St. Bartholomäi, Church building in Zerbst, Germany.
St. Bartholomäi is a church in Zerbst featuring late Romanesque basilica design with rough stone walls, a rectangular choir, and a four-aisled nave. After World War II, some sections were restored while other parts were left as ruins.
The church was founded in 1215 and became a collegiate church in 1300, triggering major architectural expansions. These changes shaped the building's structure as it stands today.
The church holds important artworks, including a 16th-century painting by Lucas Cranach the Younger depicting Jesus' baptism. Medieval stone carvings with religious scenes fill the interior and show the artistic tradition of this place.
The transept and choir still function as a church space, while the nave stands as a separate ruin. Visitors should know that only certain areas may be accessible and the building shows traces of war damage.
Next to the main church stands the Dicke Turm, a freestanding bell tower that originally served as a defensive watchtower. This separate tower shows a different use than the main building.
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