Franciscan Monastery, Meißen, Germany

The Franciscan monastery in Meißen was founded around 1258. The monastery church of St. Peter and Paul was built around 1350-1400. After a fire, the church was vaulted again in 1447-1457. In the course of the Reformation , the convent was dissolved in 1539. The choir was canceled in 1823 after it fell into disrepair. A beamed ceiling was installed in the nave, which was lowered around 1900 in connection with its use as a museum for the Meißner Altertumsverein. A neo-Gothic staircase was set up as access . In 1929, a pedestrian passage was created in the west using the earlier portals. The church was later fitted with steel fixtures and set up for use Meißen City Museum.

Since the conversion into a museum exhibition hall, precious exhibits from the last 1,000 years of the city’s history have been presented, for example, the largest and oldest wine press of Saxony or the last existing Elbe River fishing boat. Different special exhibitions have focused on interesting details of the Meißen history. For example, an additional exhibition shows the development of the city to a German stronghold of porcelain production. Another example is the construction of the Cathedral’s towers 100 years ago.

User Reviews

Wisdom Adewumi (3 years ago)
I believe it should be the first stop before venturing out to visit other sites. The museum ?️ is filled with history and gives you a glimpse into what the city of Meißen was in the past; even the porcelain-rich history. I enjoyed my tour for about 75 minutes, I could have stayed longer. The place was serene, calm, and I didn't feel as if I was in a hurry. The porcelain arts and crafts was noteworthy and beautiful. The exhibition on at the time of my visit was the presentation of life in the 1950s. Definitely a recommendation if you have the time and you live around Dresden, Coswig, Leipzig, or Riesa.

Ira G (5 years ago)
fun!

Andrew Beck (6 years ago)
Interesting collection of important local artefacts presented in an old church. Especial nod off respect to the themed rooms from various eras and the impressive ratsweinpresse. There lots to see but the interpretation is difficult for the non German speaker.

R. Bonath (6 years ago)
Ok

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The Church of the Holy Cross

The church of the former Franciscan monastery was built probably between 1515 and 1520. It is located in the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Old Rauma. The church stands by the small stream of Raumanjoki (Rauma river).

The exact age of the Church of the Holy Cross is unknown, but it was built to serve as the monastery church of the Rauma Franciscan Friary. The monastery had been established in the early 15th century and a wooden church was built on this location around the year 1420.

The Church of the Holy Cross served the monastery until 1538, when it was abandoned for a hundred years as the Franciscan friary was disbanded in the Swedish Reformation. The church was re-established as a Lutheran church in 1640, when the nearby Church of the Holy Trinity was destroyed by fire.

The choir of the two-aisle grey granite church features medieval murals and frescoes. The white steeple of the church was built in 1816 and has served as a landmark for seafarers.

Franciscan Monastery

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