Liebfrauenkirche, Arnstadt

The Liebfrauenkirche is a Gothic church in Arnstadt built with three naves, vaulted ceilings, two western towers, and a central tower forming a distinctive basilica structure. The layout displays the spatial arrangement of a medieval hall church with architectural elements characteristic of its era.

The church stands on a site mentioned in a deed of donation from 704, when Thuringian Duke Hedan II gave the property to Bishop Willibrord of Utrecht. The location held religious importance from the early medieval period onward.

The interior holds burial chambers of the Schwarzburg counts and displays a winged altar from 1498 and a wooden Madonna sculpture from 1415. These artworks shape the character of the church and reflect the religious artistic heritage of the region.

The church is open Monday through Saturday from 11:00 to 15:00 and on Sundays from 14:00 to 16:00 between May and September. Visitors should check in advance for any changes to hours and approach the building with respect during their visit.

The building houses one of the heaviest bells in the Thuringian Protestant Church and features false galleries in its architectural design. These structural elements make the church a distinctive example of medieval building techniques.