Martinikerk Franeker, Medieval church in Franeker, Netherlands.
Martinikerk is a Gothic church in Franeker featuring a three-aisled pseudobasilica layout where the side aisles wrap around the choir space. About thirty pillars support the interior, creating a spacious structure with timber ceilings that define the architectural flow of the building.
Construction of the current Gothic building began around 1400, with the choir completed in the first half of the 15th century. The tower was finished in the latter half of that century, completing the structure that visitors see today.
The pillars display frescoes of various saints such as Dominicus and Franciscus, showing how medieval communities expressed their devotion through religious imagery. Visitors walking through can see how these painted figures would have guided the spiritual life of those who gathered here.
Inside, numerous gravestones from the 16th to 18th centuries stand upright against the side walls, arranged there since 1877. Walking through the aisles, you can observe these stone markers and read about the people buried beneath the church.
This is the only medieval church in Friesland province that features a complete ambulatory encircling the choir. This rare architectural arrangement makes the building stand out among regional churches from the same period.
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