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Dominican Church in Colmar
Colmar and surrounding
Temples, Churches
Temples, Churches

The foundation stone of the Dominican Church was laid in 1279 by Rudolf I of Germany. Alsace was a disputed territory between the Franks and the Germans even at that time. Over the next 700 years, it changed hands at least ten times. Thus, the population of Colmar is still multicultural.

The church was architecturally austere, made in the typical style of the mendicant orders like the Dominicans. Only in the 18th century, some "excesses" of the Baroque style were added during the restoration of the church after another fire. But even today, the Dominican Church looks very ascetic comparing to Colmar's Gothic and half-timbered buildings. The interior decoration matches the external one: tall columns without capitals, pale frescoes on the walls, stained glass windows of the 14th-15th centuries, depicting scenes from the lives of saints. But the modest interior further emphasizes the refined beauty of the masterpiece, which has been kept inside the church since 1473.

The altarpiece named the Madonna in a Rose Garden was created by local artist Martin Schongauer specifically for the Dominicans. The master skillfully created the late Gothic composition harmonious in color, depicting the Mother of God on a canvas measuring 2.5 by 1.5 meters. Madonna is standing in the midst of a blooming garden, holding the baby Jesus in her arms. In the background, there is a gazebo made of tangled white and red roses. Flowers (irises, peonies) and birds (sparrow, robin) are painted poetically and touchingly. Two angels are holding a crown over the head of the Mother of God. The picture is filled with symbols: a red rose is a flower of the Virgin Mary; a white rose is a symbol of death; lilies symbolize martyrs; red strawberries are the blood of Christ; a sparrow is a symbol of modesty; a robin means death and resurrection. The first time the canvas was stolen at the end of the 18th century. Although it was founded, it was also damaged: someone cut off its top with the image of God the Father and the Holy Spirit. Therefore, a gold folding cover was made for the Madonna in a Rose Garden. The second time the painting disappeared in 1972 and was found in Lyon only a year later. After that, the church with the returned canvas got reliable security, as well as the status of a museum.

Address: Place des Dominicains

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