Beautiful Churches in German | A Bird's-Eye View of German Churches | Germany by Drone

Throughout Germany, proud houses of worship — whether cathedral, minster or pilgrimage church — bear witness to faith, power and medieval architecture. A journey by drone to seven exceptional churches. Probably the most famous church in Germany is Cologne Cathedral. Its enormous size, gothic pointed arches and high towers dominate the city. Construction work began in 1248, but the cathedral was not completed until 1880. The church is also impressive from the inside. It houses the largest reliquary of the Middle Ages — the Shrine of the Three Kings. Aachen Cathedral was the first place of interest in Germany to be declared a World Heritage Site. The oldest part of the church dates back to the 8th century, when famous ruler Charlemagne had it built as a Palatine Chapel — that is, as the church of his seat of power in Aachen. In the Middle Ages, over 30 kings were crowned here. The medieval Imperial and St. Mary's Cathedral in Speyer is the largest Romanesque church in the world. Over 1,000 years ago, it was constructed in only 30 years. Four emperors, three empresses and kings are buried here. In Nauernburg too, an impressive church towers between the houses. Nauernburg Cathedral is one of the most important German cathedral buildings of the High Middle Ages. With its four towers, it is the landmark of the city on the river Saale. In 1542, Martin Luther appointed the world's first Protestant bishop here — Nikolaus von Amsdorff. The next stop is Erfurt. Here the cathedral is perched, together with the church of St. Severi, on the cathedral hill, Domberg, in the middle of the city. The cathedral has a high Gothic choir, a Romanesque tower area and a late Gothic western hall. In the middle tower, there is the world's largest medieval free-swinging bell, the Gloriosa. Hildesheim Cathedral, St. Mary's Assumption, is one of the oldest bishop's churches in Germany. It was built in 872. It's also known for its ancient rose bush. According to legend, it is over 1,000 years old. Hildesheim Cathedral, together with St. Michael's Church, which is only a few minutes' walk away, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. St. Michael's Church is also over 1,000 years old and is considered an impressive testimony to pre-Romanesque architecture. The church looks defiant and massive, like a fortress. The impression was intentional. In Christian symbolism, the castle represents God as a saving refuge. Finally, the tour continues into the Ammergau Alps, to the pilgrimage church of Wies. The magnificent church is situated in a remote area in a breathtaking landscape, where a miracle is said to have occurred in 1738.