Church of St. Mauritius, Spitz aan der Donau

The medieval parish Church of St. Mauritius in Spitz an der Donau, perched high above the Danube River, is an iconic landmark within the Wachau UNESCO World Heritage landscape. Its vibrant, polychrome-tiled tower roof is not only visually striking but also historically significant, particularly following the surprising discovery that the roof, long thought to date from the 19th century, in fact originates from around 1505. This makes it Austria’s only fully preserved late medieval example of this distinctive roofing style. Following severe storm damage in 2020, an extensive restoration project was launched to secure this fragile cultural heritage. Around 80% of the original 8,000 glazed tiles were preserved in place, while about 2,000 were replaced using handmade techniques faithful to medieval production. Subtle technical upgrades were integrated to improve durability without altering the church’s historic appearance.
The restoration received the European Heritage Awards / Europa Nostra Awards 2025 for its exemplary integration of high-level scientific conservation, traditional craftsmanship, and active community involvement in safeguarding a unique medieval heritage asset.