St Nikolai church in Berlin

I love old buildings and there are plenty of those in Berlin!  So, one cold Saturday I went to the oldest church in Berlin, St Nikolai church.  The church was built between 1220 and 1230.  Unfortunately due to bombing in the second world war, large parts of the church had to be reconstructed in the 1980s.  Yes, it took the GDR more than 30 years to even start the reconstruction!  The church is not in use as a church any more but is a well organised museum.  You have to pay for everything though - entry fee, audio guide and you have to pay 2euro to take pictures.  And so I payed and here are some of the 100s of pics I took.

An oak statue of St Nicolas 

The church is filled with tombs payed for by rich families.  They are beautifully decorated . 

This painting of a pious family shows the church as it was used in the background.  

These windows were damaged by bombing

An example of damage done by bombing. 

One can sit on the galery, put on headphones and listen to choral music. 

View of the church while listening to the music.  Stunning.

More ceiling and pillar detail. 

People who bought space for tombs in the church also commissioned the most beautiful ornate scroll work.  I've taken a few pictures of these railings. 

A pillar

Window

The altar piece is spectacular

I totally loved this altar cloth

One of the little scenes on the altar cloth.  This picture is taken from the computerised display. 

This is a picture of the actual altar cloth. 

Here is the real chasuble dating back from the late 1400s.  Amazing. 

You can sit and watch a a presentation on the history of the church and area.  Your audio device automatically syncronises with the looping presentation.  

How the church looked in previous centuries

View of this huge church from the back