Herz Jesu Church: A Neo-Gothic Masterpiece in Bregenz

Herz Jesu Church, standing on Kolpingplatz in Bregenz, is a testament to neo-Gothic architecture and the devotion of the city's residents. Construction of the red brick church, designed by Stuttgart architect Joseph Cades, took place between 1905 and 1912. The church's construction and interior were primarily funded by donations from Bregenz citizens. The church features a cruciform layout with a three-nave basilica and two 62-meter-high spires. The clerestory, almost twice the height of the side aisles, allows natural light to flood the central nave. Inside, visitors can admire stained glass windows by Martin Häusle (1958), Stations of the Cross by Emil Gehrer (1958), and a baptismal font by Albert Bechtold (1941). The church is also home to a remarkable organ built between 1928 and 1931 by Josef Behmann, featuring 4,650 pipes. The largest bell, the Herz-Jesu Bell, weighs 5,270 kg and is considered a masterpiece of post-war bell casting. The church was elevated to the status of an independent parish in 1958, coinciding with its 50th anniversary. Today, Herz Jesu Church continues to be a place of worship and a celebrated landmark in Bregenz.