More (Brick) Gothik: Hansestadt Halle a.d. Saale Halle (Saale) is a city in the southern part of the German state Saxony-Anhalt. Halle is a very important economic and educational center in eastern Germany. The University of Halle-Wittenberg is the biggest university in Saxony-Anhalt and one of the oldest universities in Germany The Marktkirche Unser Lieben Frauen (Market Church of Our Dear Lady) was built between 1529 and 1554 and is the most recent of its medieval churches. In German, its official name is shortened to Liebfrauenkirche but it is also referred to as Marienkirche (St. Marys Church) and the Marktkirche (Market Church). The church was built between 1529 and 1554, replacing two former churches but keeping their towers. It is one of the most important buildings of the late Gothic period in central Germany. Its four towers, together with the Red Tower of the city hall, are the landmark of the city, hence its nickname Stadt der fünf Türme (City of the Five Towers). Justus Jonas introduced the Reformation into Halle, and his friend Martin Luther preached. George Frideric Handel was baptized in the church and received his first organ lessons. Johann Sebastian Bach inspected the new organ, and his son Wilhelm Friedemann Bach was an organist. The important beginnings of both pietism and Enlightenment were connected to the church in Halle. Severely damaged in World War II, it was restored and is a historic monument. From 1529 to 1530 the old nave of St. Gertrude was demolished. What remained were the Blue Towers dating from around 1400, with their spires, which had been added in 1507 and 1513. On the east side the Watchmens Towers (Hausmanntürme) of St. Marys, with Late Romanesque bases and Renaissance upper stories, dating from 1551 to 1554, were linked by a bridge for the watchmen, who in case of fire and danger alerted the inhabitants by the ringing of the bells. Today, the watchmans room (Hausmannsstube) can be viewed on certain occasions. The new church built between the two pairs of towers is the last great hall church of the Upper Saxon Gothic style and is one of the outstanding architectural works of its days in Central Germany. It was designed by the towns master builder (Ratsbaumeister), Caspar Krafft. After his death in 1540 his successor, Nickel Hoffmann, took over the construction of the western end of the hall and the matroneum. The church was built in two phases, the first from 1530 to 1539 and, after a short interruption, the second from 1542 to 1554.
Posted on: Wed, 03 Sep 2014 05:45:09 +0000