Reichenau - Münster St. Maria und Markus

Reichenau Island is an island in Lake Constance. It lies west of the city of Konstanz. Since 1838 the island is connected to the mainland by a causeway.

The island was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000 because of the important Abbey of Reichenau founded in 724 by Saint Pirmin, with patronage that included Charles Martel, Count Berthold of the Ahalolfinger and the Alemannian Duke Santfrid (aka Hnabi). It gained influence in the Carolingian dynasty, by educating the clerks who staffed Imperial and ducal chanceries. An important book collection was built up here.
The abbey housed a school, and a scriptorium and artists' workshop, that has a claim to have been the largest and artistically most influential centre for producing illuminated manuscripts in Europe during the late 10th and early 11th centuries, often known as the Reichenau School.

The Abbey reached its apex under Abbot Berno of Reichenau (1008–48). During his time, important scholars lived and worked in Reichenau. In the second half of the 11th century, the importance started to wane owing to rivalry with the nearby St. Gall. In 1540, the Bishop of Constance, an old rival of the Reichenau abbots, became lord of Reichenau, and, under the control of the succeeding bishops, the abbey's significance dwindled.

The former abbey church "St. Maria and Markus" is the probably oldest existing church on the island. St. Primin erected a wooden church here in 724. Abbot Haito replaced this with a Carolingian basilica that was consecrated in 816. Parts of this church, are still preserved today in the crossing and in the east transept. After in 830 the abbey had received relics of the evangelist Mark from Venice, the abbey church got enlarged.

When a Byzantine cross with a holy blood relic came to Reichenau in 925, a rotunda based on the model of the Holy Sepulcher was built.

This Holy Blood Chapel was demolished together with the church´s Romanesque choir, when mid of the 15th century, a late Gothic choir was added to the basilica.

Charlemagne´s great-grandson Emperor Karl III. (aka "Charles the Fat") was buried here at his own request. His grave slab contains the inscription "CAROLVS III IMPERATOR † 888".

Like in St. Georg (prev. uploads) the walls of the basilica were probably covered with murals a thousand years ago. Only very few traces can still be found.