Koszeg - Church of St James

(Local Name: Szent Jakab templom) The most important historical building in Koszeg, was built in Late Gothic style in 1403-07, using the remains of a Romanesque Minorite church. In 1758 the front and furnishings were redesigned in Baroque fashion. In 1554 the church became Protestant, and from 1671 onwards it found itself in the possession of various Catholic orders, including Jesuits, Piarists and Benedictines, whose crests can be seen on the façade. The tower is 15th C, while the little Sanctus Tower above the choir was added in 1697. The interior of the triple-aisled edifice is Gothic; the keystone of the groin vault in front of the choir bears the arms of the founder, Miklós Garai. Along the south side of the choir are niche-seats with pointed arches, and above the tabernacle is a Gothic Madonna and Infant Jesus (c 1500). Also Gothic are the wall-paintings on the end wall of the south side-aisle; these show the Magi, an outsize St Christopher, a protective Madonna, St Elisabeth of Thuringia, of Árpád lineage, and St Barbara.