St Michael's Church is Hamburg's main evangelical church and is among the most important buildings in northern Germany. The majestic late Baroque church was dedicated to the Archangel Michael. It is located in the southern neighbourhood of the New Town, and its towers can be spotted even from ships heading to the harbour.
The history of this church dates back to the 16th century, when William V the Pious gave the go-ahead for its construction. The costs for one of the main citadels of the Counter-Reformation were so great that the state almost went bankrupt. The façade of the church of St Michael was decorated with a figure of Christ, somewhat reminiscent of a traditional town hall of the Middle Ages. At the entrance was a bronze figure of the Archangel, created at the end of the sixteenth century.
After its erection, the structure faced many trials, one of which was the significant destruction of one of the towers. In 1648, Peter Marquardt and Christoph Corbinus took over the next stage of construction. Unfortunately, in 1750 the bell tower of the church collapsed as a result of a severe fire caused by a lightning strike. In spite of this, a new building was started the following year, but to a design proposed by Johann Leonard Prey and Ernest Georg Sonnin. In 1786 the new church appeared before the inhabitants, adorned with a very elegant, but at the same time colourful roof.
Here was the royal crypt, where Wilhelm V, Elector Maximilian, as well as Ludwig II and numerous saints, whose names cannot be ascertained due to the military destruction of the past, were buried."
Nowadays, the Baroque church of St Michael is one of Hamburg's major churches, attracting a large number of not only Christian pilgrims but also tourists.
The original 132 metre high brick and iron tower of the church contains the largest tower clock in Germany. Just above the clock is an observation deck that offers a magnificent view of the city, the River Elbe and Lake Alster.
