Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: St. Peter

The fortified town of Stendal was founded by the first Brandenburg Margrave Albert the Bear and granted Magdeburg rights about 1160. A deed issued by Emperor Heinrich II in 1022, in which the village appears among the possessions of the Michaeliskloster in Hildesheim, is a 12th-century forgery. Stendal quickly prospered as a center of commerce and trade. The parish of St. Jacobi was founded in the 12th century. The construction of a Franciscan monastery began in 1230. In the 13th century, the Stendal Seafarers' Guild was formed, which traded its own ships in the Baltic and North Sea areas. The oldest documented mention of the church of St. Marien dates back to 1283. Stendal received city walls around 1300 and in 1338 a Latin school was built. The local merchants joined the Hanseatic League in 1358 and purchased the privilege of minting from the Brandenburg margraves in 1369. Just like in neighboring Tangermünde, the citizens of Stendal rebelled against the beer tax in 1488. - The church of St. Peter, a three-nave, four-bay hall church, was probably built in parts after 1285, the choir was completed in 1306. In the first half of the 14th century, the nave and then the lower part of the tower were built in fieldstone masonry. After the completion of the tower (according to dendrochronological dating) by 1371 the chancel was raised and vaulted, the rood screen was installed and the nave was vaulted. The later parts were made of brick masonry. The tower was raised to the height of the bell floor in 1415. Then the nave was vaulted in the first half of the 15th century. The tower was completed in 1583. The winged altar consists of two carved altars placed one above the other. In the center of the lower one is depicted the Coronation of the Virgin Mary, next to it and in the wings are apostles and saints in two rows one above the other. The figures are of different origin and quality and date partly from the late 14th, and partly from the late 15th century. A Madonna with six saints from around 1500 can be seen in the upper part.

The fortified town of Stendal was founded by the first Brandenburg Margrave Albert the Bear and granted Magdeburg rights about 1160. A deed issued by Emperor Heinrich II in 1022, in which the village appears among the possessions of the Michaeliskloster in Hildesheim, is a 12th-century forgery. Stendal quickly prospered as a center of commerce and trade. The parish of St. Jacobi was founded in the 12th century. The construction of a Franciscan monastery began in 1230. In the 13th century, the Stendal Seafarers' Guild was formed, which traded its own ships in the Baltic and North Sea areas. The oldest documented mention of the church of St. Marien dates back to 1283. Stendal received city walls around 1300 and in 1338 a Latin school was built. The local merchants joined the Hanseatic League in 1358 and purchased the privilege of minting from the Brandenburg margraves in 1369. Just like in neighboring Tangermünde, the citizens of Stendal rebelled against the beer tax in 1488. - The church of St. Peter, a three-nave, four-bay hall church, was probably built in parts after 1285, the choir was completed in 1306. In the first half of the 14th century, the nave and then the lower part of the tower were built in fieldstone masonry. After the completion of the tower (according to dendrochronological dating) by 1371 the chancel was raised and vaulted, the rood screen was installed and the nave was vaulted. The later parts were made of brick masonry. The tower was raised to the height of the bell floor in 1415. Then the nave was vaulted in the first half of the 15th century. The tower was completed in 1583. The early Gothic baptismal font

The fortified town of Stendal was founded by the first Brandenburg Margrave Albert the Bear and granted Magdeburg rights about 1160. A deed issued by Emperor Heinrich II in 1022, in which the village appears among the possessions of the Michaeliskloster in Hildesheim, is a 12th-century forgery. Stendal quickly prospered as a center of commerce and trade. The parish of St. Jacobi was founded in the 12th century. The construction of a Franciscan monastery began in 1230. In the 13th century, the Stendal Seafarers' Guild was formed, which traded its own ships in the Baltic and North Sea areas. The oldest documented mention of the church of St. Marien dates back to 1283. Stendal received city walls around 1300 and in 1338 a Latin school was built. The local merchants joined the Hanseatic League in 1358 and purchased the privilege of minting from the Brandenburg margraves in 1369. Just like in neighboring Tangermünde, the citizens of Stendal rebelled against the beer tax in 1488. - The church of St. Peter, a three-nave, four-bay hall church, was probably built in parts after 1285, the choir was completed in 1306. In the first half of the 14th century, the nave and then the lower part of the tower were built in fieldstone masonry. After the completion of the tower (according to dendrochronological dating) by 1371 the chancel was raised and vaulted, the rood screen was installed and the nave was vaulted. The later parts were made of brick masonry. The tower was raised to the height of the bell floor in 1415. Then the nave was vaulted in the first half of the 15th century. The tower was completed in 1583. The thrumphal Cross

