The Pilgrimage Church of Wies, Germany

  The Pilgrimage Church of Wies, Germany

       This beautiful church was built through a tear.   You can find this beautiful architectural work located in the district of Weilheim -Schongau, in the beautiful state of Bavaria, Germany.

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Its structure forms an oval, and its interior is worked on the best of the Rococo style. In 1983, the church was proclaimed as a World Heritage Site (w.h.s) by U.N.E.S.C.O itself, with an extension in 2011.    

How was the birth of the church?   

             Father Magnus Straub and Brother Lukas Schweiger built in the year 1730, in the convent of the order of the Premonstratensians of Steingaden, for in those days the customary procession of Good Friday, a "Flagellated Savior"; With the splattering of various wooden figures, they carefully lined each of the joints with a canvas and with great patience painted it. 

But this statue that was covered with blood and wounds caused much compassion to all the believing people, sadly, because of this, they left her aside and from 1734 she found herself alone and forgotten in the dark attic of the convent patron of Steingaden, Jeremiah Rehle.  

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            On March 4, 1738, the patron godmother, the peasant Maria Lory took the Flagellated Lord to his beautiful courtyard and devoted a great adoration to this image. During the prayer of the afternoon of June 14, 1738, the Miracle took place in the Wies: at that moment, Sunday afternoon, Mary felt several drops of tears on the face of the figure.  

              In 1740 a small field chapel was built together with an elongated wooden house, which soon ceased to be enough to accommodate the many pilgrims. This is how the Church of Wies was born, the image of the grace of the Flagellated Savior becoming the center of a pilgrimage with European dimensions.  

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             Between the years 1745 and 1754 the construction and decoration of the Church begins, working directly on it the brothers Dominikus and Johann Baptist Zimmermann, being directed in this effort by the abbot of the monastery of Steingaden, Marinus Mayer.  

In the years 1802 and 1803, it was determined that the contents of the church were auctioned off and the building destroyed, but strong opposition from the neighbors of the surroundings managed to reverse the decision, saving the church for the pilgrimages of the faithful.  

After U.N.E.S.C.O selects the Pilgrimage Church of Wies as a w.h.s in 1983, many capital restoration works are started.  

Among its artistic values, we can highlight that the interior of the Church was decorated in Rococo style, with stucco work from the Wessobrunner school. The task of decorating the main altar was entrusted to Balthasar August Albrecht, who was a court painter in Munich.  

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              Zimmermann designed the main altar, where the whipped Christ that gave rise to the church can be admired. The main merit established by the design is given by the work with the light that illuminates the entire enclosure without leaving any room for shadows.  

The chair represents the prow of the Holy Spirit, a faithful example of the Rococo style; totally worked in wood and in stucco, by craftsmen of Wessobrunn, on a design of the own Zimmermann.  The interior of the church is dominated by four figures: The Fathers of the Church, which were carved by Anton Sturm, and which have a height of 2.90 m.  

             Depending on the day you decide to visit this beautiful place, you may be dazzled by details such as the splendid asymmetrical grille of the choir, the finely engraved wooden benches, the pulpit, and the figures of saints.  

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               During your visit you will find that the surroundings are very harmonious, and despite a large number of visitors, it is not a place that is full of people all year round, as is often the case of other sanctuaries, cafes, restaurants and souvenir shops with those who will be in this place are quite discreet and beautiful wooden buildings where you can have a snack being served by the waitresses who will be dressed in the traditional Bavarian costume for you to enjoy a more complete experience.  

                 Admission is free, however, you can support with donations. In winter, it opens from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. In summer they close two hours later, at 7:00 p.m. It should be noted the location of the church in the middle of leafy meadows and before the chain of the Alps. 

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( All images  found in google image search and I added images source with the website name.  These images are not mine. if there have any false details in this article , please accept my apologies  )