Just vaults

According to legend, Canterbury was founded by Rudilibas in 900 BC and called Caerkent by the ancient Britons. From 43 AD, the Roman Durovernum Cantiacorum was built here and developed into an administrative centre. From 200 AD, the city was surrounded by city walls. Æthelberht of Kent, who ruled from 568 AD, made Canterbury his residence. After the Anglo-Saxons converted to Christianity, the city became the seat of the archbishop. In 842 and 851, Canterbury suffered great loss of life in Danish raids. In 1011, the city was besieged by a Viking army, culminating in the sack of the city. The people of Canterbury remembered this destruction and offered no resistance to the invasion of William the Conqueror in 1066. In 1363, during the Hundred Years' War, a commission found that the Roman wall had eroded due to dilapidation, stone theft and ditch filling. Between 1378 and 1402, the wall was virtually rebuilt and new wall towers added. In 1448, Canterbury was granted city charter, which gave the city a mayor and high sheriff. In the mid-16th century, many Huguenots, facing persecution fled and resettled. The first Huguenot church in Canterbury was founded around 1548. With the accession of Mary I, the Huguenot inhabitants of Canterbury were forced to flee in 1553, but after the accession of Elizabeth I, a number of Huguenots returned. In the 17th century, French-speaking Huguenots made up two-fifths of Canterbury's population. Canterbury was not only the starting point of the historic Via Francigena, which leads to Rome, but also the destination of many pilgrimages. One of these is described by Geoffrey Chaucer, author of "The Canterbury Tales". The cathedral towers over all the buildings in the city and can be seen from everywhere. In 597, missionaries led by the monk Augustine arrived in Canterbury. Remains of this first cathedral were found under the removed floor slabs during renovation work in 1993, including remains from Roman times. . In 950, the building was renovated by Archbishop Bodo. The church burnt down shortly after the Norman conquest in 1067. Begun under Lanfrank, a confidant of William the Conqueror, it then took several centuries to create what can be seen today: a very complicated and extensive spatial structure with Romanesque, early Gothic and late Gothic sections. The vaults over the first crossing

According to legend, Canterbury was founded by Rudilibas in 900 BC and called Caerkent by the ancient Britons. From 43 AD, the Roman Durovernum Cantiacorum was built here and developed into an administrative centre. From 200 AD, the city was surrounded by city walls. Æthelberht of Kent, who ruled from 568 AD, made Canterbury his residence. After the Anglo-Saxons converted to Christianity, the city became the seat of the archbishop. In 842 and 851, Canterbury suffered great loss of life in Danish raids. In 1011, the city was besieged by a Viking army, culminating in the sack of the city. The people of Canterbury remembered this destruction and offered no resistance to the invasion of William the Conqueror in 1066. In 1363, during the Hundred Years' War, a commission found that the Roman wall had eroded due to dilapidation, stone theft and ditch filling. Between 1378 and 1402, the wall was virtually rebuilt and new wall towers added. In 1448, Canterbury was granted city charter, which gave the city a mayor and high sheriff. In the mid-16th century, many Huguenots, facing persecution fled and resettled. The first Huguenot church in Canterbury was founded around 1548. With the accession of Mary I, the Huguenot inhabitants of Canterbury were forced to flee in 1553, but after the accession of Elizabeth I, a number of Huguenots returned. In the 17th century, French-speaking Huguenots made up two-fifths of Canterbury's population. Canterbury was not only the starting point of the historic Via Francigena, which leads to Rome, but also the destination of many pilgrimages. One of these is described by Geoffrey Chaucer, author of "The Canterbury Tales". The cathedral towers over all the buildings in the city and can be seen from everywhere. In 597, missionaries led by the monk Augustine arrived in Canterbury. Remains of this first cathedral were found under the removed floor slabs during renovation work in 1993, including remains from Roman times. . In 950, the building was renovated by Archbishop Bodo. The church burnt down shortly after the Norman conquest in 1067. Begun under Lanfrank, a confidant of William the Conqueror, it then took several centuries to create what can be seen today: a very complicated and extensive spatial structure with Romanesque, early Gothic and late Gothic sections. The vaults above the nave

