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Church · Nuremberg, Baviera
St. Lorenz
Large Gothic church on the south side of the Pegnitz, with two towers, a rose window of about 9 meters, and works by Veit Stoss and Adam Kraft in the chancel.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
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About St. Lorenz
St. Lorenz (church of Saint Lawrence) is the largest church in the southern part of the old town and the first major building a visitor sees when coming up from the central station along the Königstraße. Construction began around 1250, the nave was finished near 1400 and the hall-style chancel was completed in 1477. The two towers reach 81 meters.
The west façade has a tall portal and a rose window about 9 meters in diameter. Inside, the highlight is the chancel: hanging high above is the Englischer Gruß, the angelic greeting carved in wood by Veit Stoss, and beside it rises Adam Kraft’s stone sacrarium, a slender stone tower that reaches almost to the vault. At the base of the sacrarium the sculptor himself appears kneeling, holding the work.
The church has been Lutheran since the Reformation in 1525. Because the artworks had been paid for by wealthy families and the city council, they were preserved. Heavily damaged in World War II bombings, the church was rebuilt, and the main pieces had been stored in time.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
Allow 30 to 45 minutes for the interior.
Best time
In the morning or early afternoon, when light shines through the choir's stained-glass windows. Avoid service times.
How to get there
On foot, about 10 minutes from Nürnberg Hauptbahnhof along the Königstraße. From the Hauptmarkt, just cross the Pegnitz via the Museumsbrücke and continue straight ahead.
Tip
Look up when you enter the chancel: the Englischer Gruß hangs high above. The church usually offers guided tours in German; check times and rules before you go.
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about St. Lorenz
What is the Englischer Gruß?
It is a wooden sculpture by Veit Stoss depicting the Annunciation, with the angel Gabriel and Mary inside a crown of roses. It hangs high above the choir of St. Lorenz.
Who made the church's stone tabernacle?
The sculptor Adam Kraft, from Nuremberg. He depicted himself at the base of the work, kneeling, as if supporting the stone tower.
Is St. Lorenz Catholic or Lutheran?
It has been Lutheran since 1525, when Nuremberg joined the Reformation. Even so, it preserved much of the pre-Reformation artwork.