St. Maria auf dem Berg

St. Maria auf dem Berg is a Romanesque church in Nordhausen with three aisles, a transept, and thick stone walls built in the medieval style. The structure displays typical features of that period with robust elements that remain visible today.

The church was first documented around 1200 and originally served as part of a Cistercian convent until World War II bombings caused severe damage. The wartime destruction marked a major turning point in the building's story.

The name refers to its hilltop location within the city, and the stone walls still show how medieval communities built their most important gathering spaces. Visitors walking around the site can sense how the building once anchored religious and daily life in Nordhausen.

The grounds were renovated during the 2004 Thuringian State Garden Show and now feature modern steel structures marking where the former nave once stood. Plan time to explore the site and pay attention to the archaeological remains visible on the grounds.

The tower from 1997 holds three bells, including one cast in 1448 that ranks among the oldest objects on the site. Another bell was created to mark Nordhausen's millennium celebration, connecting the medieval past with modern history.