The tour starts at Frankfurt (Oder) train station and proceeds along Bahnhofstraße to the first church on the tour: the Church of the Holy Cross and Our Lady of the Rosary (Franz-Mehring-Straße 4). Built between 1897 and 1899 in the Neo-Gothic style, the church has served the Catholic community of Frankfurt from the end of the 19th century until today.
The path continues to the famous St. Mary's Church (Oberkirchplatz 1). Although it is not the oldest religious building in Frankfurt (Oder), the church and the town hall opposite are landmark buildings that are closely related to one another. Even the street network was based on them after the two buildings were built in parallel. The northern tower of St. Mary's Church can be climbed and the church bells can be heard every hour. Today St. Mary's is mainly used for concerts; the church no longer serves a congregation in the traditional sense.
The next church on the route is St. Nicholas Church. It is the oldest church in the city, though this isn't immediately apparent, as the church underwent extensive renovations between 1880 and 1894. However, the square to the east and north of the church, with its 19th-century buildings, still evokes the atmosphere of old Frankfurt. Today, the church is primarily used as a concert hall by the Brandenburg State Orchestra, which is based there.
The route continues over the town bridge to Slubice. Here you will first come across the first religious building in Slubice that was listed as a church: the Church of the Holy Spirit. It was built between 1992 and 1995. After the end of the war, the civic rifle house became the parish church of the Most Holy Virgin Mary, Queen of Poland, in 1946. Services for Orthodox Christians have only been held in the youngest church in Slubice since 2015. It is the Church of the Protection of the Most Holy Mother of God.
Back in Frankfurt (Oder), you'll head to St. Gertrauden Church. Built in the neo-Gothic style, the church is one of the few churches in Frankfurt that still serves a parish. Nevertheless, it is multifunctional, because in addition to parish life, the church also serves as a community center, archive and exhibition space for sacred art.
We continue to St. George's Church. Services are still held regularly here at Bergstrasse 156. In the 1920s, the church was one of the most important religious buildings in Frankfurt (Oder).
Those who wish can now make a detour to the Chapel of the Redeemer. The address Eichenweg 41 is most easily reached by bus to the Klingetal stop. During wartime, the wooden building served as a prisoner-of-war camp. Twenty-two thousand soldiers were interned here during the First World War. The interior furnishings, which have been preserved to this day, are the work of the prisoners. You will find an exhibition in the tower.
Length: approximately eleven kilometers, DurationApproximately three hours of pure walking time
Books:
- City Guide Frankfurt (Oder)/ Slubice (2021), Publisher: ScottyScout, Editor: K. Hinrichsen/ M. Nesselrodt
