Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: Petrikirche

Riga is the capital of Latvia. With a population of more than 600.000 about a third of all Latvians live here. A settlement of the Finno-Ugric Livs existed on the bank of the Düna. At the end of the 12th century, merchants from Gotland came to trade here. Albert von Buxthoeven, a fierce missionary, was the first bishop in Riga from 1201 to 1229. Riga developed as the hub of Russian trade and the starting point of the German colonization of the Baltic. The merchants who settled here after the subjugation of the surrounding peoples rapidly gained influence. In 1225, they were able to elect the city bailiff themselves, when the City Council existed already. After the Reformation, the power of the archbishops came to an end. After the outbreak of the Livonian War in 1558 the city favoured the status of a free imperial city of the Holy Roman Empire. It was only when the imperial support failed to materialize that the renewed advance of Russian armies led the city to pay homage to Poland's King Stephen Báthory in 1581, who in return confirmed the city's traditional freedoms and privileges. The 40-year Polish-Lithuanian rule, under which the citizens of Riga successfully resisted anti-Reformation efforts ended with the conquest of the city by Gustav II Adolf of Sweden in 1621. The Swedish crown treated Riga by its rank as the second-largest city in the kingdom and had it lavishly fortified. During the Russo-Swedish War (1656-1658), Riga withstood the Russian siege and maintained its position as one of the most important cities in Sweden until the beginning of the 18th century. During this period the city enjoyed extensive self-government. The Svētā Pētera baznīca (St. Peter´s church) was first mentioned in 1209 and served as a place of worship and meeting place for the community, consisting of Hanseatic merchants and the craftsmen's guilds. The oldest preserved parts today are in the high choir. This area was enlarged to 30 meters in height between 1406 and 1409 according to the taste of the time. The citizens were in constant dispute with the Riga archbishops over the exercise of power in the city. This had an influence on this church reconstruction, for political reasons the building work had to be stopped until 1456. It was not until 1473 that the chancel could be completed. In competition with the cathedral, the seat of the archbishop, a far more magnificent church was to be built here. The further expansion of St. Peter's Church was completed with the tower in 1491. On the walls the baroque coats of arms of local nobles. Here are two of them.

Riga is the capital of Latvia. With a population of more than 600.000 about a third of all Latvians live here. A settlement of the Finno-Ugric Livs existed on the bank of the Düna. At the end of the 12th century, merchants from Gotland came to trade here. Albert von Buxthoeven, a fierce missionary, was the first bishop in Riga from 1201 to 1229. Riga developed as the hub of Russian trade and the starting point of the German colonization of the Baltic. The merchants who settled here after the subjugation of the surrounding peoples rapidly gained influence. In 1225, they were able to elect the city bailiff themselves, when the City Council existed already. After the Reformation, the power of the archbishops came to an end. After the outbreak of the Livonian War in 1558 the city favoured the status of a free imperial city of the Holy Roman Empire. It was only when the imperial support failed to materialize that the renewed advance of Russian armies led the city to pay homage to Poland's King Stephen Báthory in 1581, who in return confirmed the city's traditional freedoms and privileges. The 40-year Polish-Lithuanian rule, under which the citizens of Riga successfully resisted anti-Reformation efforts ended with the conquest of the city by Gustav II Adolf of Sweden in 1621. The Swedish crown treated Riga by its rank as the second-largest city in the kingdom and had it lavishly fortified. During the Russo-Swedish War (1656-1658), Riga withstood the Russian siege and maintained its position as one of the most important cities in Sweden until the beginning of the 18th century. During this period the city enjoyed extensive self-government. The Svētā Pētera baznīca (St. Peter´s church) was first mentioned in 1209 and served as a place of worship and meeting place for the community, consisting of Hanseatic merchants and the craftsmen's guilds. The oldest preserved parts today are in the high choir. This area was enlarged to 30 meters in height between 1406 and 1409 according to the taste of the time. The citizens were in constant dispute with the Riga archbishops over the exercise of power in the city. This had an influence on this church reconstruction, for political reasons the building work had to be stopped until 1456. It was not until 1473 that the chancel could be completed. In competition with the cathedral, the seat of the archbishop, a far more magnificent church was to be built here. The further expansion of St. Peter's Church was completed with the tower in 1491. On the walls the baroque coats of arms of local nobles.

