What to See in Idstein - Top Sights and Attractions

Church in Idstein, Germany. The Unionskirche is the active Protestant parish church of Idstein, a town in the Rheingau-Taunus district in the German state of Hesse. Idstein was a residence of the counts of Nassau. The church building in the center of the historic Altstadt dates back to the 14th century when it was built as a collegiate church. It became Lutheran during the Reformation. Its interior was adapted in the 17th century to become a Lutheran "Predigt- und Hofkirche". The most prominent decoration in the church is the series of 38 paintings by the Flemish painter Michael Angelo Immenraedt, an exponent of Flemish Baroque painting, and others. They follow a program of Biblical scenes.

The church was named Unionskirche in 1917 to commemorate the union of Lutheran and Reformed Protestants in the Duchy of Nassau in August 1817, the first of its kind (before the Prussian Union in September of the same year). The Unionskirche is a recognized monument under the Hague Convention. It is used by the Protestant congregation, and it is open to other institutions as a concert venue, including concerts of the Rheingau Musik Festival. It features an organ built in 1912 by Walcker Orgelbau and retaining the historic case dating back to 1783.

The church was restored from 2012 to 2017, completed for 500 years since the Reformation and 200 years since the Union. The restoration was awarded the Hessischer Denkmalschutzpreis (Hessian monument preservation prize).^[1]

Parish church in Idstein, Germany. St. Martin is the name of a Catholic parish and church in Idstein, Rheingau-Taunus-Kreis, Germany. The official name of the church is Katholische Pfarrkirche St. Martin. The name of the parish became St. Martin Idsteiner Land on 1 January 2017, when it was merged with five other parishes. The parish is part of the Diocese of Limburg.

St. Martin is the patron saint of Idstein, to whom a Gothic church was dedicated in 1330. The present building, designed by architect Johannes Krahn, was consecrated in 1965. It replaced a church built in 1888 in Gothic Revival style and dedicated to Mary Magdalene. The earlier church was too small for the congregation growing after World War II.

After restoration in 2003, a new organ was installed in 2006. Church music in services and concerts, performed by several groups including a children's choir and ensembles playing historic instruments, have received attention in the Rhein-Main Region. The parish is in long-term ecumenical contact with the main Protestant church of the town, the Unionskirche, which includes two regular ecumenical services and concerts performed by joint groups of both churches.^[3]

Harry von de Gass was an Idstein original. In his honor, a life-size bronze monument was inaugurated in Idstein's pedestrian zone on August 28, 2008. The approximately 24,000 euros needed for this were raised through donations from the people of Idstein. Among other things, young musicians from the Catholic parish of St. Martin gave a successful benefit concert.

Harry Seegebarth came to the Idstein socio-educational center Kalmenhof at the age of nine. He lived here until his death. He was employed in various areas, such as the tailor shop, housekeeping, basket making, the kitchen and finally in the laundry on the mangle. Despite his mental handicap, he gained special notoriety in his hometown as a singing street sweeper, conspicuous for his original dress. He was involved as an altar boy in St. Martin's parish for over forty years. During the festive entry into the church and during processions, he carried the recitation cross. In addition, he was an honorary member of the scout tribe of the parish and participated in many events in the city, e.g. as Kerbeborsch (Kirmesbursche), court singer, Fassnachter and helper. In 2002, he could be seen with his work equipment in the Hessentag parade.

The bronze sculpture was designed by Waldemar Schröder (* July 6, 1950 in Krasnoturyinsk, Russia). It was placed in Idstein at the corner of Rodergasse/Schulze-Delitzsch-Strasse, deliberately near a manhole cover, as Harry tended to sweep some dirt into sewer manholes.

The city of Idstein published a leaflet which, in addition to biographical data, photos and tribute, contains a song that M. Helmut Fischer had composed to him and which he sang on many occasions, with the refrain Des is de Harry von de Gass! In addition, the city illustrates its notes on the obligation to clear and grit with an image of the sculpture.