The Best Medieval Churches To Visit In Soest Germany

In the 15th century, Soest in north-west Germany was kind of a big deal – as a trading town and member of the Hanseatic League, it was home to more than 20 churches. By the 16th century, the money had left town, but the buildings remained. Here’s our pick of the best.

1. St. Maria zur Wiese

Building, Church

Windows at St Maria zur Wiese, Soest, Germany

St Mary of the Meadow (as it’s known in English) has windows that will take your breath away. They are nearly floor-to-ceiling all around, which means the building is flooded with light during the day – rather unusual for a church of its age, as is the basically square floor plan. The twin towers on the front were added in the 19th century.

2. Paulikirche

Building, Church

The first Protestant sermon was given by a Dominican monk in 1530 at Paulikirche when the building was more than 300 years old. Some 200 years after it was built, the church was converted from its original Romanesque style to the more popular Gothic – think round arches to pointy and loads of filigree decoration. These days, the church has lots of glass painting and statuary.

3. St. Maria zur Höhe

Church

Also called Hohenkirche, St Maria zur Höhe, with its magnificent painted ceiling and mural was also built around 1200. The Engelreigen painting reveals the church’s Byzantine influence. St Maria is the only church with a disc cross in Germany (Scheibenkreuz) and is also unusually proportioned, being wider than it is long.