St. Mauritius (Heimersheim)

Parish Church of Saint Mauritius in Heimersheim

The Catholic parish church St. Mauritius in Heimersheim , a district of Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler in the district of Ahrweiler ( Rhineland-Palatinate ), is a late Romanesque gallery basilica from the 13th century. In the choir , lead glass windows from the time the church was built have been preserved, which are among the oldest glass paintings in Germany. Extensive restoration work has been taking place in the church since 2006.

history

Aerial view

The current church was probably built around the middle of the 13th century on the site of an older previous church. Due to the patronage of St. Mauritius , it is assumed that a church was founded in Heimersheim early on. In the copy of the Prümer Urbar , made by Abbot Caesarius in 1222, the Count of Are is named as patron saint .

In 1555 the church was badly damaged by fire. During the Cologne War in 1588 Spanish troops looted the place. The church was also affected in the Thirty Years' War , when first Swedish and then electoral Cologne troops conquered Heimersheim.

In 1960/61 a modern extension was added to the west facade.

architecture

South facade

Walled-up portal on the south side with cross relief and animal capital

Exterior construction

The exterior is characterized by pilasters and arched friezes divided. The original color version has been reconstructed. An octagonal tower rises above the crossing and is crowned by a pyramid roof.

A walled-up, ogival portal can be seen on the south side . The lintel is decorated with a relief of a circle in which a cross is inscribed. There is also a capital with an animal depiction, which was probably reused from an older building.

inner space

The nave has three aisles and is divided into four bays . Above the two aisles are galleries created, which are characterized by double arcades open to the nave. The transepts hardly exceed the width of the nave. The rectangular choir ends with a fifteenth note.

Leaded glass window

Two partial windows of the three double windows of the choir are dated to the second half of the 13th century. The coat of arms of the Burgraves of Landskron is emblazoned on the right half of the central choir window . The scenes above are dedicated to the Annunciation, the Nativity, the Crucifixion, the Resurrection and the Ascension of Christ. The right partial window of the left double window shows a bishop and St. Catherine with her attribute , the wheel. Above are two knights. Saint George is indicated by the inscription SCTS GEORGIUS in the halo, the other figure is interpreted as Saint Mauritius. When the church was being restored, the windows were removed.

Furnishing

• The high altar has an alabaster relief of the cross . It was donated by Trier Elector and Archbishop Lothar von Metternich (1551–1623) in memory of his parents.
• A grave slab made of trachyte , which is dated to around 1550, is provided with a relief of a knight in full armor. According to Gerhard Knoll, the portrayed is Hermann Quadt von Landskron, who died in 1539.

literature

• Paul Clemen (Hrsg.): The art monuments of the Rhine province . The art monuments of the Ahrweiler district. 17th volume, 1st department, published by L. Schwann, Düsseldorf 1938, pp. 280-296.
• Walter Pippke, Ida Leinberger: The Eifel . DuMont Buchverlag , 4th edition, Cologne 2004, ISBN 3-7701-3926-7 , pp. 137-138.

Web links

Commons : St. Mauritius  - Collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Gerhard Knoll: A tombstone in the parish church in Heimersheim (accessed on November 16, 2012)

Coordinates: 50 ° 32 '36 "  N , 7 ° 10' 32.9"  E