The main tower of the neo-Gothic Market Church towers far above the other houses in the old town and is thus literally the highlight of a visit to the Hessian capital Wiesbaden. Built between 1853 and 1862 as the Nassau State Cathedral, the Market Church is now used as the main Protestant church. Centrally located on Schlossplatz in the immediate vicinity of the new town hall, the brick building with its five towering spires is particularly impressive, so that hardly any visitor can walk past it without at least pausing briefly.
The history of the Marktkirche
The church building became necessary after the medieval Mauritiuskirche was destroyed in a fire in 1850. The master builder Carl Boos was commissioned with the planning and execution of the new building. He decided on the material brick, which was untypical in the region, and oriented himself on the Friedrichswerder Church in Berlin, which was planned by Karl Friedrich Schinkel. Boos was heavily criticised for this, as the church thus became the first all-brick building in the Duchy of Nassau.
Interesting architecture
The height of the towers was also not uncontroversial at the time of construction, as the main tower measured almost 100 metres at that time. A three-aisled basilica without a transept served as a model, an impressive architecture that still inspires the numerous visitors today. In church and tower tours, the interested public can learn many details and get an impression of the nave, which is surrounded by galleries. Below the ceiling vault, painted as a starry sky, a space of silence is created, which makes you forget the hustle and bustle of the city and everyday life for a moment.
Statues, organ and carillon
The five life-size statues in the choir room also leave a great impression: Jesus Christ and the four evangelists Mark, John, Matthew and Luke. The figures were made of white marble in 1863 and restored in 2015. Many visitors also come to the Marktkirche for an organ concert, either at an evening event or at the popular "Organ Music at Market Time". The main organ is the largest in the district of the Evangelical Church in Hesse and Nassau. In addition to this, another choir organ is available for church music. Many enthusiasts have another attraction, which was only inaugurated in 1986. Since then, a carillon consisting of 49 bronze bells has been located in the main tower at a height of 65 metres. It is one of the few hand-played carillons in Hesse and can be heard throughout the entire city centre of Wiesbaden. The carillon is a harmonious addition to the five bronze bells, which are used to ring the hours and services.
