Landeshauptstadt Mainz Direkt zum Inhalt
Landeshauptstadt Mainz Direkt zum Inhalt
All the glory of rococo appears to be gathered in St. Peter’s, shining in bright gold – as fresh as on its first day. With good reason: In 1989, the elegant church with its twin onion towers was returned to the parish, like new, after more than ten years of restoration. 
Not only are art treasures of past centuries to be discovered here, but also artistic skills of our own days: The Bavarian artist Karl Manninger and his pupil Hermenegild Peiker produced the colourful decoration of the interior. The historical inspiration were the frescos by Joseph Appiani (painted between 1752 and 1755) which had been destroyed in the war. The extensive paintings relate the life and legends of the Apostle Peter. One original is still preserved behind the entrance.
The church was founded by Archbishop Frederick of Lorraine in 944. In 1748, the court architect, Johann Valentin Thomann, constructed the new building on the site of the demolished parish church of St. Mary. The original late baroque elegance has been emulated in the historic restoration. The richly adorned white-gold wooden pulpit from Johann Förster’s workshop and some luxuriantly decorated altars, including the rood altar by the court sculptor Hans Backoffen from the 16th century. The celebration altar was created in 1989 by the Palatinate sculptor Gernot Rumpf – decorated with all kinds of “human fishes” wriggling in a bronze net. The matching ambo and paschal candle stand came later.