St. Ulrich's and St. Afra's Abbey, Catholic basilica in Augsburg, Germany.
St. Ulrich's and St. Afra's Abbey comprises two connected Gothic churches in central Augsburg that stretch approximately 93 meters in length and rise about 30 meters high. The paired structures feature pointed arches and a distinctive onion dome that crowns the complex.
The site grew from the Roman-era tomb of Saint Afra, martyred in 304, and from 1012 stood under the care of a Benedictine monastery. The present late Gothic church was begun in 1467 under Abbot Melchior von Stammheim, continued by Valentin Kindlin and Burkhart Engelberg, and consecrated in 1607. The monastery was dissolved in 1802 during secularisation, and in 1810 the church became a parish church.
Saints Ulrich and Afra are patron saints of Augsburg, and their veneration shapes the identity of this church to this day. People visit to pray at their tombs and honor their connection to the city.
The church is open to visitors and offers a quiet place to spend time and view the interior spaces. Weekdays during daytime are generally the best times to visit when fewer crowds are present.
On 31 May 1653 Ferdinand IV was proclaimed Roman-German King in the sacristy, and Joseph I followed there on 24 January 1690. The church thus hosted two royal elections, a role visitors rarely associate with a parish basilica.
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