Church of Our Lady
Liebfrauenkirche
Religion
AffiliationRoman Catholic
DistrictDiocese of Trier
Ecclesiastical or organizational statusMinor basilica
Location
LocationTrier, Rhineland-Palatinate,  Germany
Geographic coordinates49°45′21″N 6°38′35″E / 49.755885°N 6.64315°E / 49.755885; 6.64315
Architecture
TypeChurch
StyleGothic
Groundbreakingc. 1230 AD
Completed1260 AD
Website
liebfrauen-trier.de
Official nameChurch of Our Lady (Liebfrauenkirche)
Part ofRoman Monuments, Cathedral of St Peter and Church of Our Lady in Trier
CriteriaCultural: (i), (iii), (iv), (vi)
Reference367-009
Inscription1986 (10th Session)

The Liebfrauenkirche (German for Church of Our Lady) in Trier, is, according to UNESCO, "the earliest church built in French High Gothic style outside France." It is designated as part of the Roman Monuments, Cathedral of St Peter and Church of Our Lady in Trier UNESCO World Heritage Site.[1] The Trier Dom (cathedral) is next to it, and the two buildings share a common wall.

History

A Roman double church originally stood here. According to the church parish website, the Roman Emperor Constantine (272–337) made a large endowment in 326 AD that led to the first church construction there.[2]

After the southern portion had become dilapidated by around 1200, Archbishop of Trier Theoderich von Wied (1170–1242) hired French builders from Champagne, who completely replaced it with the Early Gothic Church of Our Lady (Liebfrauen).[2]

The exact date of the start of construction can no longer be determined, however a painted inscription inside on a column in the church reads: "The construction of this church was started in 1227 and ended in 1243" (German: "Der Bau dieser Kirche ward angefangen im Jahr 1227 und geendigt im Jahr 1243".). However, it is currently thought construction began in 1230.

Around 1260, the building was probably finished. In 1492, a high peak was placed on the central tower, which was named because of its high technology and degree of craftsmanship perfection. The high peak can be seen on the city dating, but was destroyed in a storm on Heimsuchungstag (July 2) in 1631. Subsequently, a hipped roof emplaced, which was destroyed in the Second World War. It was first replaced in 1945 by a roof and then by a steeper one in 2003.

On July 13, 1951, Pope Pius XII designated the church a minor basilica,[2] and in 1986 it was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List as part of the Roman Monuments, Cathedral of St Peter and Church of Our Lady in Trier UNESCO World Heritage Site.[1]

Architecture and structure

Round Cruciform Floorplan

The Liebfrauenkirche, built next to the cathedral, shares with it a wall and a cloister.[3]

A special feature of the basilica is its atypical cruciform floor plan as a round church, whose cross-shaped vaulting with four corresponding portals in rounded niches is completed by eight rounded altar niches so that the floor plan resembles rose, a symbol of the Virgin Mary, one of whose poetic titles is Rosa Mystica. The rose's twelve petals suggest the twelve tribes of Israel and the Twelve Apostles. The apostles as well as the twelve articles of the Apostles' Creed are painted on the twelve supporting columns, completely visible only from one spot marked by a gold star.

Though nothing above the surface is Roman any longer, there are extensive excavations (not open to the public) underneath the church and several of the Gothic pillars stand on top of Roman column foundations.[4]

References

  1. 1 2 UNESCO World Heritage Centre. "Roman Monuments, Cathedral of St Peter and Church of Our Lady in Trier". whc.unesco.org. Retrieved 5 February 2020. The Church of Our Lady is the earliest church built in French High Gothic style outside France. Its purity of style (it was completed in only 30 years) and the undeviating implementation of the architect's plan for a basilica-shaped graduated central area, for which there were partial models, though no entire prototype in France, probably make it the most perfect example of the centralized construction concept in Gothic style
  2. 1 2 3 "Pfarrkirche Liebfrauen-Basilika". Parish church of Liebfrauen-Basilika. Retrieved 6 February 2022. Die Geschichte der Liebfrauen-Basilika führt in das Jahr 326 n. Chr. Zum 20-jährigen Regierungsjubiläum machte Kaiser Konstantin große Stiftungen...und eben die Doppelkirchenanlage in Trier, aus der die Hohe Domkirche und die Liebfrauenkirche hervorgegangen sind. (The history of the Basilica of Our Lady leads back to the year 326 AD. On the 20th anniversary of his reign, Emperor Constantine made large endowments ... and also the double church complex in Trier, from which the Hohe Domkirche and the Liebfrauenkirche emerged.)
  3. ↑ Cooke, Anne Z. (12 September 2015). "The once and future city: Trier and its treasures". The Record (Waterloo Region). Retrieved 5 February 2020. In the 13th century the early Gothic Liebfrauenkirche was erected next door, adjoining the Romanesque cathedral. Today the two stand as one, sharing a common wall and cloister.
  4. ↑ Trier Tourismus und Marketing: "Church of Our Lady"
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