St. Nicholas Cathedral, Elbląg, Poland

St. Nicholas Cathedral is a Gothic church established in circa 1247. When the burghers of Elbing (Elbląg) first attempted to adopt the Protestant Reformation in 1525, the provost of St. Nicholas Church maintained Catholic practice. Since 1539 the city council tacitly tolerated and gradually openly promoted Lutheranism, so that St. Nicholas Church had become a Lutheran church by 1573.

Following King Sigismund III's Prussian regency contract (1605) with Joachim Frederick of Brandenburg and his Prussian enfeoffment contract (Treaty of Warsaw, 1611) with John Sigismund of Brandenburg these two rulers of Ducal Prussia guaranteed free practice of Catholic religion in prevailingly Lutheran Prussia. Based on these contracts Prince-Bishop Szymon Rudnicki of Ermland/Warmia achieved the restitution of St. Nicholas as Roman Catholic parish church in 1612, then the only one in Elbing, and remaining a Catholic church since.

St. Nicholas was damaged by fire in the late 18th century, then destroyed in World War II and reconstructed. In 1992, the building was elevated to the status of cathedral.

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User Reviews

Denda29 G (3 years ago)
Nice view from tower of church. Ticket price- 10pln. You have to climb up the spiral stairs to get to the top.

Paula Dutkowska (5 years ago)
This is really old, 13th-century gothic church, located in the centre of the city market. Damaged several times, especially in the 18th century (fire) and during World War II. Because of the tower, it is one of the highest churches in Poland (about 97 metres). Really great landmark, hard to oversight. Unfortunately, I cannot see anything special in this brick building. It is just an old, high church.

Nick (6 years ago)
Supreme views from the top but be prepared for a back breaking walk up the windy staircase!

Noureddin Driouech (6 years ago)
Historical place and much things to learn

J Bu (6 years ago)
Amazing church. Please visit. It's in the middle of old town so can spend some time with other attractions as well.

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Visby Cathedral (also known as St. Mary’s Church) is the only survived medieval church in Visby. It was originally built for German merchants and inaugurated in 1225. Around the year 1350 the church was enlarged and converted into a basilica. The two-storey magazine was also added then above the nave as a warehouse for merchants.

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There is not much left of the original interior. The font is made of local red marble in the 13th century. The pulpit was made in Lübeck in 1684. There are 400 graves under the church floor.

St. Nicholas Cathedral

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