Alte Sollner Kirche St. Johann Baptist, Gothic church in Solln, Germany.
The Alte Sollner Kirche St. Johann Baptist stands on a rise at Herterichstraße 54 in Solln. Its square tower base and late Gothic choir date from the late 15th century, while the nave and octagonal tower top with pointed spire were probably rebuilt in 1640–1648. The white church has a dark grey shingled spire, a clock face, and a red-tiled roof; inside, a wooden ceiling beam spans light walls above stone tiles and dark pews facing a Rococo high altar.
A church in Solln is documented since 1315, possibly a filial church of Thalkirchen-Sendling since the 12th century. The present building was erected in the last decades of the 15th century; Balthasar Pötschner donated furnishings between 1470 and 1472. Solln was destroyed in the Thirty Years' War, but the church survived undamaged. In 1640–1648 the nave and the octagonal tower top were rebuilt or extended. In 1874 Solln and Pullach were separated from Thalkirchen-Sendling into a new parish based in Pullach; in 1920 Solln became its own parish. The church was extensively renovated in 1966.
The high altar dates from 1760 and was carved by Johann Baptist Straub, with the altarpiece painted by Balthasar Augustin Albrecht showing John the Baptist, St George, Conrad of Constance, Mary with her parents Anna and Joachim, the Christ Child, St Barbara and Elizabeth of Thuringia. It was made as a house altar for the Munich merchant couple Konrad Georg and Maria Anna Sauer, whose name saints appear among the figures, and the parish bought it between 1830 and 1840.
The church is particularly active during summer months and serves as a worship space for regular services. Visitors should plan to come during warmer months to experience it while the community is most engaged.
The tower's octagon holds two historic bronze bells cast in 1654 and 1925, tuned to D-sharp and F-sharp, and they are still rung by rope pull. The church also keeps a Black Madonna of about 1730, a copy of the one at Einsiedeln, at the former right side altar.
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