Liebfrauenkirche

The Liebfrauenkirche, at Liebfrauenberg 1 in Frankfurt am Main, Germany, is a late Gothic church whose building began in the 14th century. It stands on a small square just off the shopping street Zeil, close to the Hauptwache, and offers one of the quietest spots in the busy centre. The church was founded as a collegiate foundation of canons, and in the Middle Ages it was one of the important religious institutions of the city. After the secularisation of religious foundations in the early 19th century, the church became a parish church. The adjoining monastery is today home to Capuchin friars, who look after the church and offer pastoral and social services in the city. The building is a hall church with a rib-vaulted interior, later additions, and a notable carved tympanum above the entrance, an example of late medieval stone sculpture. The courtyard and cloister of the monastery give the complex a secluded feel. Like other buildings in the old centre, the church was damaged in the bombing of 1944 and was repaired and restored after the war. The interior includes altars, devotional images and stained glass, and its calm contrasts with the commercial streets outside. The Liebfrauenberg square is lined with trees and holds a fountain, making it a popular place to sit during a break from shopping. The church is open daily outside the times of services and offers a place for rest and reflection. It is close to the Römerberg and the Paulskirche on foot, and it makes a good short stop in a walking tour of the city centre's religious heritage. Visitors should dress modestly, keep quiet during prayer and check the parish website for service times and special events. The small scale of the church makes it easy to see in a short break, and the nearby Katharinenkirche and Hauptwache offer further stops on the same route.