Amidst Freiburg’s Wiehre district, a quaint Roman Catholic church whispers tales of survival and transformation: Sankt Cyriakus und Perpetua. It is also affectionately known as Annakirchle. This small baroque church on Annaplatz holds a history far grander than its modest size suggests.
Sankt Cyriakus und Perpetua’s story starts long before Freiburg’s rise. The villages of Wiehre and Adelhausen existed a century before Freiburg. Adelhausen, the older of the two, was home to a church called Sant Einbetten Kilch. It was named for Saint Einbeth. Legend says she was a companion of Saint Ursula.
Over time, Cyriakus and Perpetua became the patron saints. In 1665, Freiburg took over the responsibility for the church. Though the area became known as Wiehre, the parish retained the name Adelhausen.
The present Sankt Cyriakus und Perpetua isn’t the first on this site. It’s actually the fourth! The initial medieval church, incredibly, survived the Thirty Years’ War. But destruction came when Sébastien Le Prestre de Vauban transformed Freiburg into a French fortress in 1678. The church and the entire Wiehre area had to be razed.
From 1709 to 1711, a second church rose. But Freiburg was attacked again during the War of the Spanish Succession. In 1713, the fortress commander ordered the church destroyed. Freiburg still fell.
In 1718, a third church was built further from the fortress. However, war came again. Freiburg was bombarded and captured in 1744 during the War of the Austrian Succession. Once more, the Wiehre lay in ruins.
After a half-century of peace, the parish decided to rebuild Sankt Cyriakus und Perpetua. They chose its original location on Annaplatz. Construction began in 1753. Johann Baptist Häring designed the church. Joseph Schauberger, a master builder from the Münster, carried out the work. The church was consecrated in 1755. This fourth iteration stands largely unchanged today.
In 1755, Adelhausen parish had 350 souls. By 1885, that number ballooned to 6,345. Sankt Cyriakus und Perpetua could only hold about 200 people. So, the new St. Johann Church was constructed nearby between 1895 and 1899. In 1899, the parish of Adelhausen became the parish of St. Johann.
Sankt Cyriakus und Perpetua was nearly abandoned. However, Franciscan monks took it over in 1918. In 1941, it became a parish curacy. By 1981, it was again an independent parish. Today, it is part of the Freiburg Wiehre-Günterstal pastoral care unit.
The church sits in the middle of Annaplatz. The yellow exterior with red accents reflects its original colors. Statues of Cyriak and Perpetua adorn the front. Cyriak wears a deacon’s robe. Perpetua wears a flowing cloak. A lion sits beside her, instead of her usual attribute, a wild cow.
Inside Sankt Cyriakus und Perpetua, delicate rococo ornaments decorate the ceiling. Franz Anton Vogel created these intricate designs. The high altar came from the Freiburg Schlossberg fortress chapel. The statues of Saint Anthony the Great and Madonna stand on side altars.
Since 1788, Sankt Cyriakus und Perpetua has been enhanced by an organ. The current organ was built in 1992. It boasts 17 registers and 928 pipes. Three bronze bells hang in the tower. They create a rare major sixth chord melody.
Today, Sankt Cyriakus und Perpetua is a beloved landmark. With its Sebastian fountain and old grave slabs, it offers a glimpse into Freiburg’s rich past. The Annaplatzhock festival occurs here every year. Sankt Cyriakus und Perpetua has witnessed centuries of war and peace. It remains a testament to faith and community.