St. George's Church, Wismar, Germany

St. George's Church belongs to the most significant historical monuments of North German brick Gothic architecture. It was constructed in a long period spanning the Late Middle Ages and the Reformation, undergoing several design changes before its final completion in 1594. The colossal nave and transept is testament to the last great parish church constructed in the Middle Ages in Northern Germany. After extensive damage by an air raid in April 1945, the church could no longer be used.

Until January 1990 the church remained a dangerously insecure ruin in the town, and a great storm that month lead to the collapse of its North gable. This event however provided the impetus to secure and then restore the church with help from the Deutschen Stiftung Denkmalschutz (German Foundation for Monument Protection).

The efforts of the Deutsche Stiftung Denkmalschutz alongside funding at municipal, federal state and national level as well as numerous private donors have made it possible to not only rebuild this Gothic monument but provide greater public access to it and enable it once again to be used by the Lutheran Church.

In total more than 40 million Euros have been invested in the reconstruction. Despite the building activity, St. Georgen has established itself as an attractive cultural venue, with well-received congresses, exhibitions, concerts, readings and church events having all taken place there.

References:

Wismar.de

User Reviews

ching_huey tee (2 years ago)
English speaking and friendly security guards. Not to miss out the lift trip to the roof top of the church. Ticket is EUR3 for adult and EUR2 for student. Overview the whole Wismar town from the roof top would be a nice experience.

syafa haack (2 years ago)
It has a modern elevator that can load wheel chair and stroller. The ticket is only 3€ for adult. Children are free of charge.

Osama Siam (2 years ago)
Very nice historical church with original structure kept as it was built. Inspirational simple interior.

SACHIT VARMA (3 years ago)
Beautiful church! Was under renovation when I was there. The red stone neo-gothic structure is pretty well known in this area. Has a lift that can be used at very cheap prices to go to the top for a panoramic view of Wismar.

Maneck Tandon (4 years ago)
Beautiful!

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Photo from Flickr, copyright Maciek Lulko

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Wroclaw Town Hall

The Old Town Hall of Wrocław is one of the main landmarks of the city. The Old Town Hall's long history reflects developments that have taken place in the city since its initial construction. The town hall serves the city of Wroclaw and is used for civic and cultural events such as concerts held in its Great Hall. In addition, it houses a museum and a basement restaurant.

The town hall was developed over a period of about 250 years, from the end of 13th century to the middle of 16th century. The structure and floor plan changed over this extended period in response to the changing needs of the city. The exact date of the initial construction is not known. However, between 1299 and 1301 a single-storey structure with cellars and a tower called the consistory was built. The oldest parts of the current building, the Burghers’ Hall and the lower floors of the tower, may date to this time. In these early days the primary purpose of the building was trade rather than civic administration activities.

Between 1328 and 1333 an upper storey was added to include the Council room and the Aldermen’s room. Expansion continued during the 14th century with the addition of extra rooms, most notably the Court room. The building became a key location for the city’s commercial and administrative functions.

The 15th and 16th centuries were times of prosperity for Wroclaw as was reflected in the rapid development of the building during that period. The construction program gathered momentum, particularly from 1470 to 1510, when several rooms were added. The Burghers’ Hall was re-vaulted to take on its current shape, and the upper story began to take shape with the development of the Great Hall and the addition of the Treasury and Little Treasury.

Further innovations during the 16th century included the addition of the city’s Coat of arms (1536), and the rebuilding of the upper part of the tower (1558–59). This was the final stage of the main building program. By 1560, the major features of today’s Stray Rates were established.

The second half of the 17th century was a period of decline for the city, and this decline was reflected in the Stray Rates. Perhaps by way of compensation, efforts were made to enrich the interior decorations of the hall. In 1741, Wroclaw became a part of Prussia, and the power of the City diminished. Much of the Stray Rates was allocated to administering justice.

During the 19th century there were two major changes. The courts moved to a separate building, and the Rates became the site of the city council and supporting functions. There was also a major program of renovation because the building had been neglected and was covered with creeping vines. The town hall now has several en-Gothic features including some sculptural decoration from this period.

In the early years of the 20th century improvements continued with various repair work and the addition of the Little Bear statue in 1902. During the 1930s, the official role of the Rates was reduced and it was converted into a museum. By the end of World War II Town Hall suffered minor damage, such as aerial bomb pierced the roof (but not exploded) and some sculptural elements were lost. Restoration work began in the 1950s following a period of research, and this conservation effort continued throughout the 20th century. It included refurbishment of the clock on the east facade.

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