Riga is the capital of Latvia. With a population of more than 600.000 about a third of all Latvians live here. A settlement of the Finno-Ugric Livs existed on the bank of the Düna. At the end of the 12th century, merchants from Gotland came to trade here. Albert von Buxthoeven, a fierce missionary, was the first bishop in Riga from 1201 to 1229. Riga developed as the hub of Russian trade and the starting point of the German colonization of the Baltic. The merchants who settled here after the subjugation of the surrounding peoples rapidly gained influence. In 1225, they were able to elect the city bailiff themselves, when the City Council existed already. After the Reformation, the power of the archbishops came to an end. After the outbreak of the Livonian War in 1558 the city favoured the status of a free imperial city of the Holy Roman Empire. It was only when the imperial support failed to materialize that the renewed advance of Russian armies led the city to pay homage to Poland's King Stephen Báthory in 1581, who in return confirmed the city's traditional freedoms and privileges. The 40-year Polish-Lithuanian rule, under which the citizens of Riga successfully resisted anti-Reformation efforts ended with the conquest of the city by Gustav II Adolf of Sweden in 1621. The Swedish crown treated Riga by its rank as the second-largest city in the kingdom and had it lavishly fortified. During the Russo-Swedish War (1656-1658), Riga withstood the Russian siege and maintained its position as one of the most important cities in Sweden until the beginning of the 18th century. During this period the city enjoyed extensive self-government. The Svētā Pētera baznīca (St. Peter´s church) was first mentioned in 1209 and served as a place of worship and meeting place for the community, consisting of Hanseatic merchants and the craftsmen's guilds. The oldest preserved parts today are in the high choir. This area was enlarged to 30 meters in height between 1406 and 1409 according to the taste of the time. The citizens were in constant dispute with the Riga archbishops over the exercise of power in the city. This had an influence on this church reconstruction, for political reasons the building work had to be stopped until 1456. It was not until 1473 that the chancel could be completed. In competition with the cathedral, the seat of the archbishop, a far more magnificent church was to be built here. The further expansion of St. Peter's Church was completed with the tower in 1491.

With more than 200.000 inhabitants Rostock is the largest city in the state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. Small Slavic settlements existed already in the 8th century. A settlement named Roztok was founded in the 11th century by Polabian Slavs. This town was burnt down by troops of the Danish king Valdemar I in 1161. Afterwards the place was settled by German traders. After 1226 Rostock became the seat of the Lordship of Rostock. In the 1250s the city became a member of the Hanseatic League. In the 14th century it was a powerful seaport town with 12,000 inhabitants and the largest city in Mecklenburg. Ships for cruising the Baltic Sea were constructed in Rostock. Until the last Hansa Convention in 1669, Rostock took a leading role in the Baltic Sea behind Lübeck. In 1419, the University of Rostock was founded, the oldest university in the Baltic Sea area. - The Petrikirche is the oldest of the four former city churches in the Hanseatic city of Rostock. A three-aisled church was already built on this site before 1300. In the middle of the 14th century, the church was built on the site of the previous building as a three-nave basilica in the brick Gothic style typical of the Baltic region. Around 1500 it was given a tower about 127 m high, which was destroyed by lightning in 1543. In 1578 the tower was rebuilt as a polygonal spire after it had been, once again, damaged by storm. With its height of 117 m, it also served as an orientation marker from sea and land. In the following centuries the church decayed which led to a comprehensive renovation of the basilica in 1902. In 1942, 40 years after the renovation, the Petrikirche was badly hit during an air raid. The tower spire and large parts of the interior burnt. While the vault of the central nave and the southern aisle collapsed, the vault of the northern aisle remained intact. In the course of reconstruction, the tower was secured with an emergency roof. The nave was closed with a flat wooden ceiling and the arcades between the central and side naves were walled and whitewashed. The late Gothic baptismal font made of bronze was cast in 1512 by Andreas Riebe, as the inscription on the base tells. On the surface of its bell shape figures emerge in two rows. Quite a different design compared with the fonts in Lübeck, WIsmar and Schwerin.

With more than 200.000 inhabitants Rostock is the largest city in the state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. Small Slavic settlements existed already in the 8th century. A settlement named Roztok was founded in the 11th century by Polabian Slavs. This town was burnt down by troops of the Danish king Valdemar I in 1161. Afterwards the place was settled by German traders. After 1226 Rostock became the seat of the Lordship of Rostock. In the 1250s the city became a member of the Hanseatic League. In the 14th century it was a powerful seaport town with 12,000 inhabitants and the largest city in Mecklenburg. Ships for cruising the Baltic Sea were constructed in Rostock. Until the last Hansa Convention in 1669, Rostock took a leading role in the Baltic Sea behind Lübeck. In 1419, the University of Rostock was founded, the oldest university in the Baltic Sea area. - The Petrikirche is the oldest of the four former city churches in the Hanseatic city of Rostock. A three-aisled church was already built on this site before 1300. In the middle of the 14th century, the church was built on the site of the previous building as a three-nave basilica in the brick Gothic style typical of the Baltic region. Around 1500 it was given a tower about 127 m high, which was destroyed by lightning in 1543. In 1578 the tower was rebuilt as a polygonal spire after it had been, once again, damaged by storm. With its height of 117 m, it also served as an orientation marker from sea and land. In the following centuries the church decayed which led to a comprehensive renovation of the basilica in 1902. In 1942, 40 years after the renovation, the Petrikirche was badly hit during an air raid. The tower spire and large parts of the interior burnt. While the vault of the central nave and the southern aisle collapsed, the vault of the northern aisle remained intact. In the course of reconstruction, the tower was secured with an emergency roof. The nave was closed with a flat wooden ceiling and the arcades between the central and side naves were walled and whitewashed. A "votiv ship".

