Holy Cross Minster, Gothic church in Schwäbisch Gmünd, Germany.
Holy Cross Minster is a church in Schwäbisch Gmünd featuring twin western towers and a hall choir with ambulatory, its walls and portals decorated with intricate stonework. The interior displays the open spatial structure typical of hall churches with carefully crafted architectural details throughout.
Construction began around 1320 with the nave completed by 1341, establishing this as the first large hall church in southern Germany. The Parler family, working here, later shaped Gothic architecture across Central Europe and made this building site a turning point in architectural history.
The building takes its name from the Holy Cross and today serves two congregations as a meeting place, reflecting how the space welcomes different communities. The stonemasons' workshop that operates here connects craft and faith in the daily life of the place.
The building is open to visitors at regular times for prayer and viewing, allowing you to explore the spatial layout at your own pace. The open architecture provides clear sightlines through the hall, so you can take in the entire structure from the entrance.
The stonemasons' workshop at the minster was added to the UNESCO Register of Good Safeguarding Practices in 2020, a rare recognition for working craft operations. The workshop continues traditional techniques today that have been practiced at this location for centuries.
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