The Quirinus-Münster also called Münster-Basilika of St. Quirinus of Neuss is a Catholic basilica that was erected in the city of

Neuss Neuss (; written ''Neuß'' until 1968; ; ) is a city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is on the west bank of the Rhine opposite Düsseldorf. Neuss is the largest city within the Rhein-Kreis Neuss district. It is primarily known for its ...

in the western part of the present state of

North Rhine-Westphalia North Rhine-Westphalia or North-Rhine/Westphalia, commonly shortened to NRW, is a States of Germany, state () in Old states of Germany, Western Germany. With more than 18 million inhabitants, it is the List of German states by population, most ...

Germany Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It lies between the Baltic Sea and the North Sea to the north and the Alps to the south. Its sixteen States of Germany, constituent states have a total popu ...

between 1209 and 1230. The basilica is one of the best examples of Romanesque churches in Germany. It has a strong Lombard influence but in principle shows the first signs of Gothic. In its bell tower the first semicircular arches appear. This form of arch becomes centuries later in one of the marks that marked the Gothic style. It is dedicated to St. Quirinus of Neuss, a prominent Roman martyr of the third century, revered in Neuss as the body of the martyr moved to this city in the year 1050, a gift of

Pope Leo IX Pope Leo IX (, , 21 June 1002 – 19 April 1054), born Bruno von Egisheim-Dagsburg, was the head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 12 February 1049 to his death in 1054. Leo IX is considered to be one of the most historica ...

to Abbess Gepa. In 2009 the church was recognized by

Pope Benedict XVI Pope BenedictXVI (born Joseph Alois Ratzinger; 16 April 1927 – 31 December 2022) was head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State from 19 April 2005 until his resignation on 28 February 2013. Benedict's election as p ...

with the title of minor basilica.

Architecture

Build as a sacral building in the time between

Romanticism Romanticism (also known as the Romantic movement or Romantic era) was an artistic and intellectual movement that originated in Europe towards the end of the 18th century. The purpose of the movement was to advocate for the importance of subjec ...

and Gothic building style the Quirinus-Münster is a great example churches built in Germany at that time. It is also one of the last big churches build to house pilgrims with the cloaf-leafed () common in the Rhine-area – the bench seats in 90 degree angle have a rounded curvature at the outer side. Building began at 9th of October 1209 as stated in cornerstone found in the south side of the clover-leafed bench seating.

Décor

The dome of Quirinus featured magnificent internal features like a Ciborium above the main altar similar to

Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls The Papal Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls (, ) is one of Rome's four major papal basilicas, along with the basilicas of Saint John in the Lateran, Saint Peter's, and Saint Mary Major, as well as one of the city’s Seven Pilgrim Ch ...

and similar churches in Rome built in

Gothic Revival architecture Gothic Revival (also referred to as Victorian Gothic or neo-Gothic) is an Architectural style, architectural movement that after a gradual build-up beginning in the second half of the 17th century became a widespread movement in the first half ...

. Many precious objects where lost due to

World War II 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 ...

Organ

In 1907

Ernst Seifert Ernst Seifert (9 May 1855 – 27 April 1928) was a German organ builder and founder of a company named after him. In 1885 he founded his company in Cologne-Mannsfeld.Karl-Heinz Göttert, Eckhard Isenberg, ''Orgeln in Köln: ein Rundgang zu 7 ...

(working in Cologne-Mannsfeld and Kevelaer) installed the big organ.

References

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Saint Quirinus of Neuss, Church Basilica churches in Germany Neuss Roman Catholic churches in North Rhine-Westphalia

Architecture

Décor

Organ

See also

References