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Even at a distance, the double-tower construction of the Rote Spitzen stands out against the many-towered silhouette of Altenburg. The two brick towers distinguish the city image and have become city landmarks. But this double-tower construction is only that which was leftover from a former collegiate church which once belonged to a Augustiner-Chorherren-Stift.
The foundation itself leads back to Friedrich I Barbarossa. According to lore he was in attendance in 1172 for the dedication of the church in Altenburg. Friedrich I was often here because of Altenburg¿s political importance in the Staufenreich due to its central geographical position in the Imperial Territory of Pleißenland. The Rote Spitzen served not only purposes for the church, but most importantly served as a stoned symbol of the Kaiser¿s claim to power. The monastery itself commanded a variety of rights and developed into the largest and richest monastery in Pleißenland.
The Reformation first put an end to the position of the monastery. The monastery had a bad reputation amongst the reformers and, in 1543, after drawn-out negotiations it was abolished. The city of Altenburg later sold the site. The current double-tower design was completed in 1618 when the northern tower received a baroque-style dome. Since 2006, the Rote Spitzen have been recognized as an important national monument. After all, it is considered one of the most important early brick buildings of the Romantic era. Recent building-research findings are showing more and more evidence to support the theory that the Rote Spitzen belong to some of the first examples of large brick-made constructions north of the Alps. This would put the Rote Spitzen in the same league as the Kaiserdom in Speyer in terms of importance.
