St. Mary's Church is the oldest preserved building on the Island of Rügen and was consecrated as a Romanesque palatine and monastery church in 1193 together with the monastery located next to it. Special features are the baptismal font from the 14th century, the altar from around 1730, the baroque pulpit from 1776 andthe church bell from 1445.
The construction of St. Mary's Church was started around 1180 under Jaromar I as a Romanesque basilica with transept. Consecrated in 1193 as the convent church of the Bergen nunnery, the church is one of the earliest brick buildings in our region, moreover, it is the oldest preserved building in Rügen.The valuable wall painting cycle with biblical motifs, in the choir and eastern transept, originates from the Romanesque period. The last major restoration of the church took place between 1896 and 1903. The murals, which had been painted over after the Reformation, were also restored and completed. The clock face of the church tower clock on the north side of the tower is unique; it has a 61-minute division. In 2004, St. Mary's Church was included in the "European Route of Brick Gothic" and in 2005 in the preservation program "Nationally valuable cultural monuments".In the period from June to September, the "St. Mary's Concert Summer" offers a varied program (every Wednesday). In the monastery courtyard behind the church, the "Schauwerkstatt" and the small "Stadtmuseum" with insights into the history of the town and the island invite you to visit!Photo: Dieter Lindemann
