Chapel of the Virgin Mary (Church of Mariencapelle)

The construction of this white and red late Gothic chapel of the Virgin Mary is associated with one of the most tragic pages of German history - the plague epidemic in the XIV century and Jewish pogroms. When the plague struck Würzburg, local Jews were blamed. According to one version, they decided to commit mass suicide in order to avoid violence, according to another, they were destroyed by the German citizens themselves, erasing the Jewish quarter from the face of the earth at the same time. One way or another, all the Jews of the quarter were killed, their quarter was demolished and a market was organized in its place. Where the church now stands, there used to be a synagogue, and in its place a chapel was built in honor of the Mother of God.

The building was badly damaged during the bombing of 1945, but the most significant details of its appearance survived. And today the appearance of the Chapel of the Holy Virgin Mary acquired in the twentieth century. Architects tried to convey the style of the sixteenth century as accurately as possible. In the restored chapel you can see a bas-relief with a very unusual interpretation of the theme of the immaculate conception, the relics of St. Macarius in a silver casket, a relief with the image of Christ and a statue of the Virgin Mary made in the Middle Ages. Speaking of bas-relief with an unusual interpretation of the immaculate conception. Is this how you think of the “immaculate conception”? We can assume that each in its own way. And on this bas-relief, the sculptor showed his version. The bas-relief depicts God and from him goes a tube to the Virgin Mary. Jesus enters the womb of Mary through the ear. Pretty interesting.

The Chapel of the Virgin Mary is a unique monument, both architecturally and historically. So do not ignore it when visiting Würzburg.