The town church of St. Mary in Borna looks back on an eventful construction history. The mighty wide west tower dates from around 1230 and is older than the first written mention of Borna. The current church construction began in 1411 as a replacement for an older Gothic hall church.
Particularly impressive are the artistic consoles in the choir, which were created in 1434 by master Hans Wolffhart and restored in 2005. The church was consecrated in 1456. In 1511/1512 the church received its magnificent late Gothic winged altar, a masterpiece by the woodcarver Hans Witten. The large relief of the central shrine, which shows the meeting of Mary and Elizabeth, is unique in the history of art, while the side panels depict other scenes from the life of Mary.
After reconstruction in the 18th century and a neo-Gothic remodeling in 1868, the church was restored to its late Gothic state in 1963/67. The organ by Urban Kreutzbach, originally from Mochau, also found its place here in 1983.
Another special feature is the successful stabilization of the leaning tower from 2006 to 2008 (approx. 70 cm out of alignment), using the same method as the Leaning Tower of Pisa. The tilt was partly a result of mining in the region. The five bells, including one from 1456, have been ringing out for church services again since 2008.
Particularly impressive are the artistic consoles in the choir, which were created in 1434 by master Hans Wolffhart and restored in 2005. The church was consecrated in 1456. In 1511/1512 the church received its magnificent late Gothic winged altar, a masterpiece by the woodcarver Hans Witten. The large relief of the central shrine, which shows the meeting of Mary and Elizabeth, is unique in the history of art, while the side panels depict other scenes from the life of Mary.
After reconstruction in the 18th century and a neo-Gothic remodeling in 1868, the church was restored to its late Gothic state in 1963/67. The organ by Urban Kreutzbach, originally from Mochau, also found its place here in 1983.
Another special feature is the successful stabilization of the leaning tower from 2006 to 2008 (approx. 70 cm out of alignment), using the same method as the Leaning Tower of Pisa. The tilt was partly a result of mining in the region. The five bells, including one from 1456, have been ringing out for church services again since 2008.
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