Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: St. Nikolai

Korbach was granted town rights in 1188 by the Bishop of Paderborn Bernhard II. granted town rights under Soest law. Owing to the location at the crossroads of the Cologne-Leipzig and Frankfurt-Bremen commercial roads, handicrafts and trade quickly developed and Korbach blossomed. In the 14th century, Saint Kilian's Church (Kilianskirche) and St. Nicholas's Church (Nikolaikirche) were built. Korbach joined the Hanse and was first mentioned as a member town of the Hanseatic League in 1469. The Korbach merchants traded in cloth, skins and beer, as well as gold and other metals from the surrounding area. In 1414, a double ring of walls surrounding the whole town was finished. With the coming of the Reformation, the town, and indeed the whole County of Waldeck, became Protestant.

Korbach was granted town rights in 1188 by the Bishop of Paderborn Bernhard II. granted town rights under Soest law. Owing to the location at the crossroads of the Cologne-Leipzig and Frankfurt-Bremen commercial roads, handicrafts and trade quickly developed and Korbach blossomed. In the 14th century, Saint Kilian's Church (Kilianskirche) and St. Nicholas's Church (Nikolaikirche) were built. Korbach joined the Hanse and was first mentioned as a member town of the Hanseatic League in 1469. The Korbach merchants traded in cloth, skins and beer, as well as gold and other metals from the surrounding area. In 1414, a double ring of walls surrounding the whole town was finished. With the coming of the Reformation, the town, and indeed the whole County of Waldeck, became Protestant. St. Nikolai is the main church of Korbach's "Neustadt" district. It was built from the 14th century on. The large, three-aisled, late Gothic hall church was built in the mid-15th century. The west tower was built in 1359, and the pointed spire with four stone gables was renewed in 1702.

Korbach was granted town rights in 1188 by the Bishop of Paderborn Bernhard II. granted town rights under Soest law. Owing to the location at the crossroads of the Cologne-Leipzig and Frankfurt-Bremen commercial roads, handicrafts and trade quickly developed and Korbach blossomed. In the 14th century, Saint Kilian's Church (Kilianskirche) and St. Nicholas's Church (Nikolaikirche) were built. Korbach joined the Hanse and was first mentioned as a member town of the Hanseatic League in 1469. The Korbach merchants traded in cloth, skins and beer, as well as gold and other metals from the surrounding area. In 1414, a double ring of walls surrounding the whole town was finished. With the coming of the Reformation, the town, and indeed the whole County of Waldeck, became Protestant. St. Nikolai is the main church of Korbach's "Neustadt" district. It was built from the 14th century on. The large, three-aisled, late Gothic hall church was built in the mid-15th century. The west tower was built in 1359, and the pointed spire with four stone gables was renewed in 1702.

Quedlinburg is known to have existed since at least the early 9th century. It was first mentioned as a town in 922 as part of a donation by Heinrich I (Henry the Fowler). According to legend, Henry had been offered the German crown at Quedlinburg in 919. After his death in 936, his widow Saint Matilda founded a nunnery, where daughters of the higher nobility were educated. The main task of this abbey, was to pray for the memory of Heinrich I and the rulers who came after him. The Quedlinburg castle complex, founded by Heinrich I and built up by Otto I in 936, was an imperial Pfalz of the Saxon emperors. The Pfalz, including the male convent, was in the valley, while the women's convent was located on the castle hill. In 973 during a Reichstag (Imperial Convention) Otto the Great introduced his new daughter-in-law Theophanu, a Byzantine princess whose marriage to Otto II brought hope for recognition and continued peace between the rulers of the Eastern and Western empires. The town became a member of the Hanseatic League in 1426. The abbey frequently disputed the independence of the town, which sought the aid of the Bishopric of Halberstadt. In 1477, Abbess Hedwig, aided by her brothers, broke the resistance of the town and expelled the bishop's forces. Quedlinburg was forced to leave the Hanseatic League and was subsequently protected by the Electorate of Saxony. Both town and abbey converted to Lutheranism in 1539 during the Protestant Reformation. The 72 m high towers of St. Nikolai

