St. Nikolai Memorial
St. Nikolai Memorial things to do, attractions, restaurants, events info and trip planning
Plan your stay
Posts
nice there. be prepared, if you want to go to the top, it's windy. <br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br>
Mykyta SmolianyiMykyta Smolianyi
00
The St. Nikolai Memorial in Hamburg, Germany, is a poignant symbol of the city’s wartime history and its resilience in the face of destruction. Originally built as the St. Nikolai Church, the structure now serves as both a memorial and museum, commemorating the devastation of Hamburg during World War II, particularly the catastrophic air raids in 1943. History • Origins of St. Nikolai Church: The original St. Nikolai Church was founded in 1195 and dedicated to St. Nicholas, the patron saint of sailors and merchants, reflecting Hamburg’s historical ties to maritime trade. Over the centuries, the church was rebuilt multiple times, with the most notable reconstruction completed in 1874, when the Gothic Revival church was designed by British architect George Gilbert Scott. • Architectural Grandeur: The 19th-century St. Nikolai Church was an impressive Gothic structure, with a spire that stood at 147 meters tall, making it one of the tallest buildings in the world at the time. It was a symbol of Hamburg’s prosperity and a key landmark in the city’s skyline. Destruction in World War II • Operation Gomorrah (1943): During World War II, Hamburg was heavily bombed by the Allies as part of Operation Gomorrah in July 1943. St. Nikolai Church was severely damaged during these air raids, with much of the city being reduced to rubble. The church’s spire, however, remarkably survived the bombings, standing amidst the ruins of the city. • Post-War Ruins: After the war, instead of rebuilding St. Nikolai, the city of Hamburg chose to preserve its ruins as a memorial to the destruction caused by war. The church was left in its damaged state, with only the spire and some parts of the walls remaining intact. Transformation into a Memorial • Memorial to the Victims of War and Persecution: Today, the St. Nikolai Memorial stands as a solemn reminder of the horrors of war and the bombing of Hamburg. It serves as a memorial to the victims of war and persecution, particularly those who suffered during the devastating air raids of World War II. The site is dedicated to promoting peace and reconciliation.
Kento MasudaKento Masuda
00
Germany has several such Church War Memorials which were deliberately left in the condition from the end of WWII to remind future generations on war devastations never to happen again. St. Nikolai is the oldest Hamburg Church dating back to late 12 cent when the first Chapel was built here. Over the centuries the Church started being enlarged and adding the Tower. In 16 c the first tall tower was built, a hexagonal one just like in many Hanseatic cities. That Church and Tower lasted until the mid 19 c Great Fire. Shortly after the fire devastation the Church was repositioned and built in Gothic style with the tallest Church tower in the world. St. Nikolai Tower is still today the tallest structure in Hamburg. That same tower was used as an orientation point for allied bombing in 1943-45 air raids. The Church (along with majority of the city) was destroyed, but the Tower only caught fire and survived. All that you can learn in terrific museum beneath the Church along with original pictures. Climbing that historic Tower is also included for the same price (6 Euros if I remember correctly). Excellent 360' views from up there. Highly recommend and one of Hamburg best attractions
Dejan BrakiDejan Braki
00
The Church of St. Nicholas (in German Sankt Nikolai Kirche) was a nineteenth-century building in Hamburg of which only the bell tower remains, one of the tallest in the world. It is the tower of the ancient church of San Nicola which was destroyed during the Second World War. You can climb to the top and it is a perfect viewpoint of the city of Hamburg from which you can see both the historic center and the port area. About 300 meters from the tower is the Cathedral of San Michele Entrance to the museum and the lift to the tower costs 5 euros. .The views from the tower are incredible and you don't have to wait to go up. The museum, on the other hand, is small and mostly has texts in German and English, but for the price it is a tourist attraction worth doing since it is also very close to the town hall.
Jessica CastielloJessica Castiello
00
Although covered in scaffolding when we visited, this place is very moving. 5 euros gets you a ticket for the lift and museum. We went up in the lift first and photos from 1943 showed the city after the Firestorm of the July of that year. These are positioned so you can see the view then and now, in some cases there is nothing to recognise. The words are in German and English. We then went back down and proceeded to the museum in the crypt. Please note, once past the desk, proceed straight ahead! Don't turn left by the model of the church (as we did) as we toured the museum backwards! The museum explains not only the history of the church, but also the airstrikes on the city and life during that time. We spent an hour in the museum. Overall an enlightening, yet simmering, experience. Highly recommended.
Sarah SextonSarah Sexton
30
THE FORMER CHURCH OF ST. NICHOLAS Founded in 1195, St. Nicholas is one of the oldest churches of Hamburg. It develops from a little chapel to a hall church. During the Great Fire in Hamburg in 1842 it burns down The citizens of Hamburg, however, facilitate to rebuild the church in a neo-gothic style. The plans are designed by British architect G. Scott, the construction lasts from 1846 to 1882. DESTRUCTION IN WORLD WAR TWO In Jaly 1943 Allied adplainsatrack the of Hamburg, During the airfaids more the 35-000 people die, 900.ooo become homeless. 250.000 houses are destroyed, so is the church of St. Nicholas. PLACE OF COMMEMORATION After the war St. Nicholas is not rebuild again. The remains commemorate the victims of the "Fire Storm ver Hamburg and the victims of German atrocities in Europe.
Susana HerediaSusana Heredia
00
Nearby Attractions Of St. Nikolai Memorial
Miniatur Wunderland
Elbphilharmonie Hamburg
Europa Passage
St. Michael's Church
Hamburg Dungeon
CHOCOVERSUM - Hamburgs Schokoladenmuseum
International Maritime Museum
Hamburg Townhall
Elbphilharmonie concert box office
Museum der Illusionen Hamburg