With more than 200.000 inhabitants Rostock is the largest city in the state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. Small Slavic settlements existed already in the 8th century. A settlement named Roztok was founded in the 11th century by Polabian Slavs. This town was burnt down by troops of the Danish king Valdemar I in 1161. Afterwards the place was settled by German traders. After 1226 Rostock became the seat of the Lordship of Rostock. In the 1250s the city became a member of the Hanseatic League. In the 14th century it was a powerful seaport town with 12,000 inhabitants and the largest city in Mecklenburg. Ships for cruising the Baltic Sea were constructed in Rostock. Until the last Hansa Convention in 1669, Rostock took a leading role in the Baltic Sea behind Lübeck. In 1419, the University of Rostock was founded, the oldest university in the Baltic Sea area. - The Petrikirche is the oldest of the four former city churches in the Hanseatic city of Rostock. A three-aisled church was already built on this site before 1300. In the middle of the 14th century, the church was built on the site of the previous building as a three-nave basilica in the brick Gothic style typical of the Baltic region. Around 1500 it was given a tower about 127 m high, which was destroyed by lightning in 1543. In 1578 the tower was rebuilt as a polygonal spire after it had been, once again, damaged by storm. With its height of 117 m, it also served as an orientation marker from sea and land. In the following centuries the church decayed which led to a comprehensive renovation of the basilica in 1902. In 1942, 40 years after the renovation, the Petrikirche was badly hit during an air raid. The tower spire and large parts of the interior burnt down. While the vault of the central nave and the southern aisle collapsed, the vault of the northern aisle remained intact. In the course of reconstruction, the tower was secured with an emergency roof. The nave was closed with a flat wooden ceiling and the arcades between the central and side naves were walled and whitewashed. A "votiv ship". This model ship was built by seaman Peter Kraeft in 1769. It is an English type frigate - and 1,52 m long

With more than 200.000 inhabitants Rostock is the largest city in the state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. Small Slavic settlements existed already in the 8th century. A settlement named Roztok was founded in the 11th century by Polabian Slavs. This town was burnt down by troops of the Danish king Valdemar I in 1161. Afterwards the place was settled by German traders. After 1226 Rostock became the seat of the Lordship of Rostock. In the 1250s the city became a member of the Hanseatic League. In the 14th century it was a powerful seaport town with 12,000 inhabitants and the largest city in Mecklenburg. Ships for cruising the Baltic Sea were constructed in Rostock. Until the last Hansa Convention in 1669, Rostock took a leading role in the Baltic Sea behind Lübeck. In 1419, the University of Rostock was founded, the oldest university in the Baltic Sea area. - The Petrikirche is the oldest of the four former city churches in the Hanseatic city of Rostock. A three-aisled church was already built on this site before 1300. In the middle of the 14th century, the church was built on the site of the previous building as a three-nave basilica in the brick Gothic style typical of the Baltic region. Around 1500 it was given a tower about 127 m high, which was destroyed by lightning in 1543. In 1578 the tower was rebuilt as a polygonal spire after it had been, once again, damaged by storm. With its height of 117 m, it also served as an orientation marker from sea and land. In the following centuries the church decayed which led to a comprehensive renovation of the basilica in 1902. In 1942, 40 years after the renovation, the Petrikirche was badly hit during an air raid. The tower spire and large parts of the interior burnt. While the vault of the central nave and the southern aisle collapsed, the vault of the northern aisle remained intact. In the course of reconstruction, the tower was secured with an emergency roof. The nave was closed with a flat wooden ceiling and the arcades between the central and side naves were walled and whitewashed. A "votiv ship".

With more than 200.000 inhabitants Rostock is the largest city in the state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. Small Slawic settlements existed already in the 8th century. A settlement named Roztok was founded in the 11th century by Polabian Slavs. This town was burnt down by troops of the Danish king Valdemar I in 1161. Afterwards the place was settled by German traders. After 1226 Rostock became the seat of the Lordship of Rostock. In the 1250s the city became a member of the Hanseatic League. In the 14th century it was a powerful seaport town with 12,000 inhabitants and the largest city in Mecklenburg. Ships for cruising the Baltic Sea were constructed in Rostock. Until the last Hansa Convention in 1669, Rostock took a leading role in the Baltic Sea behind Lübeck. In 1419, the University of Rostock was founded, the oldest university in the Baltic Sea area. - The Petrikirche is the oldest of the four former city churches in the Hanseatic city of Rostock. A three-aisled church was already built on this site before 1300. In the middle of the 14th century, the church was built on the site of the previous building as a three-nave basilica in the brick Gothic style typical of the Baltic region. Around 1500 it was given a tower about 127 m high, which was destroyed by lightning in 1543. In 1578 the tower was rebuilt as a polygonal spire after it had been, once again, damaged by storm. With its height of 117 m, it also served as an orientation marker from sea and land. In the following centuries the church decayed which led to a comprehensive renovation of the basilica in 1902. In 1942, 40 years after the renovation, the Petrikirche was badly hit during an air raid. The tower spire and large parts of the interior burnt. While the vault of the central nave and the southern aisle collapsed, the vault of the northern aisle remained intact. In the course of reconstruction, the tower was secured with an emergency roof. The nave was closed with a flat wooden ceiling and the arcades between the central and side naves were walled and whitewashed. A "votiv ship".