Unser Lieben Frauen

In the heart of Burg, a charming town near Magdeburg in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany, stands the magnificent evangelical town church known as Unser Lieben Frauen. This Gothic church, with its Romanesque elements, has been a central part of the town's skyline and history for centuries. It is also referred to as the Upper Church of Our Dear Lady, distinguishing it from the nearby Lower Church of St. Nicolai. Together, these two churches create an iconic silhouette that defines the town of Burg.

A Glimpse into History and Architecture

The origins of the Upper Church can be traced back to 1186, marking its first mention in historical records. The church's initial construction was in the late Romanesque style, and remnants of this period are still visible today. The most notable feature from this era is the twin-towered westwork, which bears a striking resemblance to that of the Lower Church. This westwork, meticulously constructed from fieldstone ashlars, was completed around the mid-13th century. The upper sections of the twin towers are adorned with tripartite cloverleaf-arched sound openings set within pointed arch niches.

As you step inside, the westwork's interior reveals a tripartite design. The side sections are covered with transverse barrel vaults, while the central, higher section features groin vaults and opens into the nave through pointed arches. The slender, pointed spire of the south tower was added in 1585, and the north tower was raised in 1586 to accommodate a watchman's dwelling, topped with a distinctive curved dome and lantern. Another vestige of the Romanesque period is the semicircular apse in the east wall of the north aisle, which likely belonged to a now-lost transept.

The church underwent significant Gothic renovations, beginning with the two-bay choir, consecrated in 1359, as indicated by an indulgence plaque. The subsequent transformation included the five-bay, three-aisled nave, which was rebuilt as a hall church, similar to some of the now-demolished town churches in Magdeburg. The pointed arch arcades, devoid of capitals, are a hallmark of this Gothic phase. An inscription dates the completion of these renovations to between 1412 and 1455.

The Splendor of the Gothic Era

The choir, constructed from older granite ashlars without buttresses, originally had vaults. The pointed arch windows boast intricate tracery with sandstone chamfers. The south side of the nave, designed as a show facade, is even more ornate, featuring broader tracery windows with chamfers and fillets. Above the windows on the southeast corner, there are tracery arches with free-hanging lily ends. The buttresses are adorned with figure consoles, adding to the rich decorative elements of the Soft Style, likely inspired by St. Nikolai in Zerbst. The charming east gable of the nave was rebuilt in brick in 1567, divided into square fields enlivened by ogee arches.

Portals can be found on the south side in the first and fourth bays, and on the north side in the fourth bay. The latter portal is accompanied by a porch from the late 14th century, with a gable adorned with cloverleaf arches and a relief of a saint. The main portal, with its jambs decorated with crockets and flanking pinnacles, stands out as a prominent feature.

Interior Marvels

Inside, the nave boasts cross vaults with brick ribs, mostly supported by consoles; only on the south side are they carried by services. The vaults in the south aisle are particularly notable for their strongly bulging caps. Since 1592, the choir has featured a richly decorated painted coffered ceiling, which has undergone multiple restorations. In the choir polygon, two sacrament niches have been preserved, one late Gothic with architectural framing of crockets and pinnacles, and the other with a painted frame featuring the Agnus Dei in a medallion. On either side of the passage to the tower hall, remnants of late Gothic wall paintings from the second quarter of the 15th century have been uncovered. The interior underwent restoration between 1956 and 1962.

Exquisite Renaissance Furnishings

The church's main furnishings are splendid works of the Renaissance. The richly decorated altar, created in 1607 by Michael Spieß of Magdeburg, features an architectural structure of sandstone with alabaster reliefs depicting the Passover meal, the Last Supper as the central image, and the Crucifixion in the upper section. Above these scenes is a Resurrection group. Numerous free-standing figures flank the main field, representing John the Baptist and Christ as the Man of Sorrows.

Michael Spieß is also credited with the 1611 baptismal font, which showcases six small reliefs depicting scenes from the Old and New Testaments. The pulpit, dated 1608, is attributed to Spieß or his workshop and displays a similar high quality. The hexagonal pulpit basket is supported by a figure of Paul. The round-arched fields on the pulpit basket feature alabaster reliefs separated by columns of colored marble, depicting the Annunciation, the Nativity, the Resurrection, and the Last Judgment. The staircase is adorned with Old Testament scenes, and the door features the Salvator Mundi and the Virtues. The wooden soundboard is decorated with round gables and reliefs of the four Evangelists and Martin Luther.

An epitaph for Mayor Johannes Rudolph, who died in 1599, is also by Michael Spieß and portrays the human condition between death and salvation, inspired by Lucas Cranach. A remnant of a late Gothic wooden epitaph on the west wall of the south aisle depicts two groups of three kneeling figures, each before a larger group of children. In the tower hall, there is a gravestone for the priest Johannes Ricke († 1363) with an incised drawing of the deceased and an inscription gravestone dated 1689. Additional Baroque gravestones from the 17th and 18th centuries are displayed on the church's exterior walls. The organ, built in 1969 by the Eule company from Bautzen, features two manuals and 22 registers.

Unser Lieben Frauen in Burg is not just a church; it is a testament to the town's rich history and architectural evolution. Its walls and towers tell stories of centuries past, inviting visitors to step back in time and marvel at the artistry and craftsmanship of the ages. Whether you are a history enthusiast, an architecture aficionado, or simply a curious traveler, a visit to this remarkable church is sure to be an unforgettable experience.