The Pilgrimage Church of Wies (German: Wieskirche) is an oval Rococo church, designed in the late 1740s by brothers J. B. and Dominikus Zimmermann, the latter of whom lived nearby for the last eleven years of his life. It is located in the foothills of the Alps, in the municipality of Steingaden in the Weilheim-Schongau district, Bavaria, Germany. Because of its outstanding rococo architecture, the Wieskirche was added to the UNESCOWorld Heritage List in 1983.[1]
It is said that, in 1738, tears were seen on a dilapidated wooden figure of the Scourged Saviour. The legend of this miracle resulted in a pilgrimage rush to see the sculpture.[1] In 1740, a small chapel was built to house the statue but it was soon realized that the building would be too small for the number of pilgrims it attracted, and so Steingaden Abbey decided to commission a separate shrine. Construction took place between 1745 and 1754, and the interior was decorated with frescoes and with stuccowork in the tradition of the Wessobrunner School. "Everything was done throughout the church to make the supernatural visible. Sculpture and murals combined to unleash the divine in visible form".[2]
There is a popular belief that the Bavarian government planned to sell or demolish the rococo masterpiece during the secularization of Bavaria at the beginning of the 19th century, and that only protests from the local farmers saved it from destruction. Available sources, however, document that the responsible state commission clearly advocated the continuation of Wies as a pilgrimage site, even in spite of economic objections from the abbot of Steingaden.[3] Many who have prayed in front of the statue of Jesus on the altar have claimed that people have been miraculously cured of their diseases, which has made this church even more of a pilgrimage site.[citation needed] The church underwent extensive restoration between 1985 and 1991.
The Wieskirche has an oval plan, with a semi-circular narthex. Inside, twin columns in front of the walls support the elaborate cornice, with elaborate stucco decorations (painted by J. B. Zimmerman) and a long, deep choir.[1] The ceilings are painted in a trompe-l'œil style, appearing to open up to an iridescent sky.[1]
The rococo interior of the church is famous for its frothy trompe-l'oeil plafond.
^ abcd"Pilgrimage Church of Wies". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization. Retrieved 8 May 2021.
^ White, James F. (2003), Roman Catholic Worship: Trent to Today, Collegeville, Minn.: Liturgical Press, p. 50, ISBN0-8146-6194-7
^Stutzer, Dietmar; Fink, Alois (1982), Die irdische und die himmlische Wies, Rosenheim: Rosenheimer Verlag, pp. 99–100, ISBN3-475-52355-8
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Wieskirche.
Wieskirche: home page
Pilgrimage Church of Wies UNESCO Official Website
January 08, 2023
wieskirche, pilgrimage, church, wies, german, oval, rococo, church, designed, late, 1740s, brothers, dominikus, zimmermann, latter, whom, lived, nearby, last, eleven, years, life, located, foothills, alps, municipality, steingaden, weilheim, schongau, district. The Pilgrimage Church of Wies German Wieskirche is an oval Rococo church designed in the late 1740s by brothers J B and Dominikus Zimmermann the latter of whom lived nearby for the last eleven years of his life It is located in the foothills of the Alps in the municipality of Steingaden in the Weilheim Schongau district Bavaria Germany Because of its outstanding rococo architecture the Wieskirche was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1983 1 Pilgrimage Church of WiesUNESCO World Heritage SiteLocationSteingaden Weilheim Schongau district Bavaria GermanyCriteriaCultural i iiiReference271Inscription1983 7th Session Area0 1 haBuffer zone8 4 haCoordinates47 40 52 N 10 54 0 E 47 68111 N 10 90000 E 47 68111 10 90000 Coordinates 47 40 52 N 10 54 0 E 47 68111 N 10 90000 E 47 68111 10 90000Location of the WieskircheShow map of BavariaWieskirche Germany Show map of Germany Contents 1 History and Description 2 See also 3 Notes 4 External linksHistory and Description EditIt is said that in 1738 tears were seen on a dilapidated wooden figure of the Scourged Saviour The legend of this miracle resulted in a pilgrimage rush to see the sculpture 1 In 1740 a small chapel was built to house the statue but it was soon realized that the building would be too small for the number of pilgrims it attracted and so Steingaden Abbey decided to commission a separate shrine Construction took place between 1745 and 1754 and the interior was decorated with frescoes and with stuccowork in the tradition of the Wessobrunner School Everything was done throughout the church to make the supernatural visible Sculpture and murals combined to unleash the divine in visible form 2 There is a popular belief that the Bavarian government planned to sell or demolish the rococo masterpiece during the secularization of Bavaria at the beginning of the 19th century and that only protests from the local farmers saved it from destruction Available sources however document that the responsible state commission clearly advocated the continuation of Wies as a pilgrimage site even in spite of economic objections from the abbot of Steingaden 3 Many who have prayed in front of the statue of Jesus on the altar have claimed that people have been miraculously cured of their diseases which has made this church even more of a pilgrimage site citation needed The church underwent extensive restoration between 1985 and 1991 The Wieskirche has an oval plan with a semi circular narthex Inside twin columns in front of the walls support the elaborate cornice with elaborate stucco decorations painted by J B Zimmerman and a long deep choir 1 The ceilings are painted in a trompe l œil style appearing to open up to an iridescent sky 1 The rococo interior of the church is famous for its frothy trompe l oeil plafond See also EditHistory of early modern period domesNotes Edit a b c d Pilgrimage Church of Wies UNESCO World Heritage Centre United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization Retrieved 8 May 2021 White James F 2003 Roman Catholic Worship Trent to Today Collegeville Minn Liturgical Press p 50 ISBN 0 8146 6194 7 Stutzer Dietmar Fink Alois 1982 Die irdische und die himmlische Wies Rosenheim Rosenheimer Verlag pp 99 100 ISBN 3 475 52355 8External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Wieskirche Wieskirche home page Pilgrimage Church of Wies UNESCO Official Website Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Wieskirche amp oldid 1112070789, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