Bernburg is today a city with about 32.000 inhabitants. The current district Waldau was already mentioned in 782 for the first time and in 806 as "Waladala" in the chronicle of Moissac, about 1500 km southwest. (the chronicle is in the Bibliothèque nationale de France in Paris today). In 782, at the Diet of Lippspringe, what was then Saxony was divided into Frankish counties and thus became part of the Frankish Empire. The next mention of a Bernburg castle was in 1138, when it is reported that the enemies of Albrecht the Bear infected the "Berneburch". Together with the reconstruction of the castle from the second half of the 12th century, a Slavic settlement was established in front of the castle. In the first half of the 13th century, the Nikolai settlement developed due to the targeted settlement of craftsmen and merchants. The first record of a mill on the Saale dates back to 1219, and the first bridge over the Saale was mentioned in 1239. In 1278, Bernhard I of Anhalt-Bernburg granted the old town and the new town the town charter. In 1293, at the instigation of the abbot of the Nienburg monastery, Slavonic was banned as a court language in Anhalt-Bernburg. St. Nikolai was founded as the parish church of the new town in Bernburg. The church was a four-bay Gothic pillar basilica and a westwork originally planned with two towers. The choir as the oldest part of 1240. On the north side is the slightly younger barrel-vaulted sacristy with gable-crowned buttresses, which was extended to the west in a second construction phase. The nave was built by about 1300, of which only the north wall and the pressed ogival northern arcade with square piers from the third quarter of the 13th century are preserved. Luckily I met the lady with the key. She let me in and showed my around. Thank you very much! Once a day the weights of the tower clock have to be pulled up.

Bernburg is today a city with about 32.000 inhabitants. The current district Waldau was already mentioned in 782 for the first time and in 806 as "Waladala" in the chronicle of Moissac, about 1500 km southwest. (the chronicle is in the Bibliothèque nationale de France in Paris today). In 782, at the Diet of Lippspringe, what was then Saxony was divided into Frankish counties and thus became part of the Frankish Empire. The next mention of a Bernburg castle was in 1138, when it is reported that the enemies of Albrecht the Bear infected the "Berneburch". Together with the reconstruction of the castle from the second half of the 12th century, a Slavic settlement was established in front of the castle. In the first half of the 13th century, the Nikolai settlement developed due to the targeted settlement of craftsmen and merchants. The first record of a mill on the Saale dates back to 1219, and the first bridge over the Saale was mentioned in 1239. In 1278, Bernhard I of Anhalt-Bernburg granted the old town and the new town the town charter. In 1293, at the instigation of the abbot of the Nienburg monastery, Slavonic was banned as a court language in Anhalt-Bernburg. St. Nikolai was founded as the parish church of the new town in Bernburg. The church was a four-bay Gothic pillar basilica and a westwork originally planned with two towers. The choir as the oldest part of 1240. On the north side is the slightly younger barrel-vaulted sacristy with gable-crowned buttresses, which was extended to the west in a second construction phase. The nave was built by about 1300, of which only the north wall and the pressed ogival northern arcade with square piers from the third quarter of the 13th century are preserved. Luckily I met the lady with the key. She let me in and showed my around. Thank you very much! The Crucifix

Bernburg is today a city with about 32.000 inhabitants. The current district Waldau was already mentioned in 782 for the first time and in 806 as "Waladala" in the chronicle of Moissac, about 1500 km southwest. (the chronicle is in the Bibliothèque nationale de France in Paris today). In 782, at the Diet of Lippspringe, what was then Saxony was divided into Frankish counties and thus became part of the Frankish Empire. The next mention of a Bernburg castle was in 1138, when it is reported that the enemies of Albrecht the Bear infected the "Berneburch". Together with the reconstruction of the castle from the second half of the 12th century, a Slavic settlement was established in front of the castle. In the first half of the 13th century, the Nikolai settlement developed due to the targeted settlement of craftsmen and merchants. The first record of a mill on the Saale dates back to 1219, and the first bridge over the Saale was mentioned in 1239. In 1278, Bernhard I of Anhalt-Bernburg granted the old town and the new town the town charter. In 1293, at the instigation of the abbot of the Nienburg monastery, Slavonic was banned as a court language in Anhalt-Bernburg. St. Nikolai was founded as the parish church of the new town in Bernburg. The church was a four-bay Gothic pillar basilica and a westwork originally planned with two towers. The choir as the oldest part of 1240. On the north side is the slightly younger barrel-vaulted sacristy with gable-crowned buttresses, which was extended to the west in a second construction phase. The nave was built by about 1300, of which only the north wall and the pressed ogival northern arcade with square piers from the third quarter of the 13th century are preserved. Luckily I met the lady with the key. She let me in and showed my around. Thank you very much! The center of the winged altar shows the Pentecost scene

