The Liebfrauenkirche (German for Church of Our Lady) in

Trier Trier ( , ; ), formerly and traditionally known in English as Trèves ( , ) and Triers (see also Names of Trier in different languages, names in other languages), is a city on the banks of the Moselle (river), Moselle in Germany. It lies in a v ...

, is, according to

UNESCO The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO ) is a List of specialized agencies of the United Nations, specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) with the aim of promoting world peace and International secur ...

, "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 World Heritage Sites are landmarks and areas with legal protection under an treaty, international treaty administered by UNESCO for having cultural, historical, or scientific significance. The sites are judged to contain "cultural and natural ...

. 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. After the southern portion had become dilapidated by around 1200,

Archbishop of Trier The Diocese of Trier (), in English historically also known as ''Treves'' () from French ''Trèves'', is a Latin Church ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Catholic church in Germany.Theoderich von Wied (1170–1242) hired French builders from

Champagne Champagne (; ) is a sparkling wine originated and produced in the Champagne wine region of France under the rules of the appellation, which demand specific vineyard practices, sourcing of grapes exclusively from designated places within it, spe ...

, who completely replaced it with the Early Gothic Church of Our Lady (Liebfrauen). 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 (2 July) in 1631. Subsequently, a hipped roof emplaced, which was destroyed in the

Second World War World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

. It was first replaced in 1945 by a roof and then by a steeper one in 2003. On 13 July 1951 Pope

Pius XII Pope Pius XII (; born Eugenio Maria Giuseppe Giovanni Pacelli; 2 March 18769 October 1958) was the head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State from 2 March 1939 until his death on 9 October 1958. He is the most recent p ...

designated the church a

minor basilica Basilicas are Catholic church buildings that have a designation, conferring special privileges, given by the Pope. Basilicas are distinguished for ceremonial purposes from other churches. The building need not be a basilica in the architectura ...

, 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

Architecture and structure

The Liebfrauenkirche, built next to the cathedral, shares with it a wall and a cloister. A special feature of the basilica is its atypical

cruciform A cruciform is a physical manifestation resembling a common cross or Christian cross. These include architectural shapes, biology, art, and design. Cruciform architectural plan Christian churches are commonly described as having a cruciform ...

floor plan as a

round church A round church is a church with a completely circular plan, thus a rotunda in architectural terms. There are many Nordic round churches in Sweden and Denmark (notably the island of Bornholm); round churches were popular in Scandinavia in the ...

, 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 Mary was a first-century Jewish woman of Nazareth, the wife of Saint Joseph, Joseph and the mother of Jesus. She is an important figure of Christianity, venerated under titles of Mary, mother of Jesus, various titles such as Perpetual virginity ...

, one of whose poetic titles is Rosa Mystica. The rose's twelve petals suggest the

twelve tribes of Israel The Twelve Tribes of Israel ( , ) are described in the Hebrew Bible as being the descendants of Jacob, a Patriarchs (Bible), Hebrew patriarch who was a son of Isaac and thereby a grandson of Abraham. Jacob, later known as Israel (name), Israel, ...

and the

Twelve Apostles In Christian theology and ecclesiology, the apostles, particularly the Twelve Apostles (also known as the Twelve Disciples or simply the Twelve), were the primary disciples of Jesus according to the New Testament. During the life and minist ...

. The apostles as well as the twelve articles of the

Apostles' Creed The Apostles' Creed (Latin: ''Symbolum Apostolorum'' or ''Symbolum Apostolicum''), sometimes titled the Apostolic Creed or the Symbol of the Apostles, is a Christian creed or "symbol of faith". "Its title is first found c.390 (Ep. 42.5 of Ambro ...

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.Trier Tourismus und Marketing
"Church of Our Lady"
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Gallery

File:Dom_und_Liebfrauenkirche_Trier.jpg, Liebfrauenkirche with dom (cathedral) File:Trier BW 2011-09-10 15-12-30 stitch.jpg, Exterior of Liebfrauenkirche File:Trier Liebfrauen BW 2012-03-26 16-18-47.jpg, Main portal File:Liebfrauen Trier aussen BW 2.JPG, Tympanum of west portal File:Liebfrauenkirche, Trier, Panorama (8018812866).jpg, Interior panorama view File:Liebfrauen Trier innen 2.jpg, Tomb altar of Theodor and Theoderich von Horst File:Liebfrauen Trier innen BW 4.JPG, Tombstone of Karl von Metternich by Matthias Rauchmiller File:Liebfrauen Trier innen BW 5.JPG, Tombstone of Karl von Metternich (Detail) File:Liebfrauen Trier innen BW 3.JPG, Representation of Mary inside the basilica File:Liebfrauen Trier innen BW 6.JPG, Madonne enthroned File:Liebfrauenkirche Trier 2013-08-04 002.jpg, Ceiling File:Trier Liebfrauenkirche Innen Vierung.JPG, Crossing of nave with transept

References

External links

Trier Tourist Bureau InfoUNESCO PageOfficial Site (German only)
{{Authority control

Cathedral A cathedral is a church (building), church that contains the of a bishop, thus serving as the central church of a diocese, Annual conferences within Methodism, conference, or episcopate. Churches with the function of "cathedral" are usually s ...

World Heritage Sites in Germany Gothic architecture in Germany Basilica churches in Germany