Liebfrauenkirche, Trier 
View of the Liebfrauenkirche (left) and Aachen Cathedral (right) from
the Liebfrauenkirche's pretty Gothic cloisters.
View from the cloisters on a snowy December day.
The author takes a stroll through the snowy cemetery.
In the cloisters of the Liebfrauenkirche.
Sculptures in the cloisters.
Burial area off the cloisters.
Location map and aerial view of Liebfrauenkirche. For a larger interactive view, see our Trier Map.
The Liebfrauenkirche (Church of Our Dear Lady) is a 13th-century parish church in Trier, separated from Trier cathedral by a narrow passageway. Built in the Gothic style, it makes an attractive foil to its older Romanesque neighbor.
History
The Liebfrauenkirche was constructed over the southern section of the Roman double church by Archbishop Theoderich von Wied. Completed in 1260, it was one of the first Gothic churches in Germany (its only competitor for the title is the Elisabethkirche in Marburg).
In 1951, the Pope designated the church a Minor Basilica, and in 1986 it was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List.
What to See
The Liebfrauenkirche is in the shape of a Greek cross, creating a circular effect with all points equidistant from the central high altar. The structure is supported by 12 circular columns, rather than the typical open buttresses.
The floor plan resembles a twelve-petaled rose, a symbol of the Virgin Mary, the rosa mystica, as well as the twelve tribes of Israel and the Twelve Apostles. The apostles and the twelve articles of the Apostle's Creed are painted on the twelve supporting columns, completely visible only from one spot, marked by a black stone. The intriguing optics are matched by splendid acoustics.
The interior is bathed in sunlight, which streams through the high windows. Although its restoration after the war changed some of the effect of the central construction, it's still unique among German churches. The church contains several important tombs, including that of a local nobleman, Karl von Metternich (1636), in the northeast chapel.
Behind the church are lovely cloisters with sculptures and tombs.
Quick Facts
Site Information |
| Names: | Liebfrauenkirche; Church of Our Lady |
| Dedicated to: | Virgin Mary |
| Location: | Trier, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany |
| Category: | Churches; World Heritage Sites |
| Faith: | Christianity |
| Denomination: | Catholic |
| Status: | active |
| Date: | 1260 |
| Architecture: | Gothic |
Visitor Information |
| Coordinates: | 49.755857° N, 6.643263° E (view on Google Maps) |
| Address: | Liebfrauenstraße 2, 54290 Trier, Germany |
| Phone: | 0651/75-801 |
| Hours: | Mar-Oct daily 6:30am-noon and 2-6pm; Nov-Feb daily 6:30am-5:30pm |
| Cost: | Free |
Travel Resources
- Trier Map - our detailed interactive map of Trier, plus hand-picked links to more
- Trier Hotels - check availability, maps, photos and reviews, then book at the guaranteed lowest rate
- Trier Hostels - reserve budget lodgings with no booking fees
- Trier Car Rentals - get the lowest rate by comparing multiple car companies at a glance
- Trier Travel Forum - tips, answers and advice on Trier tourism
Article Sources
Article written by Holly Hayes with reference to the following sources:
- Personal visits (exterior only; December 2005 and January 2008).
- "Trier Attractions." Frommer's Germany 2006 (Dec. 2005)
- Liebfrauenkirche (Trier) - German Wikipedia
- DK Eyewitness Travel Guide to Germany (2003), 326.
- Roman Monuments, Cathedral of St. Peter and Church of Our Lady - UNESCO World Heritage
Article last updated: 06/23/2009.