Bernburg is today a city with about 32000 inhabitants. The current district Waldau was already mentioned in 782 for the first time and in 806 as "Waladala" in the chronicle of Moissac, about 1500 km southwest. (the chronicle is in the Bibliothèque nationale de France in Paris today). In 782, at the Diet of Lippspringe, what was then Saxony was divided into Frankish counties and thus became part of the Frankish Empire. The next mention of a Bernburg castle was in 1138, when it is reported that the enemies of Albrecht the Bear infected the "Berneburch". Together with the reconstruction of the castle from the second half of the 12th century, a Slavic settlement was established in front of the castle. In the first half of the 13th century, the Nikolai settlement developed due to the targeted settlement of craftsmen and merchants. The first record of a mill on the Saale dates back to 1219, and the first bridge over the Saale was mentioned in 1239. In 1278, Bernhard I of Anhalt-Bernburg granted the old town and the new town the town charter. In 1293, at the instigation of the abbot of the Nienburg monastery, Slavonic was banned as a court language in Anhalt-Bernburg. St. Nikolai was founded as the parish church of the new town in Bernburg. The church was a four-bay Gothic pillar basilica and a westwork originally planned with two towers. The choir as the oldest part of 1240. On the north side is the slightly younger barrel-vaulted sacristy with gable-crowned buttresses, which was extended to the west in a second construction phase. The nave was built by about 1300, of which only the north wall and the pressed ogival northern arcade with square piers from the third quarter of the 13th century are preserved. Luckily I met the lady with the key. She let me in and showed my around. Thank you very much! The nave. The left side is still late Romanesque, the right side is Gothic.

Bernburg is today a city with about 32000 inhabitants. The current district Waldau was already mentioned in 782 for the first time and in 806 as "Waladala" in the chronicle of Moissac, about 1500 km southwest. (the chronicle is in the Bibliothèque nationale de France in Paris today). In 782, at the Diet of Lippspringe, what was then Saxony was divided into Frankish counties and thus became part of the Frankish Empire. The next mention of a Bernburg castle was in 1138, when it is reported that the enemies of Albrecht the Bear infected the "Berneburch". Together with the reconstruction of the castle from the second half of the 12th century, a Slavic settlement was established in front of the castle. In the first half of the 13th century, the Nikolai settlement developed due to the targeted settlement of craftsmen and merchants. The first record of a mill on the Saale dates back to 1219, and the first bridge over the Saale was mentioned in 1239. In 1278, Bernhard I of Anhalt-Bernburg granted the old town and the new town the town charter. In 1293, at the instigation of the abbot of the Nienburg monastery, Slavonic was banned as a court language in Anhalt-Bernburg. St. Nikolai was founded as the parish church of the new town in Bernburg. The church was a four-bay Gothic pillar basilica and a westwork originally planned with two towers. The choir as the oldest part of 1240. On the north side is the slightly younger barrel-vaulted sacristy with gable-crowned buttresses, which was extended to the west in a second construction phase. The nave was built by about 1300, of which only the north wall and the pressed ogival northern arcade with square piers from the third quarter of the 13th century are preserved. Luckily I met the lady with the key. She let me in and showed my around. Thank you very much!

