Nikolaikirche

Leipzig's largest church, the Nikolaikirche, has Romanesque and Gothic roots, but now sports an amazing classical-style interior with palm-like pillars and cream-coloured pews. More recently, the church played a key role in the nonviolent movement that eventually brought down the GDR regime. In 1982 it began hosting 'peace prayers' every Monday at 5pm (still held today) and in 1989 it became the chief meeting point for peaceful demonstrators. A pamphlet recounts the 'miracle' of 9 October 1989, when 600 SED party faithful, who had been sent to the church to break up the services, ended up listening to the sermon and joining the protesters.