Lorenzkirche – St Lawrence’s Church
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The parish of St Lawrence is without doubt the nucleus from which Hof developed. The first documentary mention of a settlement called Rekkenze, which was to become the town of Hof, and St Lawrence’s Church goes back to the year 1214. According to Hof’s chronicler Enoch Widman, the church was actually founded as early as 1080.
This by no means massive place of worship has a particular fascination. Its position is reason enough for this: it stands on a rocky promontory above the River Saale on which, legends say, there once was a castle, the “Klausenburg”. The church, the manse with its half-timbered gable and the little park, which was used as a cemetery until 1863, form a harmonious entity and offer a peaceful oasis between the hustle and bustle of the Altstadt on the one side and the busy thoroughfare “Pfarr” on the other side.
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Within St Lawrence’s Church there are two art treasures: a crucifix from around 1500 and a very valuable altar, named Hertnid-von-Stein-Altar after the man who donated it. Originally it was intended for St Michael’s Church, but it was transferred to St Lawrence’s in the 16th century. This was very fortunate indeed because it would otherwise have been destroyed by the great town fire of 1823, which did not spare St Michael’s.
