St. Georgen Kirche (St. George's Church)
St. Georgen Kirche is a soaring brick church dating back to the late 1200s and is part of a trio of churches in Wismar's UNESCO World Heritage old town. It was originally built to represent the city's craftsmen and tradesmen and took over 300 years to complete. The church was badly damaged near the end of World War II, just three weeks before the war ended, and sat abandoned for decades. Reconstruction finally began in 1990 and the church has now been returned to its former glory. The exterior is a massive wall of red brick with Gothic detailing that photographs beautifully, especially when the warm tones of the brickwork catch late afternoon light. Inside, the ceiling soars with more intricate brickwork designed to honor its original tradesman heritage. After photographing the stunning interior, make time to visit the viewing platform in the tower. There is a small fee (€2 to 3) to access the platform, but the view is worth it (and the fee helps take care of the church). From the top you get an incredible panoramic view across Wismar's red rooftops, harbour, and out slong the Baltic coast. (Wismar, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany)
