Church of Our Lady Frankenberg (Eder)

The Liebfrauenkirche is considered one of the oldest Gothic churches in Germany.
The cornerstone for this three-nave hall church—modeled after the Elisabethkirche in Marburg
(built 1235–82)—was laid in 1286. Around 1380, the High Gothic Marienkapelle was also completed, a masterpiece by the architect Tyle von Frankenberg. This Marienkapelle, with its altar dedicated to the Virgin Mary, was the destination of annual pilgrimages and processions. Both the Marian altar and the figurative decorations on the exterior of the chapel fell victim to the iconoclasm campaign commissioned by Landgrave Moritz (the Scholar) in 1606. Some of the surviving figures (and fragments) can be seen in the church’s choir, while a larger number are on display at the “Museum im Kloster.”
Inside the Liebfrauenkirche , the stained-glass windows (14th century), depicting scenes from the Passion and Resurrection of Jesus, catch the eye.
Also particularly worth seeing are the St. Anne Chapel (accessible from the choir), the stone pulpit from 1554, the tabernacle, and the ceiling paintings, which were added during the church’s reconstruction following the great fire of 1476 and uncovered in 1962.
The organ (built in 1972) is a three-manual instrument with 43 stops and nearly 3,000 pipes.
The church is open to visitors Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.,
on Saturdays starting at 10:00 a.m., and
on Sundays after the service (starting at 10:30 a.m.) from 11:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.,
.
During the winter months, the church closes after dark.

________________________________________________________________

Church Tower Tours

From April through November, a guided tour of the observation gallery (height: 32 m) in the church tower takes place on the first Saturday of each month at 2:00 p.m.
Because the tower is quite narrow, only 12 people can participate in each tour.
Therefore, advance registration at the parish office is required to participate:
, Tel: 06451 2300662, or by email: kirchenbuero.frankenberg@ekkw.de

Children ages 8 and older may participate when accompanied by their parents.
The tour costs €5 per person and is free for young people up to age 18.

The following dates are still available this year:
Saturday, August 1, 2026
Saturday, September 5, 2026
Saturday, October 3, 2026
Saturday, November 7, 2026