St. Lubentius Church

The church of St Lubentius in Dietkirchen, now part of Limburg an der Lahn, Hesse, was the most important church of the region until the 13th century. Located on top of a rock outcrop on the west bank of the river Lahn, it holds relics of St Lubentius, who according to the Gesta Treverorum worked in the area as a missionary in the fourth century.

The nave of the present church was built as a Romanesque basilica in the second half of the 11th century. The northern apse dates from around 1100. The two western steeples were later added. The church was changed to a basilica with balconies during the second half of the 12th century. It was completed between 1225 and 1250, and is the mother church (Mutterkirche) of all churches in the middle of the Lahn valley.

The monastery was dissolved in 1801. The church was restored in 1855–56, and again in 1955. In the 1970s, the interior was adjusted to the concepts of the Second Vatican Council including redesign of the altar.

Among the other buildings clustered in the plateau atop the rock outcrop is the free standing while Dreifaltigkeitskapelle (Trinity chapel) which is used for monthly services of the local Protestant parish.

References:

• Wikipedia

Address

Herrenberg 1, Dietkirchen, Limburg an der Lahn, Germany

Details

Founded: 11th century
Category: Religious sites in Germany
Historical period: Salian Dynasty (Germany)