Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: Bad Reichenhall

A legend tells, that Charlemagne personally founded a first monastery here, but there are so many places, who claim that... A small monastery existed here within the 9th century. As it was built close to the river Saalach, it was dedicated Saint Zeno, an early Christian Bishop of Verona and a patron saint against floods. In 1136 Konrad I von Abensberg, Archbishop of Salzburg, established Augustinian Canons here, well equipped with income from the salt (= hall) that was produced here. The construction of the three-nave-basilica took 80 years, it got consecrated in 1228. With a length of 80 meters, this was a huge structure. The church burnt down in 1512. When it got rebuilt, many Gothic elements were added (vaulting). Ano ther fire destroyed great part in 1789, just before the monastery got secularized in 1803. Since then this is a parish church. There is an important cloister here, that even has a carving depicting Frederick I (Barbarossa). If you plan to visit Bad Reichenhall, inquire at the Tourist Office about it the opening hours. As the cloister now is part of a school, it is open for tourists only once or twice a week for an hour or two. I could not wait that long.. - The western portal from 1228 fortunately survived all fires and modernisations. Protected by a narthex, it is still on place and only little damaged. The left side of the lintel and the corbel below, carved in a masterly style. On the corbel are two birds facing each other over a fruit bearing shrub. The small knot on the right is a design, that reminds on earlier styles. On the lintel a vine grows out of the head of a beast. The beast may be an aspis (Weber). The fruits of this vine are very small (like hops). Just over the upper jaw of the beast sits a sparrow-like bird. The humanoid figure to the right is better visible on the next upload.

In 1181 Archbishop Adalbert III gave his ok to the pious dwellers of Reichenhall for the erection of a parish church. 10 years later, St. Nikolaus, a three nave basilica, got consecrated. Another five years later, Reichenhall was burnt down by the Archbishop´s troops over some dispute. The church did not got damaged at that time, but had to be rebuilt after the great fire in Reichenhall in 1515. It got rebuilt, altered, repaired - and in the 1860s got enlarged in Neo-Romanesque style. The medieval tower got demolished and replaced. The carvings that once decorated the Romanesque tower were saved - and saved in this frieze around the southern side apse. Here a detail of the frieze. I have no idea, what they are holding.

In 1181 Archbishop Adalbert III gave his ok to the pious dwellers of Reichenhall for the erection of a parish church. 10 years later, St. Nikolaus, a three nave basilica, got consecrated. Another five years later, Reichenhall was burnt down by the Archbishop´s troops over some dispute. The church did not got damaged at that time, but had to be rebuilt after the great fire in Reichenhall in 1515. It got rebuilt, altered, repaired - and in the 1860s got enlarged in Neo-Romanesque style. The medieval tower got demolished and replaced. The carvings that once decorated the Romanesque tower were saved - and saved in this frieze around the southern side apse. Here a detail of the frieze. I have the impression the person is holding flowers or ears = "harvest crops".

A legends tells, that Charlemagne personally founded a first monastery here, but there are so many places, who claim that... A small monastery existed here within the 9th century. As it was built close to the river Saalach, it was dedicated Saint Zeno, an early Christian Bishop of Verona and a patron saint against floods. In 1136 Konrad I von Abensberg, Archbishop of Salzburg, established Augustinian Canons here, well equipped with income from the salt (= hall) that was produced here. The construction of the three-nave-basilica took 80 years, it got consecrated in 1228. With a length of 80 meters, this was a huge structure. The church burnt down in 1512. When it got rebuilt, many Gothic elements were added (vaulting). Another fire destroyed great part in 1789, just before the monastery got secularized in 1803. Since then this is a parish church. There is an important cloister here, that even has a carving depicting Frederick I (Barbarossa). If you plan to visit Bad Reichenhall, inquire at the Tourist Office about it the opening hours. As the cloister now is part of a school, it is open for tourists only once or twice a week for an hour or two. I could not wait that long.. - The western portal from 1228 fortunately survived all fires and modernisations. Protected by a narthex, it is still on place and only little damaged.

