The late-Gothic parish church of Maria am Berg, perched on a small terrace above the village, is the structure that gives Hallstatt its instantly recognisable skyline. The current building dates from the 15th and 16th centuries, replacing an earlier Romanesque chapel, and rises with a slim white spire above coloured houses cut into the cliff.
Inside, the highlight is the late-Gothic carved winged altar in the south aisle, completed in 1515 — one of the finest of its kind in the Salzkammergut. The figures depict Mary flanked by Saints Barbara (patron of miners) and Catherine, and the wings are painted on both sides so the altar shows different scenes depending on the liturgical season. The small cemetery outside is still active and exquisitely tended, with most plots showing wrought-iron crosses rather than headstones.