Westerwälder Dom, Wirges, Germany

Westerwälder Dom is the common name of the church St. Bonifatius in Wirges in the Westerwald region. It was built in Gothic revival style from 1885 to 1887. It has been called Westerwälder Dom from 1902.

The church is the third church building in Wirges, all dedicated to St. Boniface. The congregation outgrew every former building. When a new building was planned, alternatives were to build it on the graveyard, expanding the old church, or to build a new church on a larger property in the west of town. In 1878, when the bishop of Limburg was banned, the Kirchenvorstand commissioned an expansion of the church without waiting for consent from the diocese, and works for started, intending to use the expansion as a first stage for a rebuilding. The tower was demolished as unsafe, against protests from the population who wanted to protect it as an 'unersetzliches Kunstwerk' (irreplaceable work of art).

In 1883, Baumeister Büchling was requested to supply plans for a completely new building. After the Limburg office was working again, they commissioned architect Max Meckel from Frankfurt to supply an alternative design for a Gothic revival church with three naves. The old church was demolished, leaving only the columns of the central nave. The new church was connected to the expansion building and the new tower. It was consecrated on 20 August 1887 by Bishop Karl Klein, who promoted Meckel to cathedral builder (Diözesanbaumeister) at the same time.

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Church of St Donatus

The Church of St Donatus name refers to Donatus of Zadar, who began construction on this church in the 9th century and ended it on the northeastern part of the Roman forum. It is the largest Pre-Romanesque building in Croatia.

The beginning of the building of the church was placed to the second half of the 8th century, and it is supposed to have been completed in the 9th century. The Zadar bishop and diplomat Donat (8th and 9th centuries) is credited with the building of the church. He led the representations of the Dalmatian cities to Constantinople and Charles the Great, which is why this church bears slight resemblance to Charlemagne's court chapels, especially the one in Aachen, and also to the Basilica of San Vitale in Ravenna. It belongs to the Pre-Romanesque architectural period.

The circular church, formerly domed, is 27 m high and is characterised by simplicity and technical primitivism.

Daniel Breuer (3 years ago)
Beautiful build and fantastic sound inside.

Theo Höffer (3 years ago)
A nice place for reflection. Good for the soul and strength for the next few days. Recommended again and again.

Tamara Diel (4 years ago)
The church is beautiful. Just to take pictures a bit dark during weddings.

Wolfgang Graf (6 years ago)
Very nice church

Thomas Meuer (6 years ago)
Appropriate musical participation by the church choir community and the Westerwald Cathedral Orchestra at the Festhottesdienst.

Westerwälder Dom

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Church of St Donatus