Schwerin Cathedral St. Marien and St. Johannis
The proverbial highlight of the churches in Mecklenburg: Schwerin Cathedral. This imposing masterpiece of brick Gothic is the oldest building in the city of Schwerin, has the highest church tower in Mecklenburg at 117.5 meters and is the only true cathedral in the state. The cathedral is open daily. Those who climb the 220 steps of the tower are greeted by a breathtaking view over Schwerin's lake landscape.
History
The original Romanesque cathedral was donated by Henry the Lion. As a pilgrimage church where a drop of holy blood was venerated, the Romanesque building quickly became too small, so it was later converted into a Gothic cathedral. With a length of 105 meters and a vault height of 26.5 meters, it is one of the largest works of brick Gothic architecture. Visitors' gaze automatically wanders upward, for its mighty brick pillars seem to reach straight for the sky. However, there was not enough for a tower in the Middle Ages. It was only built 700 years later and completed in 1893. The tower of the master builder Georg Daniel measures 117.5 meters. And the half meter is decisive, because the Schwerin Cathedral towers above the church of St. Peter in Rostock by this amount. Perhaps the most important 50 cm of Schwerin.
Worth seeing
In the cathedral, 220 steps lead to the visitor platform. It offers a breathtaking view over the city, castle and lakes. On the way up, the visitor passes five bells, the oldest of which dates from 1363. Inside, the Gothic crucifix altar, the bronze baptismal font from 1325 and the triumphal cross from 1420 are impressive. Every year, organists from all over the world play on the magnificent Ladegast organ with its 5100 tin pipes. The deep, rich sound of the organ penetrates every fiber.
The tombs of several dukes are also remarkable. Among them are the resting place of Grand Duke Frederick Francis II and the epitaph for Duke Christopher of Mecklenburg and his wife Elizabeth of Sweden.
Fairytale-like plays of sunlight are provided by the numerous stained glass windows. The multi-faceted Christmas window on the tower side of the nave is particularly impressive.
Opening hours and guided tours
Opening hours:
April to September: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., October to March: 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Public guided tours:
Tue + Sat at 11 am
Cost: 2 euros per person (group tours: 2 euros per person, min. 30 euros)
Group tours are also possible outside opening hours. Cost: 3 euros per person, min. 45 euros.
The cathedral is accessible.
Approach/ Location/ Parking
The cathedral overlooks Schwerin's market square and cannot be missed from any direction. It is recommended to use the city's parking garages (approx. 500m walking distance) or the nearby parking lot "Grüne Straße" (approx.400m).