After
Berlin, the next stop on the CETS program is Leipzig. During our stay in
Leipzig we will visit Thomaskirche or St. Thomas Church. This church is located
in the center of the city. Thomaskirche is well known not only for the famous
St. Thomas Boys Choir, but also as the location where the famous composer,
Johann Sebastian Bach, is buried (“Tomaskirche,” n.d.). This means that Thomaskirche
is an important landmark for music lovers as well as an important cultural
site.
Foundations
of a church at the location of Thomaskirche have been found dating back as far
as 1160 (“Thomaskirche,” n.d.). Architecturally, Thomaskirche is a church in
the Gothic style. The main church hall was completed in 1482. It has been
renovated a few times, but the style of the architecture has not changed (“Thomaskirche,”
n.d.). St. Thomas Church underwent an extensive restoration process after the reunification of Germany in 1990, with the project finishing in 2000, just in
time to commemorate the 259th anniversary of Bach’s death. This celebration
also involved the dedication of a new Bach Organ within the church (“Thomaskirche,”
n.d.). Thomaskirche is both architecturally and historically significant.
Thomaskirche
has a rich history, making it a must see location on our trip. In 1539, Martin
Luther brought the Protestant Reformation to Leipzig by visiting Thomaskirche.
Between 1723-1750, Johann Sebastian Bach was the Cantor in Leipzig and wrote
and performed music at Thomaskirche. In 1789, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart came to
play the organ (“Thomaskirche,” n.d.). Other interesting aspects of
Thomaskirche’s history include the church being used as a place to store
munitions by Napoleon’s troops in 1806 and the tower of the church sustaining
damage during World War II (“Thomaskirche,” n.d.). Bach’s grave was not moved
to Thomaskirche until 1950 (“Thomaskirche,” n.d.). This building not only has an
interesting history, but also a long tradition of music, making it a must-see
stop on my travels in Central Europe.
Reference:
Thomaskirche. St.
Thomas Church: A place of faith, spirit and music. Retrieved from http://www.thomaskirche.org/
Picture References:
http://cdn3.vtourist.com/4/5106248-Thomaskirche_Leipzig.jpg
