Inside the Evangelical Church of Hallstatt
It seems that I would be staying right at the center of Hallstatt. The market square of Hallstatt is literally at the doorstep of my accommodations and I couldn’t have thought of a better place to stay in. While there are quite a few establishments here in the market square, it was actually quite quiet here considering that it should be the center of activity of the village. I think everyone just respects the place and visitors and establishments alike recognize that this is a place where people live. So there will not be any loud music even if it is a bar, perhaps there would be but only inside the premises.
Pews at the Evangelical Church of Hallstatt
In most photos of Hallstatt there will be a singular prominent structure. There is a spire which towers over the village. It is one of the most recognizable structures in Hallstatt and one could argue that it is a symbol of the village. The spire belongs to the Evangelical Church of Hallstatt. This was the time of the Protestant Reformation and Lutheranism was starting to gain ground. Back then members of this new branch of Christianity weren’t recognized and it was only until Emperor Franz Josef I’s decree that they would be guaranteed equal rights as citizens. As a result of this guarantee, the people converted this house of prayer into a full fledged church. The church is meant to serve the local population and thus not that large as you can see in other towns. However, they made sure that the spire is prominent and it has become the most prominent landmark in the village.
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