SAINTE-MARIE CHURCH

A beautiful Gothic church in red brick, typical of Baltic architecture, it's a masterpiece of its kind, so much so that it served as a model for other Hanseatic city churches. Its construction began at the end of the ^12th century and lasted some 100 years; its destruction by Allied bombing in 1942 lasted only a few minutes. It was painstakingly rebuilt in the post-war period to regain its former glory. The two ^14th-century towers are 125 m high, and offer a fine climb for the most courageous. The reward is a remarkable panoramic view of the city. The church's astronomical clock and 36-bell carillon are also renowned. The various parts of the church contain numerous artistic treasures, many of which unfortunately burned down in the great fire of 1942. The stained glass windows, completely destroyed during the bombing, were replaced in the 1960s. Of particular note are

The gildedAntwerp altarpiece is a true masterpiece, dating from 1518. It depicts scenes from the life of the Virgin Mary.

The bronze baptismal font by Hans Apengeter, dating from 1337. They can hold 406 liters.

The Virgin and Child by Darsow. Dating from 1420, this sculpture survived the fire of 1942, but was badly damaged and restored in 1989, thanks to the recovery of hundreds of stone fragments.