St. Nicholas Church, Leipzig
Nikolaikirche51°20′ N 12°23′ E
The Nikolaikirche suits visitors who want to see where the prayers for peace of 1989 began and to hear the largest church organ in Saxony, and its visiting hours are short. The church stands on the Nikolaikirchhof, where the Christmas market sets up its own pyramid in Advent.
Photo Fred Romero from Paris, France · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0 and others, credited in the gallery
The city of Leipzig calls the Nikolaikirche the starting point of the Peaceful Revolution, and an exhibition on the prayers for peace fills the church's south chapel. The parish celebrated 850 years of the church in 2015, dating it to 1165. Its Ladegast-Eule organ has 106 stops, and the parish calls it the largest church organ in Saxony.
In Advent the Christmas market spreads onto the Nikolaikirchhof outside, with a pyramid and Feuerzangenbowle under it. The parish's choirs include the BachChor Leipzig, and the parish calendar lists the Advent and Christmas concerts as they're announced.
Worth knowing
- Check the parish calendar before you go; the church closes to sightseers during services and concerts.
- Step from the market on the Nikolaikirchhof straight into the church on a Sunday between 11:30 and 14:30.
Quick answers about St. Nicholas Church, Leipzig
When is the Nikolaikirche in Leipzig open?
The parish of St. Nikolai lists the church open on Sundays from 11:30 to 14:30, after the 10:00 service. Visits stop during services and concerts.