Bad Doberan Minster, Gothic monastery church in Bad Doberan, Germany.
Bad Doberan Minster is a Gothic monastery church in Bad Doberan, Germany, built originally as part of a Cistercian abbey. The building follows a three-aisled basilica plan with a tall central nave flanked by lower side aisles and a slender tower rising from the western façade.
Cistercian monks founded the monastery in 1171 and completed the construction of the church during the 14th century. Following the Lutheran Reformation in 1552, the building was converted into a Protestant parish church and served as the burial place for the Dukes of Mecklenburg until 1920.
The interior contains the oldest winged altar in Europe, a monumental cross altar, and the Gothic tabernacle, displaying medieval craftsmanship through detailed religious artworks.
The church is open to visitors and offers regular guided tours as well as concerts that highlight the interior and its furnishings. Access is through the west portal, and the building is generally open during daylight hours, with church services continuing throughout the week.
The choir vault displays colorful paintings from the medieval period that remain clearly visible today and offer insights into the devotional practices of that time. The sacrament chapel houses a brick tabernacle, rare in its kind, that reflects the craftsmanship of the Gothic era in a remarkable way.
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