Greifswald's foundation can be traced back to Cistercian Kloster Eldena (Eldena Monastery), to whose estate it initially belonged. Salt was produced here and so it may have been a settlement of salt workers. In June 1249, the local prince Wartislaw III received a fiefdom from the monastery over the town, which was granted the "Lübische Stadtrecht" (city rights) in 1250. In 1264 the city was allowed to build a protective wall and fortifications. In 1278, Greifswald was first mentioned in a document as a member of the Hanseatic League. However, as early as the 14th and then in the 15th century, Greifswald's harbour no longer met the requirements of shipping traffic, as it silted up. As a result, Greifswald fell behind the other Hanseatic towns. In 1456, Duke Wartislaw IX founded the university as the Pomeranian State University. The still existing university is the second oldest university in the Baltic region after Rostock. The Thirty Years' War brought horrible times. The imperial troops led by notorious Wallenstein entered Greifswald in 1627 and set up a regime of terror in which the population was plundered. To repel the Swedish troops, Wallenstein had the fortifications reinforced and used the population for forced labour. A plague epidemic decimated the population to such an extent that by the end of the war only half the houses were inhabited. In 1631, King Gustav Adolf II's troops captured Greifswald after a short battle. Pomerania was now swedish until the Congress of Vienna in 1815. - The early Gothic brick church, dedicated to St. Jakob (James) is younger than the other two medieval Gothic churches in Greifswald. Construction began around 1280 in the "new town", where there was also the St. Spiritus Hospital, where pilgrims on the Way of St. James could stay. The first reports of pilgrimages to Santiago de Compostela setting out from Greifswald date from 1311. After the founding of the university in the 15th century, St. Jacob's Church was connected to the Faculty of Arts. Students were obliged to attend services there - The Danish three-masted barque "Pomerania"

Greifswald's foundation can be traced back to Cistercian Kloster Eldena (Eldena Monastery), to whose estate it initially belonged. Salt was produced here and so it may have been a settlement of salt workers. In June 1249, the local prince Wartislaw III received a fiefdom from the monastery over the town, which was granted the "Lübische Stadtrecht" (city rights) in 1250. In 1264 the city was allowed to build a protective wall and fortifications. In 1278, Greifswald was first mentioned in a document as a member of the Hanseatic League. However, as early as the 14th and then in the 15th century, Greifswald's harbour no longer met the requirements of shipping traffic, as it silted up. As a result, Greifswald fell behind the other Hanseatic towns. In 1456, Duke Wartislaw IX founded the university as the Pomeranian State University. The still existing university is the second oldest university in the Baltic region after Rostock. The Thirty Years' War brought horrible times. The imperial troops led by notorious Wallenstein entered Greifswald in 1627 and set up a regime of terror in which the population was plundered. To repel the Swedish troops, Wallenstein had the fortifications reinforced and used the population for forced labour. A plague epidemic decimated the population to such an extent that by the end of the war only half the houses were inhabited. In 1631, King Gustav Adolf II's troops captured Greifswald after a short battle. Pomerania was now swedish until the Congress of Vienna in 1815. - The early Gothic brick church, dedicated to St. Jakob (James) is younger than the other two medieval Gothic churches in Greifswald. Construction began around 1280 in the "new town", where there was also the St. Spiritus Hospital, where pilgrims on the Way of St. James could stay. The first reports of pilgrimages to Santiago de Compostela setting out from Greifswald date from 1311. After the founding of the university in the 15th century, St. Jacob's Church was connected to the Faculty of Arts. Students were obliged to attend services there

Greifswald's foundation can be traced back to Cistercian Kloster Eldena (Eldena Monastery), to whose estate it initially belonged. Salt was produced here and so it may have been a settlement of salt workers. In June 1249, the local prince Wartislaw III received a fiefdom from the monastery over the town, which was granted the "Lübische Stadtrecht" (city rights) in 1250. In 1264 the city was allowed to build a protective wall and fortifications. In 1278, Greifswald was first mentioned in a document as a member of the Hanseatic League. However, as early as the 14th and then in the 15th century, Greifswald's harbour no longer met the requirements of shipping traffic, as it silted up. As a result, Greifswald fell behind the other Hanseatic towns. In 1456, Duke Wartislaw IX founded the university as the Pomeranian State University. The still existing university is the second oldest university in the Baltic region after Rostock. The Thirty Years' War brought horrible times. The imperial troops led by notorious Wallenstein entered Greifswald in 1627 and set up a regime of terror in which the population was plundered. To repel the Swedish troops, Wallenstein had the fortifications reinforced and used the population for forced labour. A plague epidemic decimated the population to such an extent that by the end of the war only half the houses were inhabited. In 1631, King Gustav Adolf II's troops captured Greifswald after a short battle. Pomerania was now swedish until the Congress of Vienna in 1815. - The early Gothic brick church, dedicated to St. Jakob (James) is younger than the other two medieval Gothic churches in Greifswald. Construction began around 1280 in the "new town", where there was also the St. Spiritus Hospital, where pilgrims on the Way of St. James could stay. The first reports of pilgrimages to Santiago de Compostela setting out from Greifswald date from 1311. After the founding of the university in the 15th century, St. Jacob's Church was connected to the Faculty of Arts. Students were obliged to attend services there

