The settlements are characterized by their characteristic buildings such as community halls, churches and choir houses (communal apartments for unmarried men, women and widows) as well as by their symmetrical urban layout. Each settlement has its own architectural character, which is based on the original so-called “Herrnhut Baroque style” and has been adapted to the local conditions.
The urban planning of the settlements followed Baroque principles and was typically laid out in a simple, symmetrical grid with two main streets around a central square (Herrnhut and Gracehill) or along a main street (Bethlehem). The buildings were harmoniously arranged to reflect the Moravian ideal of community.
Herrnhut in Saxony, Germany, the “mother settlement” of the Moravian Church, was founded in 1722 and developed into a center of the movement. The settlement includes the historic town center, the Gottesacker (cemetery) and the Berthelsdorf estate. Many of the historic buildings are still used by the Moravian Church today.
Bethlehem in Pennsylvania, USA, founded in 1741, was the Moravian Church’s first permanent colony in North America. The settlement includes several significant buildings along West Church Street, the Gottesacker and the historic industrial district in the Monocacy Creek Valley. Bethlehem remains an active Moravian Church today with several congregations and educational institutions.
Gracehill in Northern Ireland, United Kingdom, was founded in 1759 and is characterized by a strictly symmetrical layout, separated by gender and class. The settlement includes a central square with buildings on three sides, including the church, the Warden’s House and the Manse. Gracehill is home to an active Moravian congregation.
Christiansfeld in Southern Jutland, Denmark, founded in 1773 as a planned town, is known for its particularly well-preserved urban structure and uniform architecture with yellow brick buildings and red tiled roofs. The town plan follows the pattern of the Moravian settlements with two parallel main streets and the church in the center. It is the only Moravian church in Denmark with one of the largest pillarless church halls in the country. Praetorius Square forms the central market square with the historic Moravian Hotel, while Gudsageren (God’s Acre) serves as the community’s special cemetery. The settlement was the first to be recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2015.
