Werner Chapel Ruins

This Gothic church was destroyed and then restored as a memorial to a very dark time. The body of a young boy named Werner was found near Bacharach. His body was used as an excuse to accuse the Jews of having harmed him and murdered him to drink his blood.

Terrible reprisals were carried out against the Jewish population because of this. In fact, there were even festivals where they would rile the town up carrying statues of Jews murdering this boy on an upside down cross. He became a saint and this church was built and dedicated to him.

Eventually it came out that this had all been a lie, and he was removed as a saint and the church was destroyed in repentance. It was partially rebuilt as a memorial. The Pope sent a message that is engraved in German on it.Read more