About the name
The name ‘Frauenkirche’ is by no means unusual: you will find a Frauenkirche or Liebfrauenkirche in around 40 cities throughout Germany, including Meißen, Munich, Nuremberg and Bremen. They can also be found in other European countries such as Belgium or France, where they are called ‘Notre Dame’, or ‘Our Lady’, and refer to Mary, the mother of Jesus. A Frauenkirche is thus a church that has been or is consecrated in honour of the Virgin Mary.
The original name of the Dresden Frauenkirche was ‘Unserer Lieben Frauen’, which dates back to the time the church was founded in the Middle Ages. The name was shortened over time to ‘Frauenkirche’ and even retained after the Reformation despite the fact that the Protestant Church knows no adoration of the Virgin Mary.
