Wurzburg - Kappelle & Autumn Sunset
The Käppele ('Little Chapel') is the commonly used name for the Wallfahrtskirche Mariä Heimsuchung ('Pilgrimage Church of the Visitation of Mary'), located on a hill above Würzburg, in Germany. It was built following plans by Balthasar Neumann in the mid-18th century in Rococo style. The church is located on the north-eastern slope of the 366 metre Nikolausberg, below the Frankenwarte and above the left bank of the Main in the city of Würzburg, the capital of Lower Franconia in the north of Bavaria, Germany. Originally, a local fisherman erected a pietà in what was then a vineyard in 1640. About ten years later, four miracle cures were reported in connection with the statue. Around 1650, a first chapel was built around the pietà. Together with some other reported phenomena, the cures began to attract pilgrims to the site, especially around pentecost. In 1690 and 1713, the original chapel was increased in size. Balthasar Neumann, architect of the Würzburg Residence, then drew up plans for a new church which incorporated the older chapel as the Alte Gnadenkapelle. The foundation stone was laid on 5 April 1748. Construction took until 1750 but the interior furnishings were not finished until 1821. The new chapel was officially inaugurated only on 21 September 1824, due to earlier disruptions caused by securalization of 1803.
A way of the cross with 14 stations of the cross marked by small chapels leads up to the Käppele. These were based on an idea by Neumann, but completed only in 1799. The live-sized statue groups (77 figures) were created by Simon and Peter Wagner. The church's double-towered front and the roof with its cupolas and roof lanterns give it an unusual appearance that distinguishes it from the other churches of Würzburg. The interior features ceiling frescos by Matthäus Günther from 1752 and 1781 and stucco work by Johann Michael Feuchtmayer the Elder. The side altars date to 1768. The neoclassical high altar was made in 1799.
Wurzburg - Kappelle & Autumn Sunset
The Käppele ('Little Chapel') is the commonly used name for the Wallfahrtskirche Mariä Heimsuchung ('Pilgrimage Church of the Visitation of Mary'), located on a hill above Würzburg, in Germany. It was built following plans by Balthasar Neumann in the mid-18th century in Rococo style. The church is located on the north-eastern slope of the 366 metre Nikolausberg, below the Frankenwarte and above the left bank of the Main in the city of Würzburg, the capital of Lower Franconia in the north of Bavaria, Germany. Originally, a local fisherman erected a pietà in what was then a vineyard in 1640. About ten years later, four miracle cures were reported in connection with the statue. Around 1650, a first chapel was built around the pietà. Together with some other reported phenomena, the cures began to attract pilgrims to the site, especially around pentecost. In 1690 and 1713, the original chapel was increased in size. Balthasar Neumann, architect of the Würzburg Residence, then drew up plans for a new church which incorporated the older chapel as the Alte Gnadenkapelle. The foundation stone was laid on 5 April 1748. Construction took until 1750 but the interior furnishings were not finished until 1821. The new chapel was officially inaugurated only on 21 September 1824, due to earlier disruptions caused by securalization of 1803.
A way of the cross with 14 stations of the cross marked by small chapels leads up to the Käppele. These were based on an idea by Neumann, but completed only in 1799. The live-sized statue groups (77 figures) were created by Simon and Peter Wagner. The church's double-towered front and the roof with its cupolas and roof lanterns give it an unusual appearance that distinguishes it from the other churches of Würzburg. The interior features ceiling frescos by Matthäus Günther from 1752 and 1781 and stucco work by Johann Michael Feuchtmayer the Elder. The side altars date to 1768. The neoclassical high altar was made in 1799.