St. Vigilius in Cortaccia

Kurtatsch an der Weinstraße is located on the right bank of the Adige River on a gentle hill 333 m above sea level, the so-called sun terrace of the lower region. The village mainly lives from wine and fruit growing. In the lower areas, orchards dominate, while on the slopes around Kurtatsch, wine of the highest quality thrives.

The area was already inhabited in the Mesolithic era, as several archaeological finds prove. A menhir from the Bronze Age was also discovered here, as well as a copper smelting site with smelting furnaces. There are also rich finds from the Roman period, especially famous is the torso of a statue of the god of commerce, Mercury. The Christianization probably took place in the second half of the 4th century by St. Vigilius of Trent. Vigilius, as the bishop of Trent, mainly evangelized the Adige Valley and is still highly revered in South Tyrol today. Many churches and place names testify to the popularity of this saint.

The St. Vigil Church in Kurtatsch was probably built in the 11th century. The year 1033 is found on the baptismal font. The striking Romanesque church tower with a pointed pyramid dates from the 13th century. The first documented mention of St. Vigilius dates back to 1337.

Originally, St. Vigilius belonged to the parish of Kaltern. At the beginning of the 16th century, the church was rebuilt and elevated to its own parish in 1515. The sacristy was most likely added in the late Gothic period and expanded in 1677. In the 19th century, the nave was finally expanded and the church acquired its present appearance.

The interior of the church is dominated by the Gothic-style high altar, which was only built in 1850. Incorporated into it is the altarpiece completed by the Baroque painter Orazio Giovanelli in 1635, which depicts the martyrdom of St. Vigil. Nothing of the old, late Gothic altar has been preserved. Two side altars date from 1873. The right altar contains the miraculous image of the Sorrowful Mother of God. This image from the 17th century originally was located in the courtyard "an der Platten". In 1733, an imperial soldier observed drops during the rosary at the image, as if the Mother of God was crying. The phenomenon repeated itself and was reported to the bishop in Trent. A commission was sent to investigate the event, but no deception could be found, and the "miracle" was recognized.

Thus, in 1738, the miraculous image was exhibited in the parish church for public veneration, and although no tears have been seen on it since then, numerous pilgrims have been flocking to Kurtatsch every year.