The Church of St. Martin in Landshut is a Brick Gothic landmark of Landshut. It is the tallest church in Bavaria, and the tallest brick building and church in the world.
In the year 1204, the town of Landshut was founded by Duke Louis I, Duke of Bavaria. He established Castle Trausnitz and built a small church on the site of the present-day St. Martin's Church. Construction of the current church began around 1389, under the architect Hans von Burghausen. It took about 110 years to finish the church. During this period, five architects managed the building site. It took 55 years just to build the tower. The church was finally dedicated in 1500.
The choir elbow cross of 1495 has an overall length of 8 m. The crucifix is one of the largest of the late Gothic period. The body was carved from a lime tree trunk and has a length of 5.80 m and an arm width of 5.40 m. Made by Michael Erhard, it was installed in 1495.
Other important works of art in the church include the high altar, the hexagonal pulpit carved from a single stone, and the 'rose wreath/ring Madonna' (about 1520), created by Hans Leinberger and considered one of his most important works of art.
References:The Church of St Donatus name refers to Donatus of Zadar, who began construction on this church in the 9th century and ended it on the northeastern part of the Roman forum. It is the largest Pre-Romanesque building in Croatia.
The beginning of the building of the church was placed to the second half of the 8th century, and it is supposed to have been completed in the 9th century. The Zadar bishop and diplomat Donat (8th and 9th centuries) is credited with the building of the church. He led the representations of the Dalmatian cities to Constantinople and Charles the Great, which is why this church bears slight resemblance to Charlemagne's court chapels, especially the one in Aachen, and also to the Basilica of San Vitale in Ravenna. It belongs to the Pre-Romanesque architectural period.
The circular church, formerly domed, is 27 m high and is characterised by simplicity and technical primitivism.