In 1181 Archbishop Adalbert III gave his ok to the pious dwellers of Reichenhall for the erection of a parish church. 10 years later, St. Nikolaus, a three nave basilica, got consecrated. Another five years later, Reichenhall was burnt down by the Archbishop´s troops over some dispute. The church did not got damaged at that time, but had to be rebuilt after the great fire in Reichenhall in 1515. It got rebuilt, altered, repaired - and in the 1860s got enlarged in Neo-Romanesque style. The medieval tower got demolished and replaced. The carvings that once decorated the Romanesque tower were saved - and saved in this frieze around the southern side apse. A detail of the frieze. A lion, compared to that masterly carved lions, guarding the doors at St. Zeno, not even two kms north, this is a pretty naive style.

The church of St. Zeno, just seen, was an abbey-church and not just easily open for the pious villagers. So in 1181 Archbishop Adalbert III gave his ok to Reichenhall for the erection of a parish church. Already 10 years later, St. Nikolaus, a three nave basilica, got consecrated. Another five years later, Reichenhall was burnt down by the Archbishop´s troops over some dispute. The church did not got damaged at that time, but had to be rebuilt after the great fire in Reichenhall in 1515. It got rebuilt, altered, repaired - and in the 1860s got enlarged in Neo-Romanesque style. The medieval tower was demolished and got replaced by the tower seen now. The complete western facade, seen here, is just 150 years old.

A legend tells, that Charlemagne personally founded a first monastery here, but there are so many places, who claim that... A small monastery existed here within the 9th century. As it was built close to the river Saalach, it was dedicated Saint Zeno, an early Christian Bishop of Verona and a patron saint against floods. In 1136 Konrad I von Abensberg, Archbishop of Salzburg, established Augustinian Canons here, well equipped with income from the salt (= hall) that was produced here. The construction of the three-nave-basilica took 80 years, it got consecrated in 1228. With a length of 80 meters, this was a huge structure. The church burnt down in 1512. When it got rebuilt, many Gothic elements were added (vaulting). Another fire destroyed great part in 1789, just before the monastery got secularized in 1803. Since then this is a parish church. There is an important cloister here, that even has a carving depicting Frederick I (Barbarossa). If you plan to visit Bad Reichenhall, inquire at the Tourist Office about it the opening hours. As the cloister now is part of a school, it is open for tourists only once or twice a week for an hour or two. I could not wait that long.. - The western portal from 1228 fortunately survived all fires and modernisations. Protected by a narthex, it is still on place and only little damaged. The damage seen, was not caused by vandalism, but by a stroke of lightning The lintel and the tympanum of the Romanesque portal. Madonna and Child n the center. Mary, seated on a throne, is holding the child on her knees with the left arm, while her the right hand holds an apple (?). They are flanked by St. Zeno (left) and St. Rupert (right). As these saints both had been bishops, both hold a crosiers. Around the group are arcades, which are encircled by stars (in black circles), sun and moon. In the first archivolt above (and out of symmetry) an Agnus Dei. The lintel below, carved in a different style, depicts tendrils, populated with mythic animals. The artistic style od these carvings is extraordenary, kind of soft and nothing similar can be found in the region. The artists were probably contractors from Northern Italy. Unfortunately this shot is pretty blurry. Sorry. I should go to Bad Reichenhall again - with a tripod.

In 1181 Archbishop Adalbert III gave his ok to the pious dwellers of Reichenhall for the erection of a parish church. 10 years later, St. Nikolaus, a three nave basilica, got consecrated. Another five years later, Reichenhall was burnt down by the Archbishop´s troops over some dispute. The church did not got damaged at that time, but had to be rebuilt after the great fire in Reichenhall in 1515. It got rebuilt, altered, repaired - and in the 1860s got enlarged in Neo-Romanesque style. The medieval tower got demolished and replaced. The carvings that once decorated the Romanesque tower were saved - and saved in a frieze around the southern side apse.

A legend tells, that Charlemagne personally founded a first monastery here, but there are so many places, who claim that. A small monastery existed here within the 9th century. As it was built close to the river Saalach, it was dedicated Saint Zeno, an early Christian Bishop of Verona and a patron saint against floods. In 1136 Konrad I von Abensberg, Archbishop of Salzburg, established Augustinian Canons here, well equipped with income from the salt (= hall) that was produced here. The construction of the three-nave-basilica took 80 years, it got consecrated in 1228. With a length of 80 meters, this was a huge structure. The church burnt down in 1512. When it got rebuilt, many Gothic elements were added (vaulting). Ano ther fire destroyed great part in 1789, just before the monastery got secularized in 1803. Since then this is a parish church. There is an important cloister here, that even has a carving depicting Frederick I (Barbarossa). If you plan to visit Bad Reichenhall, inquire at the Tourist Office about it the opening hours. As the cloister now is part of a school, it is open for tourists only once or twice a week for an hour or two. I could not wait that long.. - The western portal from 1228 fortunately survived all fires and modernisations. Protected by a narthex, it is still on place and only little damaged (by lightning- not by vandals). Two carved reliefs, that have never been part of the portal can be found inside the narthex. They are pre-Romanesque and older than the church itself. It may be, that they come from the monastery, that was here, before the Canons moved in here (1136). One of the reliefs depicts God with Adam and Eve. This is the other one. Following Gottfried Weber ("Die Romanik in Oberbayern") this is a "saved soul" in the center flanked by a guardian angel (left) and a lion (right). Giant hands tear the lions mouth apart. Reminds on Samson.

A legend tells, that Charlemagne personally founded a first monastery here, but there are so many places, who claim that... A small monastery existed here within the 9th century. As it was built close to the river Saalach, it was dedicated Saint Zeno, an early Christian Bishop of Verona and a patron saint against floods. In 1136 Konrad I von Abensberg, Archbishop of Salzburg, established Augustinian Canons here, well equipped with income from the salt (= hall) that was produced here. The construction of the three-nave-basilica took 80 years, it got consecrated in 1228. With a length of 80 meters, this was a huge structure. The church burnt down in 1512. When it got rebuilt, many Gothic elements were added (vaulting). Another fire destroyed great part in 1789, just before the monastery got secularized in 1803. Since then this is a parish church. There is an important cloister here, that even has a carving depicting Frederick I (Barbarossa). If you plan to visit Bad Reichenhall, inquire at the Tourist Office about it the opening hours. As the cloister now is part of a school, it is open for tourists only once or twice a week for an hour or two. I could not wait that long.. - The western portal from 1228 fortunately survived all fires and modernisations. Protected by a narthex, it is still on place and only little damaged. Seen here is the right of the two lions, guarding the portal. The lioness holds a cub between the paws Three lions from Bad Reichenhall, that probably watched over St. Zeno´s side portals, are kept in Bavarian National Museum (Bayrisches Nationalmuseum) in Munich.

A legend tells, that Charlemagne personally founded a first monastery here, but there are so many places, who claim that... A small monastery existed here within the 9th century. As it was built close to the river Saalach, it was dedicated Saint Zeno, an early Christian Bishop of Verona and a patron saint against floods. In 1136 Konrad I von Abensberg, Archbishop of Salzburg, established Augustinian Canons here, well equipped with income from the salt (= hall) that was produced here. The construction of the three-nave-basilica took 80 years, it got consecrated in 1228. With a length of 80 meters, this was a huge structure. The church burnt down in 1512. When it got rebuilt, many Gothic elements were added (vaulting). Another fire destroyed great part in 1789, just before the monastery got secularized in 1803. Since then this is a parish church. There is an important cloister here, that even has a carving depicting Frederick I (Barbarossa). If you plan to visit Bad Reichenhall, inquire at the Tourist Office about it the opening hours. As the cloister now is part of a school, it is open for tourists only once or twice a week for an hour or two. I could not wait that long.. - The western portal from 1228 fortunately survived all fires and modernisations. Protected by a narthex, it is still on place and only little damaged. Seen here is the left of the two lions, guarding the portal. A small crocodile (?) has bitten in the lion´s tongue. Somehow this lion reminds me on one of the lions guarding the HSBC-building in Hongkong. Three lions from Bad Reichenhall, that probably watched over St. Zeno´s side portals, are kept in Bavarian National Museum (Bayrisches Nationalmuseum) in Munich.