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Nikolaikirche, Leipzig

Posted by
MadScientist (Düsseldorf, Germany) on 12 September 2009 in Architecture.

Oldest building in Leipzig's old town, built in the late 12th century. Gothic remodelling in the early 16th century.

The events of 1989 that eventually resulted in Germany's reunification started exactly in this building. The peace prayers on each Monday turned into large protest marches and let to the legendary Montagsdemo (Monday protest) at 9 Oct. 1989 when the fate of the German Democratic Republic was sealed. The defiant cry "We are the people!" moved the masses and shook the government.

The column you can see in the churchyard is a replica of the columns in the church, reminding of the Monday prayers. These prayers still happen today; they show a different face of Protestantism than that I've described in earlier postings, and St. Nikolai still is 'open for everybody'.

Ana Lúcia from Leiria, Portugal

Excellent photo.

12 Sep 2009 7:54am

@Ana Lúcia: Thanks a lot!

MARIANA from Waterloo, Canada

BEautiful architecture ! Excellent shot ! [ I would take out this little edge of orange building on the right side . what do u think ? ]

12 Sep 2009 1:49pm

@MARIANA: I'm not sure, this square is rather small and this opposite building belongs to the church. In a few days you will see more of it.

Japanalia from Yokohama, Japan

This is a piece of old jewelry, very impressive....I did not know what you are presenting in the introduction, so I'm thankful that you mentioned all these things!

12 Sep 2009 1:50pm

@Japanalia: You're welcome. Of course I could just give my pictures titles like 'church', 'street', 'building', but a) you wouldn't really know what you're looking at, and b) I think that little text I put under the picture is part of the image processing. I just want to have a bit of completeness here. :-)

akarui from Kagoshima, Japan

Very nice view of this architecture.

13 Sep 2009 1:24am

@akarui: Thanks very much, Olivier!

Twelvebit from Victoria, United States

Yes, but where are "the people" when it comes to putting our bankster criminals in place?

16 Sep 2009 1:55am

@Twelvebit: I didn't see anybody. Not in Leipzig, neither in Berlin, nor in Amsterdam or Cologne, nowhere. If you ask anybody, you'll note the feeling is usually the same, but you won't see crowds with torches and pitchforks running to the banks. I doubt this is possible here. Maybe in France.

Ronnie 2¢ from Atlantic Shores, United Kingdom

The lone column looks very strange stood there . . interesting history to put it mildly.

19 Sep 2009 7:44pm

@Ronnie 2¢: We'll have to go inside this church to solve that puzzle. :)