Next place that we've visited on our small trip around north-east Germany was Neubrandenburg, city located near Tollensesee Lake, around 140 km to the north of Berlin. We have arrived there on cold, summer morning, left a car at underground car park near the Marktplaz and went for discovering remnants of the past, scattered here and there. Our first steps we've directed towards church's tower, well visible from afar. Neubrandenburg's Marienkirche (St. Mary's Church) hall church, consecrated in 13th century, was main church of the city, now it's a seat of Neubrandenburg Philharmony. Built in characteristic for this part of Europe Brick Gothic style with a single tower, with four, small turrets, surrounding its pointed roof added in 14th century. From 16th century onward church slowly fell into disrepair. In 1591 spire fell down during the storm. 17th century was even worst. In less than century church was damaged three times, by lightning and two times by conflagration. Damages were so severe that city, impoverished during Thirty Years' War, was unable to repair it properly. This had to wait until 19th century, when church was reconstructed under direction of Friedrich Wilhelm Buttel. In final days of World War 2 church was damaged again, during the bombing of 29 April 1945. Burned out shell was waiting for reconstruction for nearly forty years. Damages, that church sustained during WW2 were so serious, that city council , due to the lack of resources, decided to turn church into concert hall. The hall, built wholly of glass, creates structure; based on the project of Pekka Salminen; within a structure, that keeps of what left of old historic building visible for visitors. Again, due to the restrictions, we couldn't see church's interior.

When I was in Neubrandenburg for a wedding I had some time to visit the Marienkirche which I a concert hall now. Destroyed at the end of WWII it was rebuilt after the unification of Germany as a great combination of old, gothic with new, modern architecture. I would have loved to see a fully restored gothic building; but sometimes compromises have to be made. Nevertheless, it is worth to visit that church, even without a concert and the entrance fee. The exhibition about gothic architecture in that region is very interesting. And the view over the entire surrounding landscape from the church tower is great. Every visitor who intends to enter the tower gets earplugs since the bell will sound every 15 minutes – it’s really loud there! I recommend that attraction.