Clemenskirche (St. Clemens Church), Munster

Saint Clemens Church is a lesser-known treasure located in the heart of Munster’s historic Old Town. Built between 1745 and 1753 under the direction of acclaimed Baroque architect Johann Conrad Schlaun, it was originally part of a combined monastery and hospital complex for the Hospitaller Brothers, commissioned by Prince-Bishop Clemens August of Bavaria. The church stands as one of northern Germany’s most elegant examples of Baroque design.

On the outside, the Saint Clemens Church presents a graceful twelve-sided rotunda crowned by a cupola and a lantern tower, clad in warm brick and light stone pilasters echoing Roman Baroque influences. After suffering near-total destruction in World War II, it was reconstructed between 1956 and 1973 with striking fidelity to its original design. The restoration emphasized Schlaun’s bold spatial concepts while preserving the church’s prominent civic presence, now free-standing after its surrounding hospital wings were not rebuilt.

Step inside to discover an interior rich in Rococo decoration, featuring elaborate stuccowork by Jakob Rauch and vibrant frescoes by Johann Adam Schöpf. The artwork includes themes of Saint Clement of Rome, angels, and heavenly visions, harmoniously blending architecture and ornament across the walls and dome. The main altarpiece-originally by Giovanni Battista Pittoni but now represented by a reproduction-depicts the martyrdom of Saint Clement; side altars showcase Marian scenes by Carlo Carlone, completing the intricate, uplifting church atmosphere.

Today, Saint Clemens Church is used not only for worship but also for organ and chamber music concerts. Though modest in size, it makes an elegant and peaceful pit stop-ideal for taking in its finely crafted dome, historic elegance, and tranquil adjacent garden before continuing your Munster exploration.