Like Berlin's oldest church, St. Nikolai, the church St. Mary (Marienkirche) near the City Hall and the TV Tower also dates back to the 13th century. The first time it was mentioned in an official document is the year 1292.
After being destroyed by fire, the tower of the originally Gothic church was reconstructed in baroque style in the middle of the 17th century.
At the end of the 18th century, it was redesigned according to plans of Carl Gotthard Langhans in neo-Gothic style. Afterwards, the church had to be reconstructed and redesigned several times because of the destructions during the wars.
Now, the church St. Mary is the oldest of Berlin's churches that is still used as church. Important clerical events, masses as well as concerts are carried out here.
When you visit the St. Mary, you should have a look at one of Berlin's most important still existing medieval works of art, the "Totentanzfresko". This huge wall fresco represents a death dance of important ecclesiastic as well as secular people.
