List of Brick Romanesque buildings

Brick Romanesque (German: Backsteinromanik) is an architectural style and chronological phase of architectural history. The term described Romanesque buildings built of brick; like the subsequent Brick Gothic, it is geographically limited to Northern Germany and the Baltic region. Structures in other regions are not described as Brick Romanesque but as "Romanesque brick-built church" or similar terms.

In comparison to Brick Gothic, Brick Romanesque is a less established and less frequently used term. One the one hand, this is caused by the fact that the Baltic region was only beginning to develop its own stylistic identity during the Romanesque period, on the other by the relatively low number of surviving buildings. Many of the major Brick Gothic edifices had Brick Romanesque predecessors, remains of which are often still visible. Nearly all preserved buildings are churches. The buildings contrast with earlier stone-built churches (Fieldstone churches or Feldsteinkirchen), which were constructed of glacial erratics and rubble. Such rounded stones limit the potential size of a building; the material and technique do not permit the construction of structures larger than a village church for static reasons. Monumental constructions only became possible through the growing use and perfection of brick building.

St. John's Church (Sankt-Johannis-Kirche) in Oldenburg (Holstein) is considered to be the oldest brick church in Northern Europe. The first monumental churches were Ratzeburg cathedral and Lübeck Cathedral, both begun shortly after 1160 under Henry the Lion. Lübeck Cathedral was later converted into a Gothic hall church (1266 to 1335). Jerichow Abbey with its convent church of which construction started in 1148 played an influential role for the brick architecture in the Margraviate of Brandenburg. For Scandinavia, the stylistically independent Roskilde Cathedral, started in the 1170s and used as the burial church for Danish monarchs, is of special importance. A last flourish and the transition to the Gothic style is marked by the Cistercian Lehnin Abbey in the Margraviate of Brandenburg.

Contents

Denmark

Place Building Main period of construction Special features Image
Kalundborg Church of Our Lady Circa 1170-1200 Central structure on Greek cross plan. Central tower and 4 side towers of nearly of nearly same height
Ledøje Residential church Circa 1225
Ringsted St. Benedict Built 1163-1170 One of the earliest brick churches in Northern Europe, basilica
Roskilde Cathedral Mainly 1170-1280 UNESCO World Heritage Site, burial church of Danish monarchs
Sorø Abbey After 1161 Former Cistercian basilica

Germany

Place Building Main period of construction Special features Image
Altenkirchen Parish Church Begun probably about 1185 Near previous Slavic cult place of the god Svantevit on Cape Arkona
Altenkrempe Basilica 1190 to 1240
Bad Segeberg St. Mary's
Bergen auf Rügen St. Mary's
Dessau-Roßlau Pötnitz church Consecrated 1198 Originally triple-aisled basilica. Side aisles demolished in 17th century. Southernmost Brick Romanesque in Central Germany.
Eutin St. Michael's 1180s to early 13th century
Gadebusch Town Church St. Jacob and St. Dionysius Late Romanesque, begun around 1220
Near Greifswald Eldena Abbey South transept and choir are Romanesque, pre-1249 Ruin
Jerichow Jerichow Abbey 1148-1172 Former Premonstratensian abbey church, oldest brick structure East of the Elbe
Lehnin Lehnin Abbey Circa 1185-1235, altered up to 1260
Lübeck Cathedral 1163-1230 Romanesque nave, Gothic choir
Lübow Village church 1st half 13th century Possibly residential church of nearby Mecklenburg Castle
Melkow Village church Circa 1200
Mölln St. Nicholas Early 13th century Basilica
Neubukow Parish church Double-naved hall church
Neukloster Abbey church before 1227
Oldenburg (Holstein) St. John's Mainly built 1156-1160 Oldest brick church in Northern Europe
Ratzeburg Cathedral Mainly 1160-1220 Oldest fully preserved brick church east of Elbe
Rehna Abbey Late Romanesque Single-naved abbey church
Rieseby Village church Circa 1220/1230
Schaprode Village church 1st half 13th century
Schlagsdorf Village church 1st half 13th century
Schleswig Schleswig Cathedral 1134 to circa 1200, built of granite, tufa and brick, Gothic additions 1275-1300
Schönhausen Village church Consecrated 1212
Vietlübbe (near Dragun) Village church Early 13th century Latin cross plan
Wust Village church Circa 1200 Tower added in 18th century

Poland

Place Building Main period of construction Special features Image
Chwarszczany Templar chapel c. 1280
Inowłódz St. Giles-Church c. 1138
Inowrocław St. Mary's Church 12th and 13th century Brick towers
Kamień Pomorski Cathedral St. John after 1175 to 1250
Kołbacz Abbey Begun shortly after 1200 Former Cistercian basilica
Lublin Lublin Castle Donjon 12th century Upper parts in brick, rest limestone
Oliwa Abbey After 1178 Former Cistercian Monastery
Płock Płock Cathedral 1130-1144 Rebuilt several times
Poznań Church of St. John of Jerusalem Outside the Walls c. 1187 It was one of the first brick-built churches in Poland[1]
Sandomierz Church of St. Jacob 13th century
Strzelno Church of the Holy Trinity 12th century-1216
Rotunda of St. Prokop Before 1133
Wąchock Cisterian monastery After 1179 Brick and sandstone
Wrocław St. Egidius Church c. 1242

Sweden

Place Building Main period of construction Special features Image
Vinslöv Gumlösa parish church consecrated 1192 Oldest brick building in Southern Sweden (then Danish)
Linköping Cathedral 1230 onwards Took 250 years to build, so most visible parts Gothic

Bibliography

This article incorporates information from this version of the equivalent article on the German Wikipedia.

References

  1. ^ (English) "Ostrów Tumski and Śródka". www.poznan.pl. http://www.poznan.pl/mim/public/trakt/pages.html?id=11751&ch=11780&instance=1017&lang=en. Retrieved 2009-12-17.