Views
of the town from the river are dominated by the towers of
the Church of Maria Himmelfahrt. It is a wonderful
Romanesque building dating from around 1200 although it has
been repaired and restored many times over the years as can
be seen from the different stonework. The north tower and
aisle are the oldest parts of the church.
It is a big square building with towers at the corners and a
small apse at the east end. It is almost too big to
photograph.
I used the south door with its tympanum of two angels
holding the Lamb of God.
The inside is equally as impressive as the outside with its
arcade of sturdy pillars supporting a triforium with the
round clerestory windows above. On the west wall is a mural
and the organ is in the gallery above the west door.
The brightly coloured borders on the arches painted and
ceiling ribs were added in the C19th.
Along the north arcade are paintings of the stages of the
cross.
There are more paintings on the walls of the apse at the
east end of the church.
The heavily carved Baroque pulpit dates from around 1700.
At the back of the church is a lovely stone carving of
Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus placing the body of Christ
in the tomb overlooked by the four Marys and St John the
Evangelist.
The side aisles have low vaulted ceilings and a small chapel
at the east end.
That in the north aisle contains the original high altar
from the early C17th with lovely alabaster reliefs depicting
the Coronation of the Virgin, the Visitation, the Nativity,
the Adoration of the Magi, the Annunciation and the
Presentation in the Temple.
This is a very attractive church. There is no information in
the church and only a certain amount on the internet in
German. It is open daily from 9-6. We were late berthing in
Andernach and Mass was being said when I arrived at the
church. I slipped into the back and listened to the service,
taking my pictures once it had finished.
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