Wallfahrtskirche Mariä Heimsuchung, Baroque pilgrimage church in Ilgen, Germany
The Wallfahrtskirche Mariä Heimsuchung is a baroque pilgrimage church with a main nave, two side chapels, and a three-sided choir topped by a roof turret on the western gable. The building combines classic baroque structure with carefully designed interior spaces that unite religious art and sacred function.
The church was constructed between 1670 and 1676 under architect Johann Schmuzer and replaced an earlier plague chapel from 1564. The building emerged during the shift from Gothic to baroque style and shaped the region's religious landscape for centuries to come.
The interior displays late Gothic wooden sculptures and altar paintings created by artists from nearby monasteries, reflecting the region's religious artistic tradition. These works shape the character of the space and show how local craftspeople contributed to this pilgrimage site.
The building is accessible daily, though opening hours vary by season to protect the delicate interior stucco work. It is worth checking current access times before visiting, especially during cooler months.
The interior houses an original organ by Augustin Simnacher from 1723 with ten registers, retaining most of its baroque original components. This instrument is a rare example of well-preserved musical and craft traditions from that era.
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