St. Nikolai, Greifswald, Gothic cathedral in Greifswald, Germany

St. Nikolai in Greifswald is a Brick Gothic church built entirely of red-brown brick, with a nave and two side-aisles under a copper roof. Its western tower, 99.97 metres high, carries a Baroque lantern and cupola of weathered green copper, flanked by round turrets with green domes. Inside, eight pairs of pillars support the vaults, the walls are painted sandstone-coloured, and the floor is largely covered with tombstones, the oldest from the 14th century.

A predecessor church is documented in 1249, and a bell donation of 1262/1263 is the first written record of the present building, the oldest surviving church in Greifswald. In 1457, the year after the university's founding, Bishop Henning Iven of Cammin raised it to a collegiate church; the title "Dom" came into use around the mid-15th century. On 13 February 1650 a storm toppled the 120-metre Gothic spire, destroying vaults, the east wall and the furnishings; rebuilding began a month later with donations from Greifswald, Stralsund, Anklam and Queen Christina of Sweden, and the Baroque spire of 1652 still stands.

Because St. Nicholas is the patron saint of seafarers and merchants, the church was long used by Greifswald's merchants, and its high tower earned it the nickname "langer Nikolaus". Since the university's founding ceremony was held here on 17 October 1456, the church has remained tied to academic life; the Rubenow panel donated by mayor and first rector Heinrich Rubenow is still inside.

The tower reaches 99.97 metres, but the sources record no visitor climb or observation gallery. Entry is from the western side of Greifswald's centre. Inside, the floor is largely covered with tombstones, the oldest from the 14th century, so watch your step; remains of medieval frescos survive on the side walls.

The tower lost its spire twice in storms: the top collapsed in 1515, and on 13 February 1650 the falling spire destroyed the nave roof and vaults and the eastern wall. Citizens of Greifswald, Stralsund and Anklam, with Queen Christina of Sweden, donated so much that rebuilding began a month later.