St. Elisabeth's Church

St. Elisabeth's Church (Elisabethkirche) in Marburg is considered Germany's oldest purely Gothic hall church, and its two 80-meter towers rise above the old town on the Lahn River. Built from 1235 over the grave of Saint Elisabeth of Thuringia, it was one of the great pilgrimage destinations of the Middle Ages. Today it is a living parish church with a golden reliquary shrine and the tombs of Hessian landgraves, though parts are currently closed for restoration.

A medieval pilgrimage church

Elisabeth of Thuringia founded a hospital in Marburg in 1228 and died in 1231. The Teutonic Order, which received the hospital in 1234, began the church in 1235 with the support of the Thuringian landgraves, and it was consecrated in 1283. The shrine holding Elisabeth's relics was made between 1235 and 1249 and drew pilgrims until the end of the Middle Ages; it now stands in the sacristy.

The church served as a model for many later Gothic churches: three naves of equal height, a three-apse choir and a twin-tower west front. The Hessian landgraves are buried in the south choir, and Paul von Hindenburg, Germany's president from 1925 to 1934, and his wife lie in the tower area after reburial in 1946.

What to see

• Elisabeth shrine in the sacristy, an oak reliquary covered with gilded silver and copper.
• Choir screen (Lettner) from 1343 in the nave.
• Main portal, the "Gate of Heaven", with Mary in the tympanum.
• The exterior, with sandstone buttresses, best seen from Elisabethstrasse.

Please note that restoration is under way. The crossing, Elisabeth choir, high choir and landgrave choir are closed. The nave and the shrine are open, and a video station shows the closed areas. Completion is planned for around 2028.

Tickets and opening hours (as of October 2026)

• Opening hours: April to September daily 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; October daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; November to March daily 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Advent daily 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Visits are possible outside services and events.
• Admission: the nave up to the choir screen is free; the sacristy with the shrine costs 1 EUR per person.
• Guided tours: an afternoon tour runs from April to October every day except Saturday at 3 p.m.; adults 4 EUR, reduced 3 EUR. A tour on Sundays at 11:15 a.m. after the service is free for worshippers. Group tours: +49 6421 65573.

Getting there from Frankfurt

Marburg is about 95 km north of Frankfurt, roughly one hour by car. The church is at Elisabethstrasse 3, about 700 meters from the main train station, a walk of around 10 minutes. Parking in the center is limited, so the train is easier. It is a good start for a walk through Marburg's old town.