Is it merely luck that St. Gertraud stands here today? This parish church, nestled in Würzburg’s Old Town, has a story etched in stone and resilience. It stands on Pleicherkirchplatz, a central spot north of Juliuspromenade.
St. Gertraud’s history stretches back to 1130. Enzelin, a master builder, erected it as his private church. In 1133, Bishop Embricho elevated it to a parish church. Fast forward to 1248, and the patronage shifted to St. Markus, a Dominican convent. By 1250, a Gothic choir was consecrated here.
But the church you see now largely took shape between 1611 and 1613. Prince-Bishop Julius Echter oversaw a significant transformation. St. Gertraud honors its namesake, Saint Gertrude of Nivelles. She was known for tending to the sick, widows, pilgrims, and prisoners. This made her a patron saint of hospitals.
The architectural details tell a story of time and change. St. Gertraud is a single-nave church. It features a 5/8 chancel. A square west tower with a pointed spire rises about 35 meters. The style blends late Gothic elements from the Echter period.
Tragedy struck in 1945 during a bombing raid. St. Gertraud suffered extensive damage, with only the sacristy spared. But the community rallied. By 1950, the church was rebuilt. Bishop Julius Döpfner consecrated new altars in 1953. New bells were added in 1956.
Look for the Oil Mountain scene on the church’s southwest side. This is a Renaissance-era structure with sandstone figures. Jörg Riemenschneider, son of Tilman Riemenschneider, created them in the mid-16th century.
Inside St. Gertraud, several features stand out. There is the crucifix by Julius Bausenwein. Also, there are old tombstones. One is for Hans Schiler, a councilor who died in 1492, and his wife Elisabeth. The epitaph for Kilian Baiß who died in 1531 may be another work of Jörg Riemenschneider.
A reliquary holds remnants of the shrine of St. Adrianus. These relics have a dramatic history. Saved from fire in 1945, they were once stolen during the Thirty Years’ War. They were recovered and eventually found their home here in St. Gertraud.
The church organ, built by Gustav Weiß & Sons, has 32 registers. Its sound fills the space. The bells, cast in 1956, ring out across the Pleich district. St. Gertraud stands not just as a building, but as a testament to faith. It is a symbol of Würzburg’s enduring spirit.