The fortified town of Stendal was founded by the first Brandenburg Margrave Albert the Bear and granted Magdeburg rights about 1160. A deed issued by Emperor Heinrich II in 1022, in which the village appears among the possessions of the Michaeliskloster in Hildesheim, is a 12th-century forgery. Stendal quickly prospered as a center of commerce and trade. The parish of St. Jacobi was founded in the 12th century. The construction of a Franciscan monastery began in 1230. In the 13th century, the Stendal Seafarers' Guild was formed, which traded its own ships in the Baltic and North Sea areas. The oldest documented mention of the church of St. Marien dates back to 1283. Stendal received city walls around 1300 and in 1338 a Latin school was built. The local merchants joined the Hanseatic League in 1358 and purchased the privilege of minting from the Brandenburg margraves in 1369. Just like in neighboring Tangermünde, the citizens of Stendal rebelled against the beer tax in 1488. - The church of St. Peter, a three-nave, four-bay hall church, was probably built in parts after 1285, the choir was completed in 1306. In the first half of the 14th century, the nave and then the lower part of the tower were built in fieldstone masonry. After the completion of the tower (according to dendrochronological dating) by 1371 the chancel was raised and vaulted, the rood screen was installed and the nave was vaulted. The later parts were made of brick masonry. The tower was raised to the height of the bell floor in 1415. Then the nave was vaulted in the first half of the 15th century. The tower was completed in 1583. Over the still existing rood screen is a large triumphal cross. Stendal ,

The fortified town of Stendal was founded by the first Brandenburg Margrave Albert the Bear and granted Magdeburg rights about 1160. A deed issued by Emperor Heinrich II in 1022, in which the village appears among the possessions of the Michaeliskloster in Hildesheim, is a 12th-century forgery. Stendal quickly prospered as a center of commerce and trade. The parish of St. Jacobi was founded in the 12th century. The construction of a Franciscan monastery began in 1230. In the 13th century, the Stendal Seafarers' Guild was formed, which traded its own ships in the Baltic and North Sea areas. The oldest documented mention of the church of St. Marien dates back to 1283. Stendal received city walls around 1300 and in 1338 a Latin school was built. The local merchants joined the Hanseatic League in 1358 and purchased the privilege of minting from the Brandenburg margraves in 1369. Just like in neighboring Tangermünde, the citizens of Stendal rebelled against the beer tax in 1488. - The church of St. Peter, a three-nave, four-bay hall church, was probably built in parts after 1285, the choir was completed in 1306. In the first half of the 14th century, the nave and then the lower part of the tower were built in fieldstone masonry. After the completion of the tower (according to dendrochronological dating) by 1371 the chancel was raised and vaulted, the rood screen was installed and the nave was vaulted. The later parts were made of brick masonry. The tower was raised to the height of the bell floor in 1415. Then the nave was vaulted in the first half of the 15th century. The tower was completed in 1583.

The Romans have been here -on the banks of the Danube- for about 400 years. When they withdrew a group of Bavarii settled here, lead by a person named Strupo. Accordingly the settlement was called Strupinga - and today is Straubing. The market place, seen before is about 500 meters east n the "new town", the old center was here, all around the Carolingian predecessor of the church of St. Peter, seen here. St. Peter, built around 1200, is a Romanesque basilica. Since ceturies the church is surrounded by an old graveyard. The structure of the church looks very "complete", what is the result of the reconstruction of the 19th century. Upto then the towers were not finished - and the higher one was decorated with a Baroque onion dome since about 1700. Fortunately the Romanesque carvings of St. Peter have survived the times of modernisation. Carvings like this tympanum of the southern portal, which is a side portal to the basilica. A lion to the right battles a beast, that may be a dragon with some griffin-genes.Do they really fight? Or does the lion just pose to the onlooker - while the dragon licks the lion´s ear.

The Romans have been here -on the banks of the Danube- for about 400 years. When they withdrew a group of Bavarii settled here, lead by a person named Strupo. Accordingly the settlement was called Strupinga - and today is Straubing. The market place, seen before is about 500 meters east n the "new town", the old center was here, all around the Carolingian predecessor of the church of St. Peter, seen here. St. Peter, built around 1200, is a Romanesque basilica. The structure of the church looks very "complete", what is the result of the reconstruction of the 19th century. Upto then the towers were not finished - and the higher one was decorated with a Baroque onion dome since about 1700. Standing in the central nave facing east. Behind the (nice!) grid the sober layout of a basilica can be seen. In the far distance is a Romanesque cross. Unfortunately I was unable to enter the church, walk around and see any details. A paper informed me, that due to recent vandalism it was necessary to lock the church and the chapels of the graveyard (during the opening hours of the graveyard). This was disappointing, as there was a certain grave in one of the chapels I wanted to see...

