The Wieskirche, or Church of Wies, is a listed UNESCO World Heritage Site located in Bavaria, Germany. I discovered it when researching places we should visit on our road-trip along the Romantic Road. Also known as the Pilgrimage Church of the Scourged Savior, it was constructed from 1745 to 1754 and today offers visitors a well preserved sanctuary of Rococo art depicting religious scenes. The church, located in a country setting between Linderhof Palace and Neuschwanstein Castle, gives little hint to the treasure inside. Apparently, in 1738, it was the setting of a miracle when the wooden figure of Jesus began to weep!
Our visit
To be honest, I wasn’t sure this site was going to be worth the stop. The photos of the church itself don’t hint to what is inside. Not that it is a bad looking church; it looks fine. It just doesn’t appear all that special from the outside. But, when something is on the UNESCO World Heritage List, I usually understand why when I see it. As soon as I stepped inside this church, it all made sense! It’s absolutely beautiful! I will stop here again when I am in the area.
We visited when driving south from Harburg Castle, in Harburg Germany to visit Neuschwanstein Castle in Fussen, Germany. I was driving a “big by European standards” stick shift van, and was pleased to see the church had a parking lot with ample space to park the beast. We parked and walked toward the church. There were snack and souvenir vendors on the way, as well as a bathroom. We first passed the small white chapel seen below, which I understood was the original built to house the crying Christ. Most people poked their heads in here, before continuing onto the large oval chapel behind it. I wasn’t really sure of its importance, at that moment.
Stunning art and architecture
Inside the chapel, the scene is simple and elaborate. All the beauty is contained in this one space, and I was awestruck. I don’t know why, but it made me think of the most beautiful Faberge Egg the world could offer. The Rococo architecture from Dominikus Zimmerman, and the fresco paintings from his brother Johann Baptist Zimmerman, both Bavarian artists, make this church a true masterpiece. Even in today’s world where one might think they have seen everything, this church stuns the visual senses with beauty, just like it has done for centuries. Hopefully you get an idea of just how beautiful it is from the photos below, although I doubt my phone’s camera does it justice. It is said the church offers visitors art, theology, light, and music, in their quest for happiness and inner peace. I didn’t really feel any different when I departed, but I was glad to be there.
The site of a miracle in 1738!
The Scourged Savior is the centerpiece of the church and shown below. Tears were seen on his face on June 14, 1738, bringing troves of visitors here ever since. In fact, we can thank this miracle for the creation of this church!
Perfectly preserved
The church is well-maintained. Even when something is replaced to maintain function, great care is given to maintain its beauty. For example, the organ under the Gateway to Heaven, was updated in 2009-10, preserving the original baroque organ but replacing only the pipes and registers needed to maintain it. 475 are still from the original 1757 organ!
I appreciated the information inside the church, as well as the beautiful flower arrangements. As you can see, even in this place, the flowers caught my eye. Aren’t they beautiful?
The countryside setting
As we left the church, we saw the horses and ponies outside in the adjacent field. My horse loving daughter was delighted to visit with them, before we continued our journey onward to Neuschwanstein Castle in Fussen.
Planning a visit
When we visited in summer, it was open from 8am to 8pm. However, be sure to check their website for the hours when you visit, as you definitely want to be able to look inside. The church is open 365 days a year!
Visiting the church is FREE; however, donations are appreciated and clearly the church makes good use of them.
Official photos of the church.
Have you visited here, and if so, what did you think? I would love to hear about your experience and any tips you have for others planning to visit in the comments.
One comment on “Discovering the beauty of Wieskirche (Church of Wies), an important pilgrimage site and Rococo gem in Bavaria”