According to legend, Canterbury was founded by Rudilibas in 900 BC and called Caerkent by the ancient Britons. From 43 AD, the Roman Durovernum Cantiacorum was built here and developed into an administrative centre. From 200 AD, the city was surrounded by city walls. Æthelberht of Kent, who ruled from 568 AD, made Canterbury his residence. After the Anglo-Saxons converted to Christianity, the city became the seat of the archbishop. In 842 and 851, Canterbury suffered great loss of life in Danish raids. In 1011, the city was besieged by a Viking army, culminating in the sack of the city. The people of Canterbury remembered this destruction and offered no resistance to the invasion of William the Conqueror in 1066. In 1363, during the Hundred Years' War, a commission found that the Roman wall had eroded due to dilapidation, stone theft and ditch filling. Between 1378 and 1402, the wall was virtually rebuilt and new wall towers added. In 1448, Canterbury was granted city charter, which gave the city a mayor and high sheriff. In the mid-16th century, many Huguenots, facing persecution fled and resettled. The first Huguenot church in Canterbury was founded around 1548. With the accession of Mary I, the Huguenot inhabitants of Canterbury were forced to flee in 1553, but after the accession of Elizabeth I, a number of Huguenots returned. In the 17th century, French-speaking Huguenots made up two-fifths of Canterbury's population. Canterbury was not only the starting point of the historic Via Francigena, which leads to Rome, but also the destination of many pilgrimages. One of these is described by Geoffrey Chaucer, author of "The Canterbury Tales". The cathedral towers over all the buildings in the city and can be seen from everywhere. In 597, missionaries led by the monk Augustine arrived in Canterbury. Remains of this first cathedral were found under the removed floor slabs during renovation work in 1993, including remains from Roman times. . In 950, the building was renovated by Archbishop Bodo. The church burnt down shortly after the Norman conquest in 1067. Begun under Lanfrank, a confidant of William the Conqueror, it then took several centuries to create what can be seen today: a very complicated and extensive spatial structure with Romanesque, early Gothic and late Gothic sections. The choir with the stalls on the left and right

Caen was a settlement already in Roman times, but prospered, when William the Conqueror (aka "William the Bastard") built a castle here. When William married Matilda of Flanders (~ 1051) a papal ban was issued at the Council of Reims on the grounds of consanguinity. In 1059 Pope Nicholas awarded dispensation, after William and Matilda agreed to found to monasteries as penance. William founded the Abbey of Saint-Etienne (aka "Abbaye aux Hommes"), Matilda founded the Abbey Sainte-Trinité (aka "Abbaye aux Dames"). The erection of both abbeys started in Caen around 1060. The "Abbaye aux Hommes" was suppressed during the French Revolution, the Benedictine monks left. The church became a parish church after the revolution. For the first time in France, a ribbed vault was used here about 1120. During the Battle of Normandy in WW2 an intense bombing campaign destroyed much of the city and killed 2000 French civilians. During the battle, many inhabitants sought refuge here, but the cathedral was severely damaged by the bombing. The rebuilding took decades.

Caen was a settlement already in Roman times, but prospered, when William the Conqueror (aka "William the Bastard") built a castle here. When William married Matilda of Flanders (~ 1051) a papal ban was issued at the Council of Reims on the grounds of consanguinity. In 1059 Pope Nicholas awarded dispensation, after William and Matilda agreed to found to monasteries as penance. William founded the Abbey of Saint-Etienne (aka "Abbaye aux Hommes"), Matilda founded the Abbey Sainte-Trinité (aka "Abbaye aux Dames"). The erection of both abbeys started in Caen around 1060. The "Abbaye aux Hommes" was suppressed during the French Revolution, the Benedictine monks left. The church became a parish church after the revolution. For the first time in France, a ribbed vault was used here about 1120.