Greifswald's foundation can be traced back to Cistercian Kloster Eldena (Eldena Monastery), to whose estate it initially belonged. Salt was produced here and so it may have been a settlement of salt workers. In June 1249, the local prince Wartislaw III received a fiefdom from the monastery over the town, which was granted the "Lübische Stadtrecht" (city rights) in 1250. In 1264 the city was allowed to build a protective wall and fortifications. In 1278, Greifswald was first mentioned in a document as a member of the Hanseatic League. However, as early as the 14th and then in the 15th century, Greifswald's harbour no longer met the requirements of shipping traffic, as it silted up. As a result, Greifswald fell behind the other Hanseatic towns. In 1456, Duke Wartislaw IX founded the university as the Pomeranian State University. The still existing university is the second oldest university in the Baltic region after Rostock. The Thirty Years' War brought horrible times. The imperial troops led by notorious Wallenstein entered Greifswald in 1627 and set up a regime of terror in which the population was plundered. To repel the Swedish troops, Wallenstein had the fortifications reinforced and used the population for forced labour. A plague epidemic decimated the population to such an extent that by the end of the war only half the houses were inhabited. In 1631, King Gustav Adolf II's troops captured Greifswald after a short battle. Pomerania was now swedish until the Congress of Vienna in 1815. - The first sources referring to a church dedicated to St. Nicholas in Greifswald are from 1263. The oldest extant parts of the church have been dated to the end of the 13th century. The building of todays church started with the erection of a single-nave choir, which was later incorporated in a hall church with two aisles and a nave. The foundations of the western tower were laid at the same time. In 1385 work was begun on a new choir with a straight eastern wall, which was finished already 10 years later. In connection to the founding of the University of Greifswald, the church was raised to the status of collegiate church. The new status wealth, and in the same year construction began to make the tower higher. In the years 1480–1500, the octagonal upper part of the tower was built and with the addition of the also octagonal, c. 60 metres high Gothic spire at the beginning of the 16th century, the construction was finished. It reached a height of 120 metres. The church lost its spire twice during severe storms. The first time was in 1515, when the top collapsed, without causing any severe damage to the church building. It was replaced in 1609. The second collapse in February 1650 destroyed the roof of the church, causing several of the vaults of the nave and southern aisle to collapse. A few days later, the eastern wall of the church also collapsed. Immediately after the collapse, the council of the city called for donations for the reconstruction of the church. The citizens of Greifswald, as well as Queen Christina, ruler of Swedish Pomerania, donated so much money, that reconstruction of the church could start only a month after the accident. The western portal

