St. Mariä Geburt Parish Church (Baasem)

The Catholic parish church of St. Mary's Birth is a listed church building in Baasem, a district of the municipality of Dahlem in the district of Euskirchen (North Rhine-Westphalia). A chapel in Baasem is documented for the first time at the beginning of the 14th century. It was raised to the rank of vicarie in 1486 and was under the patronage of the Lords of Kronenburg. The patronage passed to the Counts of Manderscheid-Schleiden in 1539. St. Mary's Birth was raised to the parish church in 1659.The two-aisled late Gothic hall church of five bays is in a central location. It was built around 1500 with rich stone and net vaults on four octagonal and round pillars. Two-aisled churches only appear sporadically in the Eifel, including in the neighboring municipality of Kronenburg. The rare architectural style was probably brought to the region by Cardinal Nikolaus Cusanus. The southern nave closes on three sides, the northern one with a flat-arched apse. In the interior, star and reticulated vaults rest on slim pillars without capital; the main keystones are carved. The sacristy was built into the north choir in 1890 based on a design by Heinrich Wiethase. In the course of time the church was rebuilt several times, during the Second World War it was badly damaged. Most of the damage was repaired by 1949. [4] In 1954 and 1955, the interior was made according to findings. The substructure of the tower was probably built in the Romanesque period, the upper floors around 1559. The tower is a defensive tower, a bent slate pyramid is placed on it.

The church is in Baasem and is part of the Way of St. James on the Via Coloniensis. Pilgrim's stamp is in the church.

Just like Schmidtheim, Baasem was first mentioned as a part of the municipality of Dahlen in 867, albeit under the name Basenheim. The first chapel was probably built in 1308, which belonged to the then parish of Alendorf. Both the west tower and parts of the north wall have been preserved. In the middle of the 15th century it was expanded and the hall was built in the Gothic style. Over the decades, the church underwent numerous renovations until it was severely damaged in World War II. After the damage had been largely repaired by 1949, restoration took place in 1954/1955, with old paintings being restored. Source: eifelkirchen.com/Baasem/Baasem.htm