St. Valentin

St. Valentin is the Catholic parish church and Basilica minor in Kiedrich, a village in the Rheingau region of Hesse. Built at the end of the 15th century in Gothic style, it stands on a gentle rise above the village. The church is dedicated to St. Valentine, patron saint of people with epilepsy and lovers. Its organ, dating from around 1500, is one of the oldest playable organs in Germany. The building became a pilgrimage destination after relics of St. Valentine arrived from Eberbach Abbey in 1350. The church’s interior reflects its history as a place of healing and devotion. The laity stalls, carved in the late 15th century, are unique in Germany. One stall shows the Gerechtigkeitsspirale, a spiral inscription symbolising justice. The Kiedrich Madonna, a gilded wooden sculpture from 1330, stands in the choir. The cemetery wall and the Michaelskapelle surround the church, adding to its peaceful setting. Visitors find a Gothic church with restored choir, altar and stained-glass windows. The organ, rebuilt several times, now plays again after a 1980s restoration. The boys’ choir, the Kiedricher Chorbuben, sings Gregorian chant every Sunday except summer. The church’s status as a Basilica minor was granted in 2010. Its walls and carvings tell the story of faith and craftsmanship across centuries.