Paris1972-Versailles2003

As said many posts on it but usually went like the road warrior that I am and feel not given credit to some of the monuments enough. So, I am back for the details of the many beautiful things to see in Koblenz. This one escaped me do not know why but only had briefly mentioned in my previous posts on the city. Therefore, let me tell you a bit more on the Notre Dame Church of Koblenz or the Liebfrauenkirche. Koblenz is a pretty 2,000-year-old German town located in the UNESCO World Heritage Upper Middle Rhine area with much to see. We like the city and came back for more!

The Notre Dame Church is the oldest church in Koblenz, and always been the parish church as well. The origins of the Notre Dame Church (Our Lady), go back to a Late Antique hall church from the time of the Roman Emperor Valerian approx. 350 AD.  Although what’s seen today dates from the 12C with later 15C additions, evidence concludes that a Roman 5C place of worship stood on this spot. Initial construction lasted from 1180 to approximately 1250; the Gothic chancel began in 1401 and the Baroque onion towers with four bells, famous for tolling the Reveler’s Bell at 22h each night, date from 1693.

In the late Gothic period, the Liebfrauenkirche underwent significant changes and expansions. At the beginning of the 15C, the main apse was laid down and from 1404 to 1430, today’s late Gothic long choir was added to the Romanesque choir. Between 1463 and 1466 the gallery floor between the two towers was raised by one floor and the Romanesque rose window in the facade was replaced by a very large late Gothic tracery window. In 1486/1487 the Romanesque vault in the nave was removed and replaced by a rich star vault with decorated keystones. At the same time, the upper story windows were replaced by today’s late Gothic windows with fish bubble tracery.

The lower part of the large facade window was bricked up in 1702 in order to be able to place the large niche figure of Our Lady above the portal. The portal itself was replaced in 1765 by today’s pointed arch gate. A baroque sacristy was built behind the choir in 1776.  From 1852, the church was restored in the neo-Romanesque style. For example, the raised floors of the 18C were lowered, a new stone west gallery was installed and wall breakthroughs in the choir were carried out. Most of the baroque furnishings in the church disappeared, as they were replaced by stylish pieces in the neo-Romanesque style, which in turn were largely eliminated after WWII.

During the exterior renovation from 1971 to 1974, the choir and nave were given a color version based on the medieval model. The sanctuary was redesigned from 1976 to 1980. The new main altar made of Savonnières limestone was created . The back of the panels of the altarpiece was painted as a fasting image with the Arma Christi, the tools of Christ’s suffering. In 1992 the church received new figural choir windows, and which replaced simpler glazing from the time of the reconstruction. Two attractive new stain glass windows portraying the theme “Women in the history of salvation” were added in 1992. The interior, in which the Romanesque part and the Gothic. From 2005 to November 2007 the choir was restored, on the outside of which the Gothic ornamentation and the masonry had shown major damage. From March to September 2007 the church organ was overhauled and rebuilt. Since 1999 the Catholic parishes of Liebfrauen (Notre Dame) and Herz-Jesu (Jesuists) have formed a parish community and have a common pastor. In 2005 the parish of St. Kastor was added to this community.

The Koblenz tourist office on the Notre Dame Church: https://www.koblenz-tourism.com/culture/churches-in-koblenz/liebfrauenkirche.html

There you go folks, now I feel better telling you about Koblenz and the Notre Dame Church. Hope you have enjoyed the post and do visit it ,is worth it me think.

And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all !!!