Maria Königin des Friedens

Have you ever noticed how a church can hold a special kind of silence? We are standing right in front of Maria K\u00f6nigin des Friedens in Gersthofen, a church built in 1968 to mark the peace after the war. This modern structure, unlike countless other churches, was designed by architect Hermann \u00d6ttl, who chose to employ the simple square as his basic building block. He built the church with a four-cornered roof, a square entrance, and even a square bell tower.
The church was built with a specific purpose: to be more than just a place of worship; it was intended to be a center for culture. It’s no coincidence that it was surrounded by schools, a music school, a kindergarten, and sports facilities. Maria K\u00f6nigin des Friedens is truly part of the community. The interior, created by the artist Reinhold Gr\u00fcbl, is just as carefully designed. The altar and the pulpit stand side by side on the central axis of the church, symbolizing the importance of both preaching and the celebration of communion. The cross above the altar was created by a local artist named Alfred Demharter.
All seven bells in the tower are named after peace-loving martyrs of the 20th century. You’ll hear the names Alfred Delp, Rupert Mayer, Dag Hammarskj\u00f6ld, the Scholl siblings, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Martin Luther King, and Folke Bernadotte when you visit the church on a Sunday. Just a few minutes from the center of Gersthofen, you will find this quiet oasis of peace. It’s a reminder of the deep faith and hope for a better future that are integral parts of this community.