Greifswald's foundation can be traced back to Cistercian Kloster Eldena (Eldena Monastery), to whose estate it initially belonged. Salt was produced here and so it may have been a settlement of salt workers. In June 1249, the local prince Wartislaw III received a fiefdom from the monastery over the town, which was granted the "Lübische Stadtrecht" (city rights) in 1250. In 1264 the city was allowed to build a protective wall and fortifications. In 1278, Greifswald was first mentioned in a document as a member of the Hanseatic League. However, as early as the 14th and then in the 15th century, Greifswald's harbour no longer met the requirements of shipping traffic, as it silted up. As a result, Greifswald fell behind the other Hanseatic towns. In 1456, Duke Wartislaw IX founded the university as the Pomeranian State University. The still existing university is the second oldest university in the Baltic region after Rostock. The Thirty Years' War brought horrible times. The imperial troops led by notorious Wallenstein entered Greifswald in 1627 and set up a regime of terror in which the population was plundered. To repel the Swedish troops, Wallenstein had the fortifications reinforced and used the population for forced labour. A plague epidemic decimated the population to such an extent that by the end of the war only half the houses were inhabited. In 1631, King Gustav Adolf II's troops captured Greifswald after a short battle. Pomerania was now swedish until the Congress of Vienna in 1815. - The first sources referring to a church dedicated to St. Nicholas in Greifswald are from 1263. The oldest extant parts of the church have been dated to the end of the 13th century. The building of todays church started with the erection of a single-nave choir, which was later incorporated in a hall church with two aisles and a nave. The foundations of the western tower were laid at the same time. In 1385 work was begun on a new choir with a straight eastern wall, which was finished already 10 years later. In connection to the founding of the University of Greifswald, the church was raised to the status of collegiate church. The new status wealth, and in the same year construction began to make the tower higher. In the years 1480–1500, the octagonal upper part of the tower was built and with the addition of the also octagonal, c. 60 metres high Gothic spire at the beginning of the 16th century, the construction was finished. It reached a height of 120 metres. The church lost its spire twice during severe storms. The first time was in 1515, when the top collapsed, without causing any severe damage to the church building. It was replaced in 1609. The second collapse in February 1650 destroyed the roof of the church, causing several of the vaults of the nave and southern aisle to collapse. A few days later, the eastern wall of the church also collapsed. Immediately after the collapse, the council of the city called for donations for the reconstruction of the church. The citizens of Greifswald, as well as Queen Christina, ruler of Swedish Pomerania, donated so much money, that reconstruction of the church could start only a month after the accident. All major Hanseatic cities have an important church dedicated to St. Nicholas. Saint Nicholas was the most important patron saint of seafarers and merchants, of the people who had organised themselves into the Hanseatic League. It is no surprise to find a votive ship in a Nikolauskirche.

Greifswald's foundation can be traced back to Cistercian Kloster Eldena (Eldena Monastery), to whose estate it initially belonged. Salt was produced here and so it may have been a settlement of salt workers. In June 1249, the local prince Wartislaw III received a fiefdom from the monastery over the town, which was granted the "Lübische Stadtrecht" (city rights) in 1250. In 1264 the city was allowed to build a protective wall and fortifications. In 1278, Greifswald was first mentioned in a document as a member of the Hanseatic League. However, as early as the 14th and then in the 15th century, Greifswald's harbour no longer met the requirements of shipping traffic, as it silted up. As a result, Greifswald fell behind the other Hanseatic towns. In 1456, Duke Wartislaw IX founded the university as the Pomeranian State University. The still existing university is the second oldest university in the Baltic region after Rostock. The Thirty Years' War brought horrible times. The imperial troops led by notorious Wallenstein entered Greifswald in 1627 and set up a regime of terror in which the population was plundered. To repel the Swedish troops, Wallenstein had the fortifications reinforced and used the population for forced labour. A plague epidemic decimated the population to such an extent that by the end of the war only half the houses were inhabited. In 1631, King Gustav Adolf II's troops captured Greifswald after a short battle. Pomerania was now swedish until the Congress of Vienna in 1815. - The first sources referring to a church dedicated to St. Nicholas in Greifswald are from 1263. The oldest extant parts of the church have been dated to the end of the 13th century. The building of todays church started with the erection of a single-nave choir, which was later incorporated in a hall church with two aisles and a nave. The foundations of the western tower were laid at the same time. In 1385 work was begun on a new choir with a straight eastern wall, which was finished already 10 years later. In connection to the founding of the University of Greifswald, the church was raised to the status of collegiate church. The new status wealth, and in the same year construction began to make the tower higher. In the years 1480–1500, the octagonal upper part of the tower was built and with the addition of the also octagonal, c. 60 metres high Gothic spire at the beginning of the 16th century, the construction was finished. It reached a height of 120 metres. The church lost its spire twice during severe storms. The first time was in 1515, when the top collapsed, without causing any severe damage to the church building. It was replaced in 1609. The second collapse in February 1650 destroyed the roof of the church, causing several of the vaults of the nave and southern aisle to collapse. A few days later, the eastern wall of the church also collapsed. Immediately after the collapse, the council of the city called for donations for the reconstruction of the church. The citizens of Greifswald, as well as Queen Christina, ruler of Swedish Pomerania, donated so much money, that reconstruction of the church could start only a month after the accident. In 1651 the vaults and roof were rebuilt. The side chapel has a "floral mermaid" up on the vaults

