Sola-Basilika, Church ruin in Solnhofen, Germany

The Sola-Basilika in Solnhofen is the ruin of a three-nave, transept-less basilica of Carolingian origin, 28.80 m long and 13.30 m wide. Only the western part of the northern side aisle survives, holding the empty limestone tumba of Saint Sola. Three reddish-brown columns with carved leafy capitals stand on a gravel floor beneath a modern canopy; the originals are in Munich.

Archaeological excavations between 1961 and 1979 uncovered evidence of five successive churches built at this location, starting from around 650. These layers demonstrate how the site remained a religious center through repeated rebuilding over the centuries.

The church was the burial place of Saint Sola, a monk of Husen, and a 1720 winged altar depicting his miracles is documented; it was removed during the 1734 renovation. The grave was opened on 14 September 1828 and no body was found. The empty 15th-century tumba with its polychrome Gothic painting still stands in the surviving north aisle.

The ruined site is freely accessible outdoors and can be visited at any time. Some original columns are displayed at the Archaeological Museum in Munich, while replicas remain on the ground where visitors can see them.

The site contains evidence of human settlement reaching back about 8000 years, including ancient metalworking areas. This long history of use shows that the location held importance long before the basilica was ever built.