Tour of the Waldburg winged altars

The three late-Gothic winged altars make Waldburg an art-historical treasure. There is hardly any other place in Austria where you can find three Gothic winged altars in one place, as in the church in Waldburg near Freistadt.

The main altar, featuring the Virgin Mary, Saint Catherine, and the church’s patron saint, Mary Magdalene, dominates the sanctuary. The reliefs on the altar wings also depict her in scenes from her life of penance. The outer wings and the rear wall of the shrine depict the Easter cycle in vivid panel paintings.
The two carved side altars are dedicated to Saint Lawrence and Saint Wolfgang. The rather simple depiction of the figures still holds a special appeal for many viewers today. The figures appear very lifelike, a quality that was likely highly appreciated by the congregation at the time of their creation (1517–1523). These works are of great artistic value and represent a beautiful example of deeply felt popular piety.