St. Jakobus collegiate and parish church

Historic Hechingen

German
French

The mighty tower of St. Jakobus collegiate and parish church can be seen from miles around in every direction. It was constructed by the French master builder Michel d'Ixnard under Josef Frederick Wilhelm, Prince of Hohenzollern-Hechingen, and was consecrated in 1783. The imposing church building is an outstanding example of early classical style in the southern German region.

Even Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, on his second trip to Switzerland in 1797, was inspired by the Hechingen collegiate church. His diary entry stated:

"Very beautiful church. Observation regarding the clarity of the clerics in their own matters and the torpor they disseminate. Almost the opposite could be said of philosophers."

The church was built in place of its dilapidated predecessor, which was consecrated in 1488. With its consecration, the parish rights of the previous Hechingen parish church "St. Luzen in der Unterstadt" were transferred to the church of "Unserer lieben Frau und St. Jakobus". In 1495, Prince Eitel Frederick II of Hohenzollern and his brother Bishop Frederick of Augsburg constructed a collegiate church there which existed until 1806.

Inside the church, discover the traces of Hechingen’s great unforgotten benefactor, Princess Eugenia and church patron St. Jakobus. 

You can find information on events in the collegiate church and elsewhere in the events calendar at www.hechingen.de.