Peering out over Konstanz, the Bruder Klaus Kirche stands as a testament to peace. This Catholic church resides in the Petershausen district by Lake Constance. Its story is interwoven with reconciliation and architectural simplicity.
Completed in 1956, the Bruder Klaus Kirche was the first house of worship erected in Konstanz after World War II. Bruder Klaus was chosen as its patron. He served as a reminder of peace. He mediated a dispute between Konstanz and Thurgau in 1482.
The Bruder Klaus Kirche’s architecture reflects the style of the 1950s. Its floor plan is slightly trapezoidal. The structure is made of reinforced concrete with a white facade. Brownish-yellow clinker bricks adorn the base of the front.
A large sculpture by Emil Sutor sits above the base. Sutor also created the “Bambi” statue. The sculpture depicts the Wedding at Cana. The six visible jugs symbolize everyday human worries. These worries transform into grace during Sunday service.
The front of the Bruder Klaus Kirche features 27 colorful windows. They depict visions of Bruder Klaus. Behind them lies a small chapel separated by a glass wall. To the left of the building, a slender white church tower rises. It is approximately 34 meters tall. Three rings decorate it. The tower houses three bells and a clock.
Inside the Bruder Klaus Kirche, the altar cross displays regional saints. These include Gebhard of Konstanz, Heinrich Seuse, and Bruder Klaus. Willi Veit from Lindau designed it. A large relief by Oscar Steidle covers the entire back wall behind the altar. It portrays Jesus Christ at the time of Parousia.
The Reiser organ dates back to 1960. It has three manuals, 35 registers, and 2,402 pipes. In the chapel of the Bruder Klaus Kirche, you can see the cross. On it, the three church patrons are displayed.
Nikolaus von Flüe, Bruder Klaus’s birth name, was born in 1417. He was a respected man from a young age. He became a councilman, mayor, judge, and representative of Obwalden. As captain, he led Swiss soldiers in battles. He experienced the tensions of his time. He witnessed the consequences of discord.
Klaus married Dorothea Wyss in 1447. They built a house in Flüeli. It was filled with love, work, prayer, children’s laughter, and tears. Unrest, corruption, egoism, and lust for power troubled him. Klaus felt a growing desire to dedicate himself to God. He left his family in 1467.
Bruder Klaus spent his last 20 years as a hermit. He lived in the Ranft in Melchtal. He became known as a peacemaker and advisor. Thousands sought his counsel. The Bruder Klaus Kirche stands as a reminder of his legacy. It is a place of peace and reflection.