St. Mary`s Church or in German Marienkirche is a large Lutheran church located in Stralsund, northern Germany. The church has been built some time before 1298 in Gothic style, an example of the brick gothic style prevalent in northern Germany. Between 1549 and 1647, it was the tallest building in the world at 151 metres 495 ft tall. The bell tower collapsed in 1382, and was rebuilt by 1478. In 1495, the steeple tower blew down during a severe storm, and was then rebuilt taller. This was subsequently struck by lightning in 1647, and burned down, and was rebuilt as a baroque dome, which, completed in 1708, can be seen today. `Frankenwall` comes from Vranko or Franken, a family of wealthy city merchants who gave its name to several streets of Stralsund, and `Wall` or `ramparts`.
|
