St. Barbara

“A church built with the stones of its predecessor? How peculiar,” whispered a visitor, gazing at St. Barbara. The St. Barbara Church in Freiburg im Breisgau stands as a testament to resilience and community. Its story begins not here in Littenweiler, but on the slopes of Sonnenberg, south of Eichberg. The original St. Barbara, a pilgrimage church, is first mentioned in 1449. It was destroyed, rebuilt, and consecrated again in 1765. However, Emperor Joseph II banned pilgrimages, leaving the chapel abandoned and decaying. In 1862, its very stones were transported by ox cart down to the village square. These stones became the foundation of St. Barbara’s predecessor, right here in Littenweiler. The community, once a branch of Kappel, became an independent parish in 1944. The current St. Barbara Church, as you see it today, arose in 1956-57. This was due to the rapid growth of Freiburg and the subsequent housing shortage. Littenweiler experienced a population boom, rendering the old church too small. Designed by Anton Ohnmacht, head of the Archbishop’s Building Office, St. Barbara became the third church built in Freiburg’s east after World War II. The old church, now a community hall, is still recognizable by its roof turret and onion dome. Inside St. Barbara, vibrant mosaics adorn the choir’s back wall and the transept walls. The central mosaic depicts the Coronation of Mary. The church’s patron saint, St. Barbara with her tower and host, stands alongside St. Nicholas and St. Konrad von Parzham. Look closely, and you’ll find additional mosaics. One showcases the burning bush, incorporating the tabernacle. Another depicts St. Joseph of Nazareth as a carpenter. The Stations of the Cross, carved from shell limestone by Hubert Bernhard in 1966, add to the church’s artistic richness. Don’t miss the small Marienkapelle (Mary’s Chapel) at the back, housing a 15th-century Madonna figure. A covered walkway connects the church to its 32-meter-high tower, which houses five bronze bells. Three bells, cast in 1953, came from the old church. Two larger bells were added in 1959. Step outside and across the Leonhard-Grimm-Platz, you’ll find the six-meter-high Friedenskreuz (Peace Cross). Created by Arthur Bausenhart in 1974, this cross is a symbol of peace and hope. So, the next time you visit St. Barbara, remember its journey. From a hilltop sanctuary to a village church, rebuilt with the stones of its past. St. Barbara’s story mirrors Freiburg’s own: a story of growth, resilience, and the enduring power of community.