Dom St. Marien zu Wurzen, Gothic cathedral in Wurzen, Germany
Dom St. Marien zu Wurzen is a gothic cathedral in Saxony featuring two towers on the sides of the main aisle that reach about 42 meters in height. These towers are topped with baroque domes and lanterns, creating the building's distinctive profile above the city.
The first church on the site, a flat-roofed Romanesque basilica, was consecrated on 16 August 1114 by Bishop Herwig of Meissen, who founded the collegiate foundation the same year. Around 1260–1290 the four bays of the east choir were added, and after a fire in 1470 Bishop Johann VI von Saalhausen rebuilt and extended it, creating the west choir in 1503 as his burial place. Since 1542 it has served Protestant worship.
The name "Dom" dates from the late 15th century, when the Meissen bishops moved their residence into neighbouring Wurzen Castle and the collegiate church became a cathedral chapter church. Since 1542 it has served Lutheran worship, and its acoustics are used for church music concerts. Look for the uniform set of architectural sculptures by Georg Wrba, installed in 1931–32.
The church is open daily and has no congregation of its own; it is maintained by the Protestant cathedral chapter and funded by the state and donations. The south tower holds the entrance, and the building connects to Wurzen Castle via the Alte Kustodie. Classical concerts are held inside, including performances by the cathedral choir under Johann Dickkert.
The great bronze bell of 1521 was taken down in February 1943 to be melted for the war effort and sent to a bell cemetery in Hamburg. It survived, returned to Wurzen in May 1950 and hangs again in its old place in the north tower.
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