Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul, Reichenau, Romanesque basilica in Niederzell, Reichenau Island, Germany.
The Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul is a Romanesque columned basilica with an east-tower facade in Niederzell on Reichenau Island. It has no transept; the nave is flanked by side aisles with arcades on strictly ornamented capitals. The two east towers were raised in the 15th century, and the apse wall holds a large window that replaced a Romanesque central window.
Bishop Egino of Verona founded a first church here in 799 after retiring to a cell on the abbey's land; he died in 802 and was venerated as a blessed. After two fires the founding building was demolished around 1080 and replaced on the old foundations, keeping the original dimensions, by the present aisleless column basilica; roofing work is documented for 1134. Egino's grave was moved into the choir of this Romanesque church in the 12th century.
Egino of Verona, a former bishop, founded the cella here in 799 with Abbot Waldo's permission and was buried in the church he founded; his grave was moved into the choir of the present Romanesque church in the 12th century. The small Egino Chapel, reached through a side entrance, is used by the Benedictines of the Cella St. Benedict for the Liturgy of the Hours.
The church stands at the western tip of Reichenau Island in Niederzell. A side entrance leads into the small Egino Chapel, used by the Benedictines of the Cella St. Benedict for the Liturgy of the Hours; the main interior is entered separately. The organ, built in 1783 by Johann Baptist Lang of Überlingen, was restored by Robert Wech and rededicated on 13 January 2019.
The building kept its original medieval dimensions even after being completely rebuilt in 1080. This unusual choice by the builders shows how they wanted to preserve continuity with their religious past.
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