Our walks through the alleys and courtyards and visits to the three houses with connections to Nobel prize winners only occupied the late afternoon on the day we arrived in Lübeck and the morning of the day we left. That left all of one day to visit a gallery, a museum and relax (yes, we did that as well!) on a river boat trip. On our final morning we also managed to fit in a visit to the huge and dominating St Maria Church (Die Marienkirche). And, would you believe, it is not the only vast church in Lübeck. Another day and we might have visited them all.

Lübeck is the city of Seven Spires. A view that has, apparently, not much changed over the centuries. And some of these spires are attached to huge high churches. The main one, it seemed to me, was right opposite the Buddenbrooks House. In fact it is the third largest church in Germany.

Church models on display

St Mary’s church is the main example ecclesiastical Gothic brick building in northern Germany. For the first time a church was built in the style of a French Gothic cathedral and using bricks as building material. It was the model for many large churches in the Baltic region. Built between 1260 and 1350 after the demolition of the former complex that was erected around 200 and modified to become a hall church in 1250. Totally destroyed in1942. Restoration works were completed in 1959, and the ridge turret between 1978 and 1980. [From a sign of the exterior wall]

The height of the church is something to behold!

Inside the church are display boards telling the story of the church and focussing in particular on the 1942 destruction and rebuilding. Called “Death and Destruction Do Nit Have the Last Word”

The original plan had been to erect a church with a nave and aisles of equal height, but finally a decision was made in favour of a  basilica in high Gothic style of truly enormous dimensions. The vault spans the impressive nave at a height of 38.5 metres and the twin spires are 125 metres high. This “mother of Gothic brick churches” set the pattern for about seventy churches in the Baltic region.

Bronze baptismal font made by Hans Apengeter (1337)

Portraits of J S Bach and Dieterich Buxtehude

Dieterich Buxtehude was a famous organist and composer from Lübeck who was well-known during in lifetime. Many famous composers visited Lübeck to hear his music including J S Bach and G F Handel.

The Famous Astronomical Clock

The Antwerp Altarpiece (1518)

The Memorial Chapel with the Remains of the Bells

The Coventry cross of nails

Above and below : 14 Broken Crosses Installation by GüntherUecker

We could, of course, have spent a whole day in this fascinating church.