Kreuzkirche, Modern church building in Görlitz, Germany.
Kreuzkirche is a Protestant church built between 1913 and 1919 on the southern edge of Görlitz, between Arndtstrasse and Reuterstrasse, to a design by Dresden architect Rudolf Bitzan. Its massive west entrance below the 48-metre tower spans the paved street in front, and arcades flank it. The interior has a coffered ceiling instead of a vault, deep galleries on the north and south sides, and an elliptical entrance hall called the bridal hall with a painted Art Nouveau ceiling.
The building resulted from a nationwide architectural competition in 1911, which Rudolf Bitzan won, leading to construction between 1913 and 1916. This period marked the transition from historical revival styles to modern church design in Germany.
The name comes from the cross of Christ that divides the tall rectangular window on the tower. Inside, stucco consoles beneath the coffered ceiling carry names from the Bible, church history, culture, science and politics. The entrance vestibule, called the bridal hall, has an elliptical plan and a painted Art Nouveau ceiling.
The building accommodates approximately 1000 people and serves both regular worship services and musical performances. Visitors should check in advance whether a public visiting day is planned, as the building's availability varies.
The entrance hall surprises visitors with art nouveau paintings floating above the coffered ceiling within an elliptical floor plan. Ornamental ironwork and floral window designs combine artistic details with the otherwise austere modern aesthetic.
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