Miniatur Wunderland
4.8
(32.9K)Click for details

Elbphilharmonie Hamburg
4.6
(30K)Click for details

Europa Passage
4.3
(15.2K)Click for details

St. Michael's Church
4.7
(8.9K)Click for details
Nearby Restaurants Of St. Nikolai Memorial
ALEX Hamburg
Panthera Rodizio
60 Seconds to Napoli | Hamburg
Speicherstadt Coffee Roastery
Ahoi Steffen Henssler Hamburg
Edmondo
Gasthaus Heimathafen
BLOCK HOUSE Jungfernstieg
Hofbräu Wirtshaus Speersort
Jim Block Jungfernstieg

ALEX Hamburg
4.1
(7.8K)Click for details

Panthera Rodizio
4.6
(4.4K)Click for details

60 Seconds to Napoli | Hamburg
4.5
(3.6K)Click for details

Speicherstadt Coffee Roastery
4.5
(3.8K)Click for details
Basic Info
Address
Willy-Brandt-Straße 60, 20457 Hamburg, Germany
Map
Phone
+49 40 46898040
Call
Website
mahnmal-st-nikolai.de
Visit
Reviews
Overview
4.6
(4.2K reviews)
Ratings & Description
cultural
accessibility
Description
The Church of St. Nicholas was a Gothic Revival cathedral that was formerly one of the five Lutheran Hauptkirchen in the city of Hamburg, Germany. The original chapel, a wooden building, was completed in 1195. It was replaced by a brick church in the 14th century, which was eventually destroyed by fire in 1842.
attractions: Miniatur Wunderland, Elbphilharmonie Hamburg, Europa Passage, St. Michael's Church, Hamburg Dungeon, CHOCOVERSUM - Hamburgs Schokoladenmuseum, International Maritime Museum, Hamburg Townhall, Elbphilharmonie concert box office, Museum der Illusionen Hamburg, restaurants: ALEX Hamburg, Panthera Rodizio, 60 Seconds to Napoli | Hamburg, Speicherstadt Coffee Roastery, Ahoi Steffen Henssler Hamburg, Edmondo, Gasthaus Heimathafen, BLOCK HOUSE Jungfernstieg, Hofbräu Wirtshaus Speersort, Jim Block Jungfernstieg
The Hit List

- Please manually select your location for better experience