Leonhardskirche

Johannes Reuchlin, a name whispered with reverence. He rests here, within the hallowed halls of Leonhardskirche. See his trilingual gravestone in the choir? A testament to his brilliance. This very church, Leonhardskirche, is Stuttgart’s second oldest. It began humbly as a chapel in 1339, dedicated to Saint Leonard, protector of horses. Aberlin Jörg, the mastermind behind the Stiftskirche nave and the Hospitalkirche, transformed this chapel. Between 1463 and 1466, he sculpted it into the Gothic hall church you see before you. Leonhardskirche held a unique position. Until 1806, it was a “preaching church.” No weddings, no baptisms. Only sermons. Imagine the resonant voices echoing within these walls. Preachers sought Leonhardskirche, away from the watchful eyes of court officials at Stiftskirche. Here, they could speak freely, their words unburdened by political pressures. This sanctuary, Leonhardskirche, witnessed centuries of history, survived wartime devastation. It was painstakingly rebuilt between 1948 and 1954, salvaged from the rubble. Look closely. Eleven of the original twenty-one keystones remain, silent witnesses to the past. Five grace the choir. Six are embedded in the nave walls, their stories etched in stone. Inside Leonhardskirche, treasures await. An altar shrine from 1470, adorned with four figures, stands as a testament to artistry. Choir stalls from 1490 offer fifty-seven seats, each holding the echoes of hymns and prayers. A chiseled portrait of a monk, also from 1490, observes silently. Leonhardskirche, a sanctuary of words, a repository of history. It stands as a testament to resilience, a beacon of faith in the heart of Stuttgart.