The Rose Madonna Church, formerly known as the ‘Qianjin Catholic Church’, has a history of 140 years. It is the first church established after the reopening of Catholicism in Taiwan and is considered the birthplace of Catholicism in Taiwan. The church features a combination of Gothic and Romanesque architectural styles and was voted the No.1 historical building in Taiwan. In the ninth year of the Xianfeng era (1859), Spanish missionaries Father Guo Degang and Father Hong Baolu arrived in Taiwan for missionary work via the Takow Port (Kaohsiung Port). Despite the strong xenophobic sentiment at the time, their missionary efforts faced numerous obstacles. The following year, they built a simple earthen house on the site of the current church as a base for their missionary work. In 1863, Father Guo constructed a church measuring 30 meters wide and 90 meters long using red bricks, old stones, and a mixture of three types of soil, naming it the Church of St. Dominic, which was the first church in Taiwan. Since then, the Qianjin Church has become the center of Catholicism in Taiwan, from which it expanded to the north and south. Half a century later, with the significant increase in Catholic followers, the church was no longer sufficient, and reconstruction began in 1928. The new church, blending Gothic and Romanesque styles, was dedicated to the Rose Madonna upon completion, hence the name Rose Madonna Church. The church holds Mass from 06:00 AM to 05:00 PM every Sunday, during which visitors are not allowed. Photography inside the church is also prohibited during visiting hours. The visiting hours are from Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. The church offers accessibility services including accessible parking and entrances.
