World Heritage #0271 – Church of Wies

Last modified 30.10.2022 | Published 09.07.2002Germany, North and Central Europe, World Heritage Sites

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What does a Rococo church look like? Come to the church of Wies and enjoy this strikingly beautiful church.

The UNESCO World Heritage List includes more than a thousand properties with outstanding universal value. They are all part of the world’s cultural and natural heritage.

Official facts

  • Official name: Pilgrimage Church of Wies
  • Country: Germany
  • Date of Inscription: 1983
  • Category: Cultural site

UNESCO’s World Heritage Centre’s short description of site no. 271:

“Miraculously preserved in the beautiful setting of an Alpine valley, the Church of Wies (1745-54), the work of architect Dominikus Zimmermann, is a masterpiece of Bavarian Rococo exuberant, colourful and joyful. (…)

The sanctuary of Wies, near Steingaden in Bavaria, is a pilgrimage church extraordinarily well-preserved in the beautiful setting of an Alpine valley, and is a perfect masterpiece of Rococo art and creative genius, as well as an exceptional testimony to a civilization that has disappeared.”

My visit

The Pilgrimage Church of Wies, or Wieskirche, does not stand out for its exterior, because that is quite ordinary in my opinion. But the church is first of all worth a visit for its richly decorated interior. It is magnificent. I might add that people with a sore neck should avoid the church. For those without such a problem, it is advisable to do some neck exercises before and after the visit: Because the ceiling is fantastic.

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