Church of St. Nicholas, Hamburg (must see)

The Church of St. Nicholas is a ruined church located in the centre of Hamburg. Previously one of the five Lutheran Hauptkirchen, or main churches, found within the city’s medieval centre, it was briefly the tallest building in the world. The towering Gothic Revival style spire, which stands 482 feet tall, is all that remains of the church; the main building has been demolished. The ruins are still an important tourist landmark, hosting events and displays, as well as an information centre in the old crypt.

A church has stood in this spot since the beginnings of Hamburg in the 12th century. A pillar of ecclesiastical life in the city for centuries, the previous church building was destroyed in the Great Fire of May 1842. The replacement was devised by British architect Gilbert Scott, and built between 1846 and 1863. The spire was completed in 1874, and made the church the world’s tallest building for two years, before being overtaken by Rouen Cathedral in Northern France. The ruined spire is still Hamburg’s second tallest structure, after the TV Tower.

The great height of the church spire proved to be its downfall, as it became an easy target for Allied Forces planes during World War 2. The nave of the church was destroyed, and the congregation moved to a new facility in an outlying suburban area. Restoration works have included the installation of an elevator within the spire, which takes visitors up to a 75 metre high platform, allowing great views over the nearby Speicherstadt district.