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The church is the parish church of the Mühlhausen old town and was gifted to the Teutonic Order in 1227. The current building was constructed between 1270 and 1300 as an early Gothic hall church, influenced by French cathedral architecture. It possesses significant art-historical elements such as a rose window, medieval stained glass, a late Gothic carved altar, and tomb slabs of important personalities. After the Reformation, religious expressions changed, and much of the original furnishings were lost. The west towers still date from the predecessor building and house historical bells. The church also developed into an important center for Protestant church music, with a peak in the work of Johann Sebastian Bach in the early 18th century.

From the Hohen Graben, visitors enjoy a beautiful view of the imposing double-towered St. James' Church. Construction of the present-day St. James' Church began around 1280. An inscription, now lost, attributes the imperial figure in the arch of the north portal to Henry VII. Another inscription names 1363 as the year of completion of the church. The motif of the unequal couple is taken up in the impressive tower group completed in 1418. After the Reformation, the church seems to have been used only sporadically. It lost almost all its furnishings in the last century. St. James' Church was extensively renovated from 1992 to 2004 with financial support from the state of Thuringia, the federal-state program "Urban Monument Protection," and the German Foundation for Monument Protection. Since April 2004, St. James' Church has housed the city library with a children's library and a sound library. Interesting for visitors: so-called "Archaeological Windows" provide insights into the church's construction history. Source: https://www.thueringen.info/kultur/muehlhausen-stadtbibliothek-jakobikirche/

The chapel was first mentioned in a document in 1314, in connection with a dispute between the Mühlhausen council and the Teutonic Order, which eventually gained control of the chapel. The originally planned basilica was realized as a hall church, but remained unfinished for a long time and was only partially completed and extensively renovated at the end of the 19th century. Some significant works of art have been preserved from the medieval furnishings, including figures and a triumphal cross. A figure of Saint Nicholas from around 1500 is particularly noteworthy. The church played an important role during the Reformation: Between 1523 and 1525, it turned to the Reformation early on. After an interim return to Catholicism, the Reformation was finally established in 1565.

The Mühlhausen city wall is one of the best-preserved medieval fortifications in Germany. It encloses the old town for about 2.7 kilometers and was primarily built in the 12th and 13th centuries when Mühlhausen was an important imperial city. The complex consisted of an inner and outer wall with a moat in between, which strengthened the defense. Numerous towers and gates secured access to the city and allowed for the control of trade traffic. It is particularly noteworthy that large parts of the wall have survived to this day. Massive stone walls, ramparts, and embrasures offer an insight into medieval construction methods. Today, the city wall is an important landmark and invites visitors to experience the history of Mühlhausen up close.

Since April 2004, the Mühlhausen city library has been located in the renovated and converted Jakobikirche. Here, the main library, children's library, and phonotheque have been brought together under one roof. As a cultural and educational institution, working with children, particularly promoting reading, is a focus of the library team's activities. The Jakobikirche is also a popular venue for lectures, author readings, and concerts. Since 2021, the city library has also offered a scientific and local history reference library in the Jakobikirche. The user workstations of the Mühlhausen City Archives are also located there. Source: https://www.muehlhausen.de/rathaus-erkunden/stadtverwaltung/stadtarchiv-stadtbibliothek/stadtbibliothek-jakobikirche/

The Church of St. Peter was built on the city's plague cemetery to replace a chapel that had already fallen into disrepair in 1295. Construction began around 1352. A few years later, in 1356, the existing church is mentioned. It was incorporated into the parish of St. Mary of the Teutonic Order in the Neustadt. Agreements regarding liturgical care were notarized in 1371. St. Peter only became an independent parish in modern times. The late Gothic structure with a 5/8 choir has undergone multiple changes. A flat ceiling was initially inserted to replace the vault that collapsed in the city fire of 1422. Demolition material from the abandoned Chapel of St. John at Blobach was used in 1577 for a new vestibule. Between 1893 and 1895, St. Peter was given its present form through a re-vaulting of the church interior and the extension of the nave to the west with a new facade. Source: https://www.muehlhausen.de/tourismus/sehenswuerdigkeiten/kirchen/petrikirche/

My absolute favorite church. I love libraries and books. 😉

Currently a construction site.