Holy Cross Church
Source: City of Offenburg offenburg.de/html/hl_kreuz_kirche.html

Old Offenburg parish church, with a simple nave, which, with the exception of the oval windows in the facade gable, is only structured by flat-arched windows. The staircase vestibules are entered through simple round-arched doors. The tower rises directly from the facade. On the ground floor it is decorated with a portal with half-columns, cranked beams and a broken round gable, on the next floor there are simple round-arched windows. The last square floor is decorated with Ionic pilasters, above which sits cranked beams. Then follows a rich octagonal finish like the monastery church in Gengenbach, with Corinthian columns, elongated oval windows and a triple onion dome.

The church took a long time to build, from the 13th century to the late Middle Ages. After the fire of 1689, which left little of the original building, Franz Beer, an important representative of the Vorarlberg school of architecture active throughout the Upper Rhine, led the reconstruction and gave the church the form in which it can still be admired today.

The first mention of the church - which was Romanesque at the time - dates back to 1223. The church was built throughout the 14th century, at least on the choir. Merian's engraving from 1643 shows the nave and choir united under a high gable roof.

The great fire in the city left only walls of the parish church, some of them up to the ridge line, the choir, the St. Joseph's choir and the sacristy. The impoverished citizens first rebuilt the choir, which was still preserved but had no roof, from 1696 onwards and closed it off from the nave. This work was completed by 1700. At the same time, planning for the reconstruction of the nave began.

In June 1700, the city's officials hired master mason Franz Beer and Leonhard Albrecht from Begrenz. Beer was considered one of the most capable architects of the time. He also oversaw the restoration of the church and the new construction of the monastery in Gengenbach. He skillfully used the remaining remains of the longhouse, took over the bases and window lintels and added a tower to the west of the church, one third of which was in the old longhouse.

Translated by Google •

Werner Winkler

September 10, 2024

The Holy Cross Church is the main Catholic church in Offenburg. One door is open for viewing.

Translated by Google •

Victor

July 13, 2024

Beautiful old church in the city

Translated by Google •

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Elevation 170 m

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Location: Offenburg, Ortenaukreis, Freiburg District, Baden-Württemberg, Germany

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