Church of the Holy Spirit (Heilig-Geist-Kirche / Heiliggeistkirche) is a parish Catholic church, one of the oldest churches in Munich, whose history dates back to the 13th century.
The Church of the Holy Spirit is located in the historic old town of Munich, near the city's central square - Marienplatz.
Sources say that the construction of the original Church to the year 1208, when Duke Ludwig I Kalgansky founded a hospice near the city wall (now not there)and Taborska gate (Talburgtor), which are now also gone, and part of the former gate tower had the tower of Old town Hall, which can be seen today.
The original Church was a Romanesque chapel of Santa Catarina and belonged to the hospice of the Holy spirit.
After the hospice and the chapel was destroyed by fire in 1327, was built a new hospice and the chapel was replaced by a Gothic Church. The Church building was completed in 1392, the architect Gabriel Ridler.
From 1724 to 1730 the Church of the Holy spirit was redone in the Baroque style under the supervision of Johann Georg Ettenhofer and brothers Azam, bol is famous due to the construction of Asamkirche and houses in Munich. High Church tower, which still exists today, was built in 1729.
In 1806, on the orders of king Maximilian I of the hospice of the Church was demolished to make room for the market Viktualienmarkt (Viktualienmarkt). Subsequently the Church was enlarged and reconstructed, received a facade in neo-Baroque style.
During the Second world war the Church was seriously damaged. After been restored since 1946. Architect Erwin Schleich from 1973 was responsible for the reconstruction of the interior with its high altar and important frescos by the brothers Azam.
In 2012 the Church received the fourth bell, in addition to the three existing bells with the names of the Holy spirit (Heiliggeist), Mary (Maria) and Joseph (Josef). A new bell was named Reserachers (Breznreiter-Glocke), in honor of the history of the Munich dealer, who in 1318 near the Church of the Holy spirit called to donate to local pretzel pastries with salt (Brezngebäck) to the needy.
The interior of the Church of the Holy spirit is an example of Gothic architecture, adorned with chic decoration - frescoes and stucco in the Baroque and Rococo, which were initially created, including brothers Azam.
The high altar of the Church was originally created by Nikolaus Storeroom and Antonio Matteo in 1730 and reconstructed after war damage. Painting in the altar, depicting the outpouring of the Holy spirit, completed in 1661 by Ulrich Lot. The two side figures of angels were made by Johann Georg Graifer in 1729.
In the right aisle is a series of wall paintings of Peter Jacob Horemans (1725), illustrating the Seven Gifts of the Holy spirit.
In Phillips chapel Church (Kreuzkapelle) - late Gothic crucifix(1510).
Midway along the left aisle, the altar, and said to be miraculous image of the Madonna (15th century).
In the walls of the Church is the organ, Dating from 1977.
Practical information
Holy spirit Church is located between the streets of Tal, Heiliggeistgasse (Heiliggeiststraße), Viktualienmarkt (Viktualienmarkt) and the Prelate-Miller-veg (Prälat-Miller-Weg), at the address: Prälat-Miller-Weg 1.
The website of the Church of the Holy spirit: heilig-geist-muenchen.
