Description of the attraction
The Predigerkirche church is located near the university hospital on Totentants street. The street got its name, which translates as "Dance of Death", because of the huge fresco of the same name, which was painted on the fence of the Dominican cemetery, adjacent to the Predigerkirche church. It depicted 37 characters - representatives of various strata of society, who, lined up in a chain, walked towards death. Over time, the medieval painting began to deteriorate, so in 1805 the locals removed it from the wall. Only 19 fragments have survived from it, which are now kept in the city historical museum.
The Predigerkirche church, erected in 1233-1237 at the Dominican monastery, 32 years after construction, became one of the first churches in the region, converted in the Gothic manner. In the middle of the XIV century, it was practically destroyed by tremors. The temple was quickly restored and decorated with interesting frescoes depicting saints.
The church experienced hard times during the years of the Reformation. The Dominican monastery was closed, and the Predigerkirche temple was plundered. The empty sacral building was turned into a barn. This continued until the middle of the 19th century, when they remembered the church and began to restore it.
One of the treasures of the Predigerkirche church is a splendid 15th century baptismal font, which archaeologists found during the study of another Basle church of St. Leonard.
The slender tower overlooking the Predigerkirche church was built in the first half of the 15th century. It was erected on the model of the bell tower of the Ulm cathedral. On its facades you can see the images of Jesus Christ.
