St. Peter und Alexander (Aschaffenburg)

St. Peter und Alexander
Kollegiatsstift St. Peter und Alexander
Stiftskirche Aschaffenburg
View of the church from Stiftsplatz
St. Peter und Alexander
Coordinates: 49°58′25″N 9°8′47″E / 49.97361°N 9.14639°E / 49.97361; 9.14639
Country	Germany
Denomination	Roman Catholic
History
Dedication	Peter and Alexander
Architecture
Architectural type	Romanesque basilica
Administration
Parish	Pfarreiengemeinschaft St. Martin (since 2006)

The Kollegiatsstift St. Peter und Alexander (also Stiftskirche Aschaffenburg or collegiate church Aschaffenburg) is a church located in Aschaffenburg, Bavaria, Germany. It is the town's oldest church, established in the 10th century, dedicated to Saint Peter and Saint Alexander. The current structure is a cruciform basilica, reflecting a variety of styles including a Romanesque nave from the 12th century and a 15th-century tower.

The church is also notable for its Renaissance painting Beweinung Christi by Matthias Grünewald and the 10th-century Triumphkreuz (). The Stiftskirche is open to the public and serves as a Roman Catholic parish church. A museum in the former chapter house exhibits church treasures and other historical artifacts.

A monastery of the Benedictines was established at this location in the 8th century, dedicated to St. Michael. During the second half of the 10th century, this was transformed into the Kollegiatstift St. Peter und Alexander, a collegiate church.

In 974, the Stift was first mentioned in a document by Emperor Otto II in which he gifted his churches at Salz and Brendlorenzen (near Neustadt/Saale) as well as several other territories, including a sizeable area of the Spessart hills to the Stift. This was intended as a favour to his nephew, Otto I, Duke of Swabia and Bavaria. This Otto was long regarded as the founder of the Stift, which is why he is honoured by a statue in the church. The real founders were Otto's parents, Liudolf, a son of Emperor Otto I and Ida, daughter of Duke Hermann of Swabia. The most likely date is the year 957. Liudolf died that same year during a campaign in Italy and was later buried at Mainz. Thus his role as a founder of the Aschaffenburg Stift was forgotten. His son Otto died from an epidemic in Lucca in 982 but was buried at Aschaffenburg by Archbishop Willigis of Mainz. His tomb was next to that of Liutgard (died 885), the widow of King Ludwig III.