Adenau - St. Johannes der Täufer

The town of Adenau, located in the Eifel, a mountain range stretching west to Belgium, is known since 992 when it was mentioned in a document by King Otto III under the name "Adenova".

In 1162, Ulrich von Are donated his manor in Adenau to the Knights of St. John (Sovereign Military Order of Malta). Adenau thus became the third oldest branch of this order in Germany.

A church dedicated to St John the Baptist probably already existed in the 10th century.

When Ulrich von Are had his manor in Adenau to the Knights of St. John "his" church was probably part of the deal. In the 12th century, two side aisles were added and in the 13th century a new choir, which was used exclusively by the Knights of St John.

At the end of the 15th century, the nave was vaulted. In 1908/09, the old choir and sacristy were demolished and a new building erected. The old nave was completely destroyed at the end of WWII, so that a new building was erected in 1969. Parts of the old outer walls were converted into an atrium.

Following the information given in the church, the Gothic winged retable was created in the early 16th century and renovated in the 1860s.