Stiftskirche

The Stiftskirche is Landau's most prominent church and one of the most interesting buildings in the old town. Originally a Gothic collegiate church built from the 14th century, it has undergone considerable alterations over the centuries of French and German occupation. The most unusual feature is the Simultankirche arrangement: since 1708, the building has been divided between Catholic and Protestant congregations, who use different sections of the same church.

This cohabitation was not voluntary — it was imposed by the French authorities — but it has persisted for over three centuries and become part of the church's identity. The tower is a Landau landmark, visible from the surrounding wine country. The interior contains Gothic elements, Baroque additions, and the simple partition wall that marks the boundary between the two congregations' spaces.

things to do sight church
A story
The Stiftskirche has been shared by Catholic and Protestant congregations since 1708, when the two communities divided the building along a wall through the nave — an arrangement known as a Simultankirche that is rare in Germany and reflects the complicated religious history of the repeatedly occupied town.