The church of St. Jakob in Grissian stands on a medieval pilgrimage and trade route. The church was consecrated on May 12, 1142, as can be read from the dedication inscription, which is still partially preserved in the apse behind the altar of the church. Above it, Christ is enthroned in the mandorla between Mary and John the Baptist and other symbols of the evangelists. These frescoes, like the scenes on the front of the church, to the side and above the apse, which also date from shortly after 1200, are among the most important Romanesque works in South Tyrol. On the left you can see Abel offering a lamb and being blessed by God for it. On the opposite side, Cain, with his face turned away, offers a bundle of ears of grain, which God rejects with a clenched fist. The entire area above is taken up by the sacrifice of Abraham, who wants to sacrifice his son Isaac, against a unique, impressive backdrop of snow-capped mountains. Of the actual sacrifice scene, only a part of the pyre on the right and Abraham with the sword under the tower staircase have been preserved due to the tower being built around 1380.
The Gothic frescoes on the tower wall, which were only uncovered during the restoration in 1956, show a crucifixion scene and the adoration by the Three Kings. They are also important and date from the end of the 14th/first half of the 15th century. Other frescoes depicting several saints on the south wall and heavily damaged scenes from the life of Saint James on the north wall also date from this period.
Similarly important paintings from around 1400 can be found on the outer wall of the south nave. Here, an elongated fresco depicts Christ with his twelve apostles and a Man of Sorrows with the donor's image of a kneeling knight.
There is a pilgrim's stamp in the church