towers "Red Spires"

Germany / Thuringen / Altenburg /
 church, monastery, augustinian, Brick Gothic (architecture), listed building / architectural heritage
The town’s landmark opens its doors only once a year, when the day of the open monuments takes place. Emperor Barbarossa was benefactor and he attended the inauguration in 1172. The former monastery is built of brick like it was modern in Italy at this time. Through a stroke of lightning one of the two spires got destroyed and was rebuilt in a round baroque way. After this the Red Spires went through a lot of changes…from a monastery to an orphanage, then from a house for widows, to a prison and psychiatry. Today, the Red Spires are closed for preservation of monuments and historic buildings.
Nearby cities:
Coordinates:   50°59'5"N   12°26'16"E
This article was last modified 11 years ago