Greifswald's foundation can be traced back to Cistercian Kloster Eldena (Eldena Monastery), to whose estate it initially belonged. Salt was produced here and so it may have been a settlement of salt workers. In June 1249, the local prince Wartislaw III received a fiefdom from the monastery over the town, which was granted the "Lübische Stadtrecht" (city rights) in 1250. In 1264 the city was allowed to build a protective wall and fortifications. In 1278, Greifswald was first mentioned in a document as a member of the Hanseatic League. However, as early as the 14th and then in the 15th century, Greifswald's harbour no longer met the requirements of shipping traffic, as it silted up. As a result, Greifswald fell behind the other Hanseatic towns. In 1456, Duke Wartislaw IX founded the university as the Pomeranian State University. The still existing university is the second oldest university in the Baltic region after Rostock. The Thirty Years' War brought horrible times. The imperial troops led by notorious Wallenstein entered Greifswald in 1627 and set up a regime of terror in which the population was plundered. To repel the Swedish troops, Wallenstein had the fortifications reinforced and used the population for forced labour. A plague epidemic decimated the population to such an extent that by the end of the war only half the houses were inhabited. In 1631, King Gustav Adolf II's troops captured Greifswald after a short battle. Pomerania was now swedish until the Congress of Vienna in 1815. - The first sources referring to a church dedicated to St. Nicholas in Greifswald are from 1263. The oldest extant parts of the church have been dated to the end of the 13th century. The building of todays church started with the erection of a single-nave choir, which was later incorporated in a hall church with two aisles and a nave. The foundations of the western tower were laid at the same time. In 1385 work was begun on a new choir with a straight eastern wall, which was finished already 10 years later. In connection to the founding of the University of Greifswald, the church was raised to the status of collegiate church. The new status wealth, and in the same year construction began to make the tower higher. In the years 1480–1500, the octagonal upper part of the tower was built and with the addition of the also octagonal, c. 60 metres high Gothic spire at the beginning of the 16th century, the construction was finished. It reached a height of 120 metres. The church lost its spire twice during severe storms. The first time was in 1515, when the top collapsed, without causing any severe damage to the church building. It was replaced in 1609. The second collapse in February 1650 destroyed the roof of the church, causing several of the vaults of the nave and southern aisle to collapse. A few days later, the eastern wall of the church also collapsed. Immediately after the collapse, the council of the city called for donations for the reconstruction of the church. The citizens of Greifswald, as well as Queen Christina, ruler of Swedish Pomerania, donated so much money, that reconstruction of the church could start only a month after the accident. In 1651 the vaults and roof were rebuilt. The side chapels have frescoes

