Friedenskirche, Gothic Revival church in Kesselstadt, Hanau, Germany
Friedenskirche is a Gothic Revival church of light tan stone with a steep dark slate roof, built in 1904 to a design by Heinrich Jassoy. Its southwest tower rises 49.5 metres into a spire flanked by pointed pinnacles; a white clock face with black Roman numerals sits above a louvered arched window. The gabled section to the right has a circular rose window with tracery and a stone cross at its peak.
Archaeological excavations beneath the church revealed Celtic remains, a Roman stone fortress, and medieval findings from the 8th and 9th centuries. These layers demonstrate the site's long history spanning from ancient to medieval times.
Above the side windows are the four Evangelists: Mark as lion, John as eagle, Luke as ox and Matthew as winged man. The oil painting on the east wall, shown at the Cologne art exhibition in 1861 and awarded a gold medal, depicts the mourning at Christ's burial; it was donated by the J. Waltz family in 1898.
The church space is accessible during regular religious services held for the local community and offers views of the architecture and artistic works. Visitors should check when services take place to ensure they can explore the interior.
The tower houses one of the few remaining mechanical clocks in Hanau, requiring manual winding twice per week. This vintage timekeeping mechanism is a rare example of traditional craftsmanship and continues to operate today.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 92,915 contributors worldwide.