St. Martin's Church (Landshut)

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St Martin's church, Landshut

The Church of St. Martin in Landshut is a medieval church in that German city. St. Martin's Church, along with Castle Trausnitz and the celebration of the Landshuter Hochzeit (wedding), are the most important landmarks and historical activity of Landshut, Germany. This gothic church is the highest church in Bavaria and the highest brick building in the world, with a height of 130.6 meters (approx 428 feet).

1 History
2 Features
3 Construction and renovations
4 References
5 External links

[edit] History

In the year 1204, the town of Landshut was founded by Duke Ludwig the Kelheimer. He established Castle Trausnitz and built a small church on the place where nowadays the St. Martin's Church now stands.

In 1342, the town was partially destroyed by fire. After this fire, the people of Landshut filled their plots of land with 3 meters of soil to protect their houses against floods. The first church was now 3 meters deeper than the surrounding buildings. So, in 1380 Duke Friedrich and the people of Landshut decided to build a new church in the gothic style.

Building of the church began in 1389. It took about 120 years to finish the church. In this period of time there were 5 architects who managed the building site. It took 55 years just to build the tower. The church was dedicated in 1500.

[edit] Features

The choir elbow cross of 1495 has an overall length of 8 m (22 feet). The crucifix is one of the largest of the late Gothic period. The body was carved from a lime tree trunk and has a length of 5.80 m (16 feet) and an arm width of 5.40 m (15 feet). Important works of art in the church include the high altar, the hexagonal pulpit carved from a single stone, and the "rose wreath/ring Madonna" created by Hans Leinberger (about 1520) -one of his most important works of art.

In 1598 the St. Castulus cathedral chapter was moved by William V, Duke of Bavaria from Moosburg to Landshut. St Martin's became the cathedral chapter church.

In 1604 the relics of St. Castulus were transferred there.^[1] The chapter was disbanded in 1803 as part of a program of secularization, but reestablished in 1937 (without the chapter estate). In 2001 the "Stiftskirche" (as is was called by the local media ) was raised to the status of Basilica minor (now called "Stiftsbasilika" in Landshut). The current chapter consists of four Kanoniker (chapter members) and the chairman, Stiftspropst (and minister) Monsignore Bernhard Schoemann.

[edit] Construction and renovations

Construction of the church began around 1380, under the architect Hans von Burghausen. The exact date for the beginning of construction of the church is not well-known, but its construction was first noted in the city chronicle in 1392. The building was completed in 1500.

The church was built because the old romanesque church stood three meters below the other houses since the city had been rebuilt after the great fire of 1342.

The church was built from brick and mortar. Five thousand wooden stakes were used for the foundation. The stakes are located completely in the groundwater, in order to delay rot caused by bacteria. With a height of 130.6 m (363 feet), the church tower is considered to be the highest brick building in the world, surpassing the Church of Our Lady, Bruges by 8.6 meters.

Renovation work started at the end of the 20th century. First, the outside facade of bricks were cleaned. Then the foundation was secured. In the year 2001, St. Martin's Church received the title of Basilica minor from the Pope in Rome.

All in all, five structural engineers worked on the church until its completion. Hans Krumenauer was the first one in 1389 and was followed by the famous Hans von Burghausen only a few years later. He had control over the building site until his death in 1432. After him, his nephew Hans Stethaimer, Stephan Burghauser and Stephan Westholzer looked after the construction until its completion. St. Martin's Church was built without any steel and cement.

The church is built in gothic style and is obvious when taking a look at the many windows and arches it is trimmed with.

Inside the church is a Madonna called "Garland of Roses Madonna". Hans Leinberger carved the Madonna in 1520.

On the other side you can see one of the largest crucifixes of the late Gothic period. It was made by Michael Erhard and has been hanging in the church since 1495.