Greifswald's foundation can be traced back to Cistercian Kloster Eldena (Eldena Monastery), to whose estate it initially belonged. Salt was produced here and so it may have been a settlement of salt workers. In June 1249, the local prince Wartislaw III received a fiefdom from the monastery over the town, which was granted the "Lübische Stadtrecht" (city rights) in 1250. In 1264 the city was allowed to build a protective wall and fortifications. In 1278, Greifswald was first mentioned in a document as a member of the Hanseatic League. However, as early as the 14th and then in the 15th century, Greifswald's harbour no longer met the requirements of shipping traffic, as it silted up. As a result, Greifswald fell behind the other Hanseatic towns. In 1456, Duke Wartislaw IX founded the university as the Pomeranian State University. The still existing university is the second oldest university in the Baltic region after Rostock. The Thirty Years' War brought horrible times. The imperial troops led by notorious Wallenstein entered Greifswald in 1627 and set up a regime of terror in which the population was plundered. To repel the Swedish troops, Wallenstein had the fortifications reinforced and used the population for forced labour. A plague epidemic decimated the population to such an extent that by the end of the war only half the houses were inhabited. In 1631, King Gustav Adolf II's troops captured Greifswald after a short battle. Pomerania was now swedish until the Congress of Vienna in 1815. - The first sources referring to a church dedicated to St. Nicholas in Greifswald are from 1263. The oldest extant parts of the church have been dated to the end of the 13th century. The building of todays church started with the erection of a single-nave choir, which was later incorporated in a hall church with two aisles and a nave. The foundations of the western tower were laid at the same time. In 1385 work was begun on a new choir with a straight eastern wall, which was finished already 10 years later. In connection to the founding of the University of Greifswald, the church was raised to the status of collegiate church. The new status wealth, and in the same year construction began to make the tower higher. In the years 1480–1500, the octagonal upper part of the tower was built and with the addition of the also octagonal, c. 60 metres high Gothic spire at the beginning of the 16th century, the construction was finished. It reached a height of 120 metres. The church lost its spire twice during severe storms. The first time was in 1515, when the top collapsed, without causing any severe damage to the church building. It was replaced in 1609. The second collapse in February 1650 destroyed the roof of the church, causing several of the vaults of the nave and southern aisle to collapse. A few days later, the eastern wall of the church also collapsed. Immediately after the collapse, the council of the city called for donations for the reconstruction of the church. The citizens of Greifswald, as well as Queen Christina, ruler of Swedish Pomerania, donated so much money, that reconstruction of the church could start only a month after the accident. In 1651 the vaults and roof were rebuilt. The church is about 80 metres long and 30 metres wide.

Greifswald's foundation can be traced back to Cistercian Kloster Eldena (Eldena Monastery), to whose estate it initially belonged. Salt was produced here and so it may have been a settlement of salt workers. In June 1249, the local prince Wartislaw III received a fiefdom from the monastery over the town, which was granted the "Lübische Stadtrecht" (city rights) in 1250. In 1264 the city was allowed to build a protective wall and fortifications. In 1278, Greifswald was first mentioned in a document as a member of the Hanseatic League. However, as early as the 14th and then in the 15th century, Greifswald's harbour no longer met the requirements of shipping traffic, as it silted up. As a result, Greifswald fell behind the other Hanseatic towns. In 1456, Duke Wartislaw IX founded the university as the Pomeranian State University. The still existing university is the second oldest university in the Baltic region after Rostock. The Thirty Years' War brought horrible times. The imperial troops led by notorious Wallenstein entered Greifswald in 1627 and set up a regime of terror in which the population was plundered. To repel the Swedish troops, Wallenstein had the fortifications reinforced and used the population for forced labour. A plague epidemic decimated the population to such an extent that by the end of the war only half the houses were inhabited. In 1631, King Gustav Adolf II's troops captured Greifswald after a short battle. Pomerania was now swedish until the Congress of Vienna in 1815. - The first sources referring to a church dedicated to St. Nicholas in Greifswald are from 1263. The oldest extant parts of the church have been dated to the end of the 13th century. The building of todays church started with the erection of a single-nave choir, which was later incorporated in a hall church with two aisles and a nave. The foundations of the western tower were laid at the same time. In 1385 work was begun on a new choir with a straight eastern wall, which was finished already 10 years later. In connection to the founding of the University of Greifswald, the church was raised to the status of collegiate church. The new status wealth, and in the same year construction began to make the tower higher. In the years 1480–1500, the octagonal upper part of the tower was built and with the addition of the also octagonal, c. 60 metres high Gothic spire at the beginning of the 16th century, the construction was finished. It reached a height of 120 metres. The church lost its spire twice during severe storms. The first time was in 1515, when the top collapsed, without causing any severe damage to the church building. It was replaced in 1609. The second collapse in February 1650 destroyed the roof of the church, causing several of the vaults of the nave and southern aisle to collapse. A few days later, the eastern wall of the church also collapsed. Immediately after the collapse, the council of the city called for donations for the reconstruction of the church. The citizens of Greifswald, as well as Queen Christina, ruler of Swedish Pomerania, donated so much money, that reconstruction of the church could start only a month after the accident. In 1651 the vaults and roof were rebuilt, and one year later the church tower received its new, Baroque spire, which was more stable than the slim, Gothic spires. The spire has since remained unchanged. The flat choir.