Kreuzkirche (Zittau)

The Kreuzkirche in Zittau is a former Gothic hall church built at the end of the 14th century. It was modelled on the Church of Our Lady on the Lawn in Prague and probably dedicated in 1410. The church served as a funeral site and later suffered fire damage in 1643. Restoration work followed in 1651–54, simplifying its exterior. After secularisation in 1972, the building fell into neglect until further restoration began in 1986. The church now houses a museum focused on the Großes Zittauer Fastentuch, a medieval textile artwork created in 1472. This textile belonged originally to the Johanniskirche in Zittau and ranks among the most significant surviving medieval textiles. Since 1999, it has been displayed in the largest museum vitrine in Germany. Visitors find the church’s Gothic architecture still clearly visible inside and out. The medieval textile hangs in a specially designed glass case that dominates the main hall. The surrounding museum space also includes displays about the church’s history and its role in Zittau’s past.