3 .
F R A N C I S C A N
C H U R C H
FRANZISKANERPL. 14
The Franciscan monastery of Graz is the oldest
monastery in Graz . Already in 1239 the first divine
service was held by the Brothers of the Lesser in
Graz , i . e . they probably settled under the Duke of
Babenberger by Frederick II in Graz . The monastery
was founded in a strategically important place : on
the city wall near the Moore bridge . In the original
church there was no tower . The tower was built in
the 17th century as a lighthouse , and then
transferred to the Franciscans .
In the middle of the 15th century Franciscan
monitors (" Reformed monks ") arrived in Graz and
settled in St . Leonard . After the destruction of the
local monastery by enemy invasions from the East
they were allowed to build a new monastery in
today ' s Tummelplatz , but after the construction was
completed , the abbots left the Dominicans , who
also later fled because of enemy raids on their
monastery , which was located in front of the city
walls . " Observer " invited the emperor to gather with
his Franciscan " monastic " brothers (=> Minorites ) in
Kloster . Since efforts to unify the two branches
failed , and the minorities did not want to follow the
rules of the observers , they had to leave their
monastery within the city wall to the observer and
move to Murvorstadt .
Important structural changes on the way to today ' s
appearance were :
In the 16th century the refectory was built , the
church was rebuilt and dedicated to the new main
altar .
In the 17th century , the sacristy was rebuilt , a
western tower was built , the chapel of Anthony and
the chapel of Mater Dolorosa were built .
It is worth mentioning two important dates in the
18th century : the Anthony Chapel was restored in
1723 , and in 1783 the abbey church was elevated to
the parish church .
In the second half of the nineteenth century ,
mention should be made of redotation .