Church of St. Catharine

The Church of St. Catharine is just one of the numerous churches built in Lendava and the only Catholic Church located in the centre of the town. You will find it standing right beside the main street that leads to the Lendava Castle.

The church was built around 1750, but there are speculations about other, smaller churches that may have stood on this exact place before, but were demolished when the town fell under a new ruler and a new religion was incorporated.

The church was built under the close watch of the Eszterhazy family and it is claimed to have been one of the most beautiful and prestigious churches of this time. The interior of the church was changed in the 19th century, after the some statues and altar suffered damage.

The exterior of the church is designed in a traditional Baroque style with three-storage bell towers. The interior was painted by a well-known Italian painter, Barazuti. The picture of St. Catharine Siena is one of the most beautiful church decorations in Prekmurje.

The main altar in the church is not a traditional baroque golden altar, but designed in a simpler and elegant style and constructed with wood. The altar was the work of another great Italian artist, Felix Barazutti and it is dedicated to Catharine Alexandria. Statues of four bishops and churchwardens are placed around the altar.

The Church of St. Catharine has a hidden secret – underneath the church lies the last resting place of the female family members from the Eszterhazy family. The vault was once opened for visitors, but it is now closed and buried.

Three statues will welcome you when you walk close to the Church of St. Catharine: a brogue statue of St. Florian (patron saint of fire-fighters), bronze statue of St. Stephen and the statue of Slovenian bishop Martin Slomšek.

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