathedral (Dom; 1438-62), on the site of an earlier church dedicated to St Giles, which is first referred to in 1174. In 1564 it became the court church, and in 1786 the seat of the Bishops of Seckau. Particularly fine is the main doorway, decorated with the coat of arms of its builder, Emperor Frederick III. On the south external wall, facing on to a small square, are the remains of a Late Gothic fresco (1485), the "Landplagenbild", depicting Graz threatened by pestilence, the Turks and a plague of locusts. The interior of this church, mainly Baroque, is impressive. The wide nave is separated from the choir by a narrow triumphal arch, flanking which are two fine reliquaries of 1477. The choir is dominated by the high altar of colored marble (1730-33). The altar-piece portrays the "Miracle of St Giles". In the aisles are fine monuments and altars with beautiful statues and paintings. The finely carved pulpit dates from 1710. The fresco of St Christopher in the cloister chapel is part of the original Gothic interior.