The beautiful Rococo Wieskirche, a pilgrimage church in southern Bavaria, is one of the few large-scale buildings in Germany whose design, erection, and decoration (ca. 1750) remained under the direction of the original architect/artist until completion, in this case Dominikus Zimmermann, which thus ensured the true realization of a single inspiring conception. Construction took nine years.

The Wieskirche altar. The interior of the church was decorated by the architect, Dominikus Zimmermann, together with his brother Johann Baptist Zimmermann. Plaster, wood, gilt, and paint are the material of German rococo. The dramatic effect of this dazzling altar on the beholder when he enters the church from the far end, is overwhelming. Stift Wilhering (picture, 150 K) in Upper Austria comes from the same style period.

Wieskirche, another view.