Stadtkirche

Stadtkirche in Stein am Rhein is the Reformed town church of the Rhine-side old town in the canton of Schaffhausen. It started life as a medieval Benedictine abbey church and now serves as the parish church for Stein and Hemishofen.

What is the Stadtkirche and where does it come from?

The Romanesque church dates from the 12th century and was built for St. George's Abbey, shaped by the Hirsau reform movement. The abbey itself had moved to Stein am Rhein in 1007 at the order of King Henry II. When the Reformation arrived, the monastery was dissolved. Between 1583 and 1584 the building was converted for Protestant worship, and it has been the town's church ever since.

What will you see inside and out?

• A Romanesque basilica, altered again in the 19th and 20th centuries.
• A slightly leaning tower under a slender spired roof. A second tower was taken down in 1561 after a lightning strike.
• 13th-century wall paintings and the burial place of the Lords of Hohenklingen, the abbey's and town's historic protectors.
• Choir stalls and paintings that survived the iconoclasm of the Reformation, when most of the interior was destroyed.
• A four-bell peal and a large Metzler organ.

The parish hall, Mesmerhus, is attached directly to the church.

How do you get there?

The church stands on Chirchhofplatz in the middle of the old town. Cars have been banned from the centre since 1992, so walk in from the train station or the Rhine landing stage.

What else is worth combining with a visit?

Next door is the former St. George's Abbey, open to visitors. Stein am Rhein won the Wakkerpreis in 1972 for exemplary care of its historic fabric, and the painted house fronts reward a slow walk. Do not confuse the Stadtkirche with the Johanneskirche in the Burg district, considered the oldest church in the canton, or with the Catholic Herz-Jesu church built in 1911.

When should you visit?

Services take place on Sundays, when the interior is certain to be open. Mornings outside the summer season are the quietest for exploring the old town. In summer the town is busiest, though that is also when Rhine boats run.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Stadtkirche the former abbey church? Yes. The church of St. George's Abbey became the town church after the Reformation.

Which denomination uses it? It is a Reformed church and the parish church for Stein and Hemishofen.

Is there an entrance fee? No fee is listed. Check opening hours with the parish before you go.

How is it different from Herz Jesu? Herz Jesu is a Catholic church from 1911, while the Stadtkirche is a medieval Reformed building with abbey origins.