St. Paulus Church, Trier

The Catholic Church of Saint Paulus in Trier is a neo-Romanesque landmark with a complex history that mirrors the shifts in the city’s cultural and architectural landscape. Originally located near the Irminenfreihof, its predecessor was demolished in 1790 due to poor condition. Following the secularization in 1803, the nearby monastery’s church was a parish church until a new building was constructed between 1905 and 1907. Designed by Wilhelm Schmitz, this stately church with a prominent corner tower became a notable feature of Trier’s cityscape.

In 2016, a rockfall from 40 meters up caused minor structural damage, sparking concerns about the building’s condition. Though the damaged masonry was repaired, the cause of the incident remains unclear as no erosion signs were detected. Saint Paulus was formally profaned in 2017 as church attendance declined, and plans to repurpose the space emerged, including proposals for a library or casino by students from Trier University of Applied Sciences. By 2019, the property, including the church, rectory, and parsonage, was put up for sale. During this time, it hosted the interactive exhibition Dialogue in the Dark and the adventure show "The Last Battle for Rome" in 2022.

In early 2022, Saint Paulus' three historic bronze bells, originally cast in 1837 and damaged during World War II, were removed and relocated to Saint Michael’s Church in Kirchberg after a refurbishment. The church also held the tomb of Hieronymus Jaegen, which was reinterred at Saint Gangolf in 2018 after the profanation. While much of the church’s original interior has not survived due to renovations in the 1960s, the crucifixion group from Saint Martin’s Abbey, dated 1498, now resides in Saint Paulus’ to safeguard it from weather exposure, with replicas placed in the abbey.