Maria-Himmelfahrt-Kirche, Gothic Revival church in Schönau im Schwarzwald, Germany
Mariä Himmelfahrt is a Roman Catholic parish church in the centre of Schönau im Schwarzwald, next to the town hall. The neo-Gothic building by architect Raimund Jeblinger, consecrated in 1908, has a three-aisled nave, a wide transept with buttresses facing west, and a 90-metre bell tower to the east, the tallest church in the Lörrach district. Balustrades and pinnacles rise into small gables holding the clock faces, topped by a steep eight-sided pyramid with a tower sphere.
The original place of worship was established in 1158 under the direction of Abbot Günther of St. Blasien. However, the current structure was built in 1908 following a major reconstruction.
The late Gothic high altar, made around 1520–1550 by unknown masters, is considered the finest of its kind between Freiburg and Basel. Its central shrine shows Mary with the Child, flanked by John the Evangelist, St Blaise, St Catherine and St Barbara; the wings depict scenes from Mary's life, including Joseph drawing water, likely inspired by Albrecht Dürer's 1504 engraving "Die Weynachten".
The church stands in the centre of Schönau next to the town hall (Rathaus), so it is reached on foot from the surrounding streets. The tower rises on the east side and the transept faces west, which helps orientation once inside. The building is an active parish church of the Seelsorgeeinheit Oberes Wiesental, so visits fit around services.
The neo-Gothic church of 1908 was built rotated 45 degrees from the axis of its predecessor, designed by architect Raimund Jeblinger. Only the lower part of the old tower survived the demolition. Because the tower was raised to 90 metres, the highest church in the Lörrach district, its foundation had to be reinforced.
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