St. Nicholas Church, Wismar, Germany

Architectural Style: Brick Gothic

The gable of the southern transept is covered with decorations of glazed terracotta. There is a large and sophisticated blind rose window with a golden sun in the center. There are galleries with an abundant number of relief sculptures of saints and kings. Both eastern edges of the tower are decorated with squared limestone.

The high altar, dating from the late Baroque period around 1774, is a notable feature of St. Nicholas’ Church. The choir organ and the triumphal cross, from the 15th century, add historical depth to the church’s interior. The pulpit, created in 1708 by Johannes von Rehn, is a fine example of Baroque craftsmanship. The Mende Organ, constructed by Johann Gottlob Mende (1787-1850), features a Renaissance-era casing with Baroque enhancements. A bronze baptismal font from 1335, originally from St. Mary’s Church, depicts scenes from Jesus’ life and the parable of the wise and foolish virgins. The southside chapel houses the high altar and the triumphal cross from St. George, both dating around 1430. Also present is a bronze burial slab from 1504, honoring Duchess Sophie von Mecklenburg. Of the 38 former native altars, the Mariner’s Altar is the only one that remains in St. Nicholas.

Built as a church for sailors and fishermen, the St-Nikolai-Kirche is irrevocably tied to the maritime legacy of Wismar and the Baltic Coast. Founded in the 14th century and still in use as an Evangelical Lutheran church, it has one of the tallest naves of any church in Germany and is awe-inspiring for every visitor. This example of the magnificent brick gothic style defines religious architecture in Wismar and throughout the Baltic. Note its interior that was redone in a Baroque style during the height of Wismar’s power as part of the Hanseatic League.

Enter the nave through the massive front doors and gasp at the incredible height of the ceiling. The effect is thrilling. As you walk down one of the three aisles, watch for the signs of the church’s celebration of Wismar’s maritime history, from model boats to portraits of the great seamen who sailed from the port. Dawdle in the southern gable and the southern lobby, whose friezes are renowned examples of local workmanship. Admire the craftsmanship of a 15th-century Triumphal Cross and of St. George’s altar, one of the tallest on the Baltic Coast, which was rescued and brought here for safekeeping during the destruction of World War II.

Duck your head into the “Winter Church” under the tower, a smaller, warmer space that allows the church to be used during the colder months. Exit through the front, but take time to walk around the outside of the building. Relax under the linden trees in the attached courtyard beside a small canal, a favorite spot among locals, as you gaze up at the improbably tall windows that lend the church its massive, imposing style.

The St. Nicholas Church from the 14th and 15th centuries was built as a church for sailors and fishermen and stands on one of the oldest artificial waterways in Germany, the Frische Grube. It is the only one of the three large city parish churches that survived the Second World War unscathed.

The central nave is 37 metres high, almost as high as St Mary’s Church in Lübeck. It is the second highest central nave in any brick Gothic religious building. A special feature are the porches that protrude on the north and south sides, which resemble the arms of a transept. The extraordinarily richly decorated south gable, with its abundance of glazed figurative moulded stones, occupies a special position in brick architecture.

The only remaining medieval furnishings in St. Nicholas’ Church are the granite baptismal font from the late 13th century and the ship’s altar from the early 16th century. However, the interior is characterized by the completely preserved Baroque furnishings.