Rococo Perfection: The Pilgrimage Church of Wies

The Church of Wies is along the Romantic Road, a popular route spanning between the German cities of Würzburg and Füssen. The white church with soft, rounded edges blends harmoniously with the countryside and projects a tranquil character. Frank Lambert/Shutterstock

A pilgrimage site since the 18th century, the Bavarian Church of Wies (“Wieskirche” in German) in southern Germany near the foothills of the Alps is a masterpiece of Rococo architecture, a style that emerged during the late Baroque. The church was designed and decorated by brothers Dominikus and Johann Baptist Zimmerman.

The Church of Wies came about after a miraculous sighting in 1738. It is said that a local farmer’s wife saw tears in the eyes of a wooden figure of Christ. With an influx of visitors,  the abbot of Steingaden commissioned Dominikus Zimmermann to design a splendid sanctuary for the “Scourged Savior.”

The construction took place between 1745 and 1754. Within the first year, the building was already 40 feet high with a U-shaped ground plan, which included the abbot’s residence in the south, the pilgrimage site in the north, and the choir with its tower and sacristy (room behind the altar) in the east.

While the church’s exterior might not seem particularly impressive, the Rococo interior is decorated with frescoes and stuccowork from the Wessobrunner School, and features an exquisite trompe-l’oeil (French phrase for “fool the eye”) ceiling.

The interior is designed with an oval plan, with a semi-circular narthex, or entrance. Twin columns with eight piers (load-bearing columns attached to walls) support the elaborate cornice and vault. Rococo motifs and a delicate ceiling fresco decorated by Johann Baptist Zimmermann adorn the ceiling. marcobrivio.photography/Shutterstock

One of the church’s highlights is the curved organ loft, lavishly decorated in gold. It is framed by white gilded pillars and stucco decorations. Above the instrument, a fresco by J.B. Zimmermann represents angels floating in a cloud-filled blue sky, surrounding the door to eternity. The fresco’s lively colors bring out the sculpted details and give the church a bright and airy feel. volkova natalia/Shutterstock

The Church of Wies is most famous for its magnificent ceiling. The fresco is an optical illusion known as “trompe-l’oeil,” which literally means “fools the eye” in its original French. Here, it seems as if the ceiling opens up to an iridescent sky, with flying angels. The fresco depicts the resurrected Christ and the door to eternal life. Pabkov/Shutterstock

Another highlight is the two-story pilgrimage altar, located in the chancel (area around the main altar) features the wooden sculpture of Christ. Golden trims, elaborate plasterwork, and lively colors bring out the sculpted detail. This abundance of motifs and colors also plays with light, making the church seem bigger than it is. Pratchaya.Lee/Shutterstock

On the east side of the church, an altar features religious iconography framed by stucco columns, gilt, and delicate sculptures. It is surrounded by tall windows, white columns, elegant shapes, and pastel colors. The church’s design unifies all art forms and techniques—architecture, painting, sculpture, stuccowork, and carving. Pabkov/Shutterstock

The church is often referred to as the "Church in the Meadow" because of its idyllic rural setting. The church's exterior design seen from a side road is quite simple. On the left is the choir with a tower and a sacristy. Charles McNeeley/Shutterstock

Would you like to see other kinds of arts and culture articles? Please email us your story ideas or feedback at [email protected]