The Pilgrimage Church of Wies, or Wieskirche, is an oval Rococo church that was built in the late 1740s. It is in the German state of Bavaria, in the town of Steingaden, in the district of Weilheim-Schongau, near the foothills of the Alps. Dominikus Zimmermann lived in the area for the last eleven years of his life, and he and his brother Johann Baptist Zimmermann started this church.
Wies Church History
The Wieskirche, or church of Wies, was put on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1983 because of its beautiful rococo style. People say that in 1738, tears could be seen on a broken wooden statue of the “Savior on the Cross.” Because of the story about this wonder, a lot of people came to see the sculpture.
In 1740, a small chapel was built to hold the statue, but it was soon clear that the building would be too small for the number of pilgrims it would attract, so Steingaden Abbey chose to build a separate shrine. Between 1745 and 1754, the building was put together, and the inside was decorated with paintings and stuccowork in the style of the Wessobrunner School.
Wieskirche Germany
“The church did everything it could to make the supernatural clear. Sculpture and murals worked together to make the divine real. People often think that the Bavarian government planned to sell or destroy the rococo beauty during the secularization of Bavaria at the beginning of the 19th century and that only the protests of the local farmers kept it from being destroyed.
Sources show, however, that the state commission in charge was strongly in favor of keeping Wies as a pilgrimage place, even though the abbot of Steingaden objected on economic grounds. People who have prayed in front of the statue of Jesus on the altar say that miracles have happened, which has made this church an even bigger pilgrimage spot. Between 1985 and 1991, the church got a lot of repairs.
The shape of the Wieskirche is oval, and the entrance is a half-circle. Inside, two columns in front of the walls support the elaborate cornice, which has stucco designs painted by J. B. Zimmerman and a long, deep choir. The ceilings are painted in a style called “trompe l’oeil,” which makes it look like the room opens up to a beautiful sky.
Pilgrimage Church of Wies FAQ
- When does the Wies Pilgrimage Church open?
The Wies Church is open every day from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. - Why do so many people go on pilgrimages to the Wieskirche?
The Wieskirche was built in Bavaria after people said they saw a wooden statue of Jesus crying there. It quickly became a place where people went to pray. - Christians can go on a journey.
Pilgrimage is not required in Christianity, but many Christians choose to go on trips to holy places to grow closer to God. feel like they are part of the worldwide Christian society and meet Christians from different groups. - What takes place on a pilgrimage?
“Pilgrimage” is often used to describe a person’s journey through life, sometimes as a general term for personal growth and discovery and sometimes, as in Christianity, to describe a specific spiritual focus or path that is thought to lead to a meeting with God. - What is the most well-known Christian pilgrimage?
Since the Middle Ages, many Christians have made the trip to Rome to pray. Pilgrimages to Rome can include stops at a lot of places, both inside the Vatican City and in Italy. - On a journey, do you walk?
In the past, a trip was a religious journey, usually a long one, to a holy place. Even though some pilgrims have spent their whole lives traveling without a goal, most walk long distances to visit a religiously important place.
