High above the old town of Mainz on the Stephansberg stands St. Stephen's Church – one of the city's most significant landmarks. The oldest Gothic hall church in Mainz was constructed in the late 13th and early 14th centuries and stands on the foundations of an even older church, which Archbishop Willigis had built around the year 990 as an imperial place of prayer. Willigis, also the builder of Mainz Cathedral, was buried in St. Stephen's in 1011.
Heavily damaged during World War II, St. Stephen's was rebuilt in the post-war years. Its simple design with white plastered walls and red sandstone gives the church space a special clarity and tranquility today. Parts of the original vault are still missing, which makes the building feel both authentic and open.
A unique highlight is the stained glass windows by Marc Chagall in the eastern choir and transept of the church. Between 1978 and 1985, the world-famous French-Jewish artist created a total of nine vividly blue windows with biblical motifs – as a sign of reconciliation between Judaism and Christianity. Chagall, who never visited Mainz himself, entrusted the execution of the later windows in the nave to his long-time companion Charles Marq.
In addition to the stained glass windows, a walk through the late Gothic cloister is also worthwhile – considered the most beautiful in Rhineland-Palatinate. Here you will find numerous tombstones of former canons, artistic coats of arms, and medieval sculptures such as the figurative group of "Anna Selbdritt" or a Gothic baptismal font from the year 1330, which is still in use today.
With around 200,000 visitors annually, St. Stephen's is not only a place of silence and prayer but also a significant cultural landmark of the city of Mainz – rich in history, spirituality, and international art.
