St. Bonifatius, Gothic Revival church in Giessen, Germany.
St. Bonifatius is a three-nave basilica with a cross-shaped plan and a polygonal high choir set on an elevated plateau south of the old city center. The building displays characteristic Neo-Gothic features with elaborate facade details and interior elements that emphasize vertical lines and pointed arches.
Catholic services were discontinued after 1527 during the Reformation and only returned in 1784 when Franciscan priests from Wetzlar began celebrating them in the city. The building itself sustained severe damage from bombing in 1944 and underwent reconstruction between 1945 and 1949.
The building is named after Saint Bonifatius, the English missionary who brought Christianity to Central Europe. Inside, visitors can admire an elaborate winged altarpiece acquired in 1904 that showcases intricate carvings depicting religious scenes.
The building sits on elevated ground south of the city center and is accessible on foot. Visitors should know that services take place at set times and the church may be full of worshippers during these hours.
The eastern side was destroyed by a bomb explosion in 1944 that damaged the south aisle and five choir windows. These war scars remain visible in the reconstruction today, which blends both old and new materials.
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