The abbey Sainte-Trinité was founded around 1056 by Richard Turstin Haldup and his son Eudes au Capel, both Lords of the neighbouring La Haye-du-Puits. Benedictine monks from the Abbey of Bec-Hellouin (aka "Bec Abbey"), about 180kms north, settled here. In 1098 the choir of the abbey church had already been built, as Eudes died that year and got buried inside the choir. The nave was built in the first years of the 12th century. The church got consecrated in 1178, but it was not fully completed at that date. One of the key players of the Hundred Years´ War was Charles II of Navarre (aka "Charles the Bad"), who was not only King of Navarre , but as well Count of Évreux. Charles had large possessions in Northern France. His armee destroyed abbey and church in 1356. The church got rebuilt between 1385 and 1420. The last nine convents left the abbey after the French Revolution, when the convent buildings got sold as "National Property" and the abbey church became the parish. On July 1, 1944, the retreating German army blasted this church, what left nothing but a mountain of rubble. From 1945 on all remaining parts of the puzzle got scrutinized and numbered, before the reconstruction started under the direction of Yves-Marie Froidevaux. The rebuilding of the church was completed in 1958, since then again, it serves the parish. During the reconstruction after WWII, the grave of Eudes au Capel was found under the collapsed crossing tower. Over the tomb was a rib vault - in 1098. This may be the oldest rib vault all over Europe. Older than Durham (1104), Speyer (1110) and Worms (1130).

Saint-Martial is the church of a former abbey, that may be the oldest in the Périgord. Local traditions tell, that the abbey was founded by Saint Cybard (aka "Cybard d'Angoulême") within the 6th century. Documents prove an existence in Carolingian times. Norman raiders devastated the abbey in 849 and in 860, monks returned some decades later and rebuilt. During the heydays of medieval pilgrimage one of the many "chemins" to Santiago run through this valley, so this was a welcomed stop over for the "pelerins". The abbey suffered severely during the Hundred Years War, the nave of the church had to be rebuilt within the second half of the 15th century. The Wars of Religions caused more damage, when the abbey got looted by Protestant troops. The French Revolution finally put the monastic life to an end. Todays church may date to the 12th and 13th century, but many parts were added and rebuilt in later centuries. The long nave is one of the "younger" parts - and of course these elegant vaults.

Between the arches of the central nave are the barrel vaults. The first vaults (1050) were very ambitious - and unsafe. So in 1070 they were replaced by these. Every bay here has it´s own barrel-vault, crosswise to the aisle. This was an architecural breakthrough. Now even windows were possible.

The high arches of the central nave. Between the arches are the barrel vaults. The first vaults, constructed in 1050, were very ambitious - and shaky. So in 1070 this was replaced by a new construction. Now every bay has it´s own vault, crosswise to the aisle. This was an architectural breakthrough.

Speyer gained importance, when the Salian dynasty entered the political stage with Holy Roman Emperor Conrad II. He commissioned the construction of of this church, known as the "Imperial Cathedral of Speyer". lt was planned to be the largest cathedral worldwide. A display of the Emperor´s power, that was - before the "Investiture Controversy" - secular and ecclesiastical. The cathedral was completed 1106, the year Conrad´s grandson Emperor Henry IV died. The cathedral is the burial site for the Salian emperors, so we will meet Conrad II, his son, grandson and some of their Staufer and Habsburg collegues again. There has always been a long competition between Speyer and Cluny about the "largest church of Christendom". As Cluny is a ruin since 200 years, the "Imperial Cathedral of Speyer" is the largest romanesque church - undisputed worldwide. Seeing this, you should have the Cluny in mind, as both churches had about the same size. Looking through the central nave from west to east. 33 meters high, 14 meters wide - and from the point of view to the end of the elevated choir are more than 120 meters. When the cathedral was constructed, the builders were able to vault the smaller aisles, but the 14 meters wide nave got a wooden ceiling. When Emperor Henry IV took over in 1090, he had the eastern sections demolished - and had them replaced by an enlarged structure. The nave then was elevated and the wooden ceiling replaced with a groin vault of square bays. Each vault here extends over two bays of the elevation. In December