The Romans have been here -on the banks of the Danube- for about 400 years. When they withdrew a group of Bavarii settled here, lead by a person named Strupo. Accordingly the settlement was called Strupinga - and today is Straubing. Today the center of the town is about 500 meters east, the old center was right here, all around the Carolingian predecessor of the church of St. Peter. St. Peter, built around 1200, is a sober Romanesque basilica. The structure of the church looks very "complete", what is the result of the reconstruction of the 19th century. Probably since the old days the church is surrounded by a graveyard. Some of the old monuments are more than 400 years old. The graveyard has three old chapels. Unfortunately all three chapels were locked, due to some kind of vandalism, that had taken place. That was what I learned from the paper at the door. The oldest chapel "Unserer Lieben Frau" was built in 1425 over an older Romanesque structure. I could peep through a narrow window into the crypt, where old crosses epitaphs are stored.

The Romans have been here -on the banks of the Danube- for about 400 years. When they withdrew a group of Bavarii settled here, lead by a person named Strupo. Accordingly the settlement was called Strupinga - and today is Straubing. The market place, seen before is about 500 meters east n the "new town", the old center was here, all around the Carolingian predecessor of the church of St. Peter, seen here. St. Peter, built around 1200, is a Romanesque basilica. Since ceturies the church is surrounded by an old graveyard. The structure of the church looks very "complete", what is the result of the reconstruction of the 19th century. Upto then the towers were not finished - and the higher one was decorated with a Baroque onion dome since about 1700. Fortunately the Romanesque carvings of St. Peter have survived the times of modernisation.

The Romans have been here -on the banks of the Danube- for about 400 years. When they withdrew a group of Bavarii settled here, lead by a person named Strupo. Accordingly the settlement was called Strupinga - and today is Straubing. Today the center of the town is about 500 meters east, the old center was right here, all around the Carolingian predecessor of the church of St. Peter. St. Peter, built around 1200, is a sober Romanesque basilica. The structure of the church looks very "complete", what is the result of the reconstruction of the 19th century. Probably since the old days the church is surrounded by a graveyard. Some of the old monuments are more than 400 years old. The graveyard has three old chapels. Unfortunately the chapels were locked, due to some kind of vandalism, that had taken place (that was what I learned from the paper at the door). I could only hold my camera inside - and so got this photo. This is the interior of the "Totenkapelle", built in 1486. The frescos ("Totentanz") on the right are Baroque (1763). Actually, I had hoped to see the "Agnes-Bernauer-Kapelle", built in 1436 over the grave of Agnes, who was drowned after a false accusation (witchcraft) in the Danube by command of Ernest, Duke of Bavaria, in 1435. The tragic end of a touching love story between Agnes Bernauer - and Ernest´s son Albrecht, who later became Albert III, Duke of Bavaria. If you want to read more about this story follow the link to Blutenburg below.

The Romans have been here -on the banks of the Danube- for about 400 years. When they withdrew a group of Bavarii settled here, lead by a person named Strupo. Accordingly the settlement was called Strupinga - and today is Straubing. The market place, seen before is about 500 meters east n the "new town", the old center was here, all around the Carolingian predecessor of the church of St. Peter, seen here. St. Peter, built around 1200, is a Romanesque basilica. Since ceturies the church is surrounded by an old graveyard. The structure of the church looks very "complete", what is the result of the reconstruction of the 19th century. Upto then the towers were not finished - and the higher one was decorated with a Baroque onion dome since about 1700. Fortunately the Romanesque carvings of St. Peter have survived the times of modernisation. Carvigs like this one on the western portal, which is a side portal to the basilica. Two beasts battle on the tympanum. A more detailled upload of the carving comes next.

The Romans have been here -on the banks of the Danube- for about 400 years. When they withdrew a group of Bavarii settled here, lead by a person named Strupo. Accordingly the settlement was called Strupinga - and today is Straubing. The market place, seen before is about 500 meters east n the "new town", the old center was here, all around the Carolingian predecessor of the church of St. Peter, seen here. St. Peter, built around 1200, is a Romanesque basilica. Since ceturies the church is surrounded by an old graveyard. The structure of the church looks very "complete", what is the result of the reconstruction of the 19th century. Upto then the towers were not finished - and the higher one was decorated with a Baroque onion dome since about 1700. Fortunately the carvings of St. Peter have survived the times of modernisation. Carvings like this tympanum of the western portal, the main portal to the basilica. The Romanesque carvings of this portal, probably created by the same artist, who carved the southern one, caught my interest some time ago and so I did the detour to Straubing.

The Romans have been here -on the banks of the Danube- for about 400 years. When they withdrew a group of Bavarii settled here, lead by a person named Strupo. Accordingly the settlement was called Strupinga - and today is Straubing. Today the center of the town is about 500 meters east, the old center was right here, all around the Carolingian predecessor of the church of St. Peter. St. Peter, built around 1200, is a sober Romanesque basilica. The structure of the church looks very "complete", what is the result of the reconstruction of the 19th century. Upto then the towers were not finished - and the higher one was decorated with a Baroque onion dome since about 1700. Probably since the old days the church is surrounded by a graveyard. Some of the old monuments are more than 400 years old. The graveyard has three chapels. All around the small apse runs a Lonbardic band with some strange faces.

St. Peter (aka "Fritzlarer Dom") is tightly connected to Saint Bonifatius. the most important christian missionary in the east of the Frankish Kingdom, preaching the gospel to the germanic tribes. The "Vita sancti Bonifati", written only some decades after his martyrdom in 755, tells, that Saint Bonitatius came to this place and chopped down a sacred oak, dedicated to the pagan god Thor (Donar). All onlookers were waiting for Thor´s fierce reaction, but Thor did not care. After the felling Saint Bonifatius used the timber - and had a wooden church built here. There is a statue in front of the church, that shows Bonifatius standing on the stub of a oak, holding a huge axe. He founded a monastery nearby and named Saint Wigbert the first abbot. Saint Wigbert replaced the humble wooden structure by a prestigious stone one. This was probably the church that archeologists found traces of. It dates back to the end of the 8th century. Times were hard, in 774 pagan Saxons destroyed the abbey, but the stone church (23 meters.long), obviously withstook the attacs. But the Saxons returned in 1079 - and this time, they looted and destroyed the abbey, the church and the settlement. The building of a three nave, flat roofed basilica started 1085/1090 and was completed in 1118. It was an impressing large church with an extensive westwork, but already in 1171 the visiting Archbishop found the structure in such a bad state, the he commisioned a "rebuilding", what, as the romanesque style had changed created a "new church". Nowadays many architectural styles can be found here. Architects and builders were busy all the time. The oldest still existing structure of St. Peter is the crypt, as that was part of the basilica from 1118. The crypt is rather complex system, as it consists out of three crypts actually. The large rectangular central crypt (previous photo), and two smaller roundish crypts on the sides. One of these is seen here.

Fritzlar is not only known for the romanesque church of St. Peter, but as well for the pretty well conserved center, still protected by a wall and some towers. After Saint Bonitatius had chopped down the sacred "Donar Oak", this one of the starting points of the evangelisation of the germanic tribes, living east of the Rhine. Charlemagne had an imperial residence here. In 919 an Imperial Diet was held in Fritzlar - Heinrich I (aka "Henry the Fowler") was elected German king then, being the first of the Ottonian dynasty. During the 10th and 11th century this was a very important place, where kings and emperors resided frequently. Now Fritzlar is a small town (pop. 15000) - with nice half timbered building standing all around the market place.

St. Peter (aka "Fritzlarer Dom") is tightly connected to Saint Bonifatius. the most important christian missionary in the east of the Frankish Kingdom, preaching the gospel to the germanic tribes. The "Vita sancti Bonifati", written only some decades after his martyrdom in 755, tells, that Saint Bonitatius came to this place and chopped down a sacred oak, dedicated to the pagan god Thor (Donar). All onlookers were waiting for Thor´s fierce reaction, but Thor did not care. After the felling Saint Bonifatius used the timber - and had a wooden church built here. There is a statue in front of the church, that shows Bonifatius standing on the stub of a oak, holding a huge axe. He founded a monastery nearby and named Saint Wigbert the first abbot. Saint Wigbert replaced the humble wooden structure by a prestigious stone one. This was probably the church that archeologists found traces of. It dates back to the end of the 8th century. Times were hard, in 774 pagan Saxons destroyed the abbey, but the stone church (23 meters.long), obviously withstook the attacs. But the Saxons returned in 1079 - and this time, they looted and destroyed the abbey, the church and the settlement. The building of a three nave, flat roofed basilica started 1085/1090 and was completed in 1118. It was an impressing large church with an extensive westwork, but already in 1171 the visiting Archbishop found the structure in such a bad state, the he commisioned a "rebuilding", what, as the romanesque style had changed created a "new church". Nowadays many architectural styles can be found here, as architects and builders were busy all the time. The oldest still existing structure of St. Peter is the crypt, as that was part of the basilica that was completed in 1118. The crypt is rather complex, as it consists out of three units. The central crypt, seen here, is flanced by two round ones.

St. Peter (aka "Fritzlarer Dom") is tightly connected to Saint Bonifatius. the most important christian missionary in the east of the Frankish Kingdom, preaching the gospel to the germanic tribes. The "Vita sancti Bonifati", written only some decades after his martyrdom in 755, tells, that Saint Bonitatius came to this place and chopped down a sacred oak, dedicated to the pagan god Thor (Donar). All onlookers were waiting for Thor´s fierce reaction, but Thor did not care. After the felling Saint Bonifatius used the timber - and had a wooden church built here. There is a statue in front of the church, that shows Bonifatius standing on the stub of a oak, holding a huge axe. He founded a monastery nearby and named Saint Wigbert the first abbot. Saint Wigbert replaced the humble wooden structure by a prestigious stone one. This was probably the church that archeologists found traces of. It dates back to the end of the 8th century. Times were hard, in 774 pagan Saxons destroyed the abbey, but the stone church (23 meters.long), obviously withstook the attacs. But the Saxons returned in 1079 - and this time, they looted and destroyed the abbey, the church and the settlement. The building of a three nave, flat roofed basilica started 1085/1090 and was completed in 1118. It was an impressing large church with an extensive westwork, but already in 1171 the visiting Archbishop found the structure in such a bad state, the he commisioned a "rebuilding", what, as the romanesque style had changed created a "new church". Nowadays many architectural styles can be found here, as architects and builders were busy all the time. Here another capital from the interior of the narthex ("Paradies), that was added before between 1253 -1267. This hall was used as a chapel and as a law court in that times. When I saw this capital (and took the photo) I "underestimated" it. I just saw a strange figure, damaged edges. I did not take a closer look or take more photos. Meanwhile I tried to find information about this carving, but Gottfried Kiesow does not even mention these capitals in his book "Romanik in Hessen". The artistic style differs clearly from that elaborate carving of the capital just seen. In the center is a cripple with a huge head and a short round body. He has one long and one short leg. His arms are (compared to the body) way too long and his hands hold wooden blocks, that he uses to move. Around his neck is a kind of bag. One the right edge a large head - and two thin, rope-like arms. An animal (further right) bites into the elbow.

St. Peter (aka "Fritzlarer Dom") is tightly connected to Saint Bonifatius. the most important christian missionary in the east of the Frankish Kingdom, preaching the gospel to the germanic tribes. The "Vita sancti Bonifati", written only some decades after his martyrdom in 755, tells, that Saint Bonitatius came to this place and chopped down a sacred oak, dedicated to the pagan god Thor (Donar). All onlookers were waiting for Thor´s fierce reaction, but Thor did not care. After the felling Saint Bonifatius used the timber - and had a wooden church built here. There is a statue in front of the church, that shows Bonifatius standing on the stub of a oak, holding a huge axe. He founded a monastery nearby and named Saint Wigbert the first abbot. Saint Wigbert replaced the humble wooden structure by a prestigious stone one. This was probably the church that archeologists found traces of. It dates back to the end of the 8th century. Times were hard, in 774 pagan Saxons destroyed the abbey, but the stone church (23 meters.long), obviously withstook the attacs. But the Saxons returned in 1079 - and this time, they looted and destroyed the abbey, the church and the settlement. The building of a three nave, flat roofed basilica started 1085/1090 and was completed in 1118. It was an impressing large church with an extensive westwork, but already in 1171 the visiting Archbishop found the structure in such a bad state, the he commisioned a "rebuilding", what, as the romanesque style had changed created a "new church". Nowadays many architectural styles can be found here, as architects and builders were busy all the time. Here a capital from the interior of the narthex ("Paradies), that was added before between 1253 -1267. This hall was used as a chapel and as a law court in that times. This carvings has probably not to do anything with the law. I think it is a sitting "Master of the Beasts", holding two of them by the tails.