St. Gangolf Church and Gangolf's Cross, Wolpertswende

The Gangolf cross is kept in the Church of St. Gangolf.The Romanesque Gangolf Cross is considered to be one of the "prototypes" of Romanesque bronze art in southern Germany. It was created around 1130. Since it is only mentioned in connection with Wolpertswende, it can be assumed that it has always been owned by the parish over the centuries. Apparently the Guelphs from Weingarten donated this art treasure. Wolpertswende alone owns two of the estimated 180 Romanesque crosses worldwide that are still preserved in their original state. The second cross is currently on loan to the Diocesan Museum in Rottenburg.According to legend, the Gangolf Cross was found in the neighboring Gangolfsbrunnen. This could be explained by the fact that the cross was hidden in the well and then forgotten when marauding hordes attacked the village.The cross shows Christ enthroned in the typical Romanesque style: the crucified one does not wear a crown of thorns, the feet are not nailed on and no injuries are visible. The loincloth is particularly finely engraved as a magnificent royal cloak. And as a sign of nobility, Christ wears a finely worked beard and shoulder-length hair. Such long hair was reserved for the nobility in the Middle Ages.On the back of the cross there were originally three relics of St. Albert, St. Christina and the Mother of God let in, but they were probably already removed in the Baroque period. These relics show a reference to the Dominicans, as well as to the rule of Fronhofen, who in turn were ministerials of the Guelphs.The cross can be viewed in the display case during the day. During the Gangolfsfest it is carried in the festival processionSource: westliches-ussental.de/hauptmenue/home/gemeinden/gemeindenmenue/wolpertswende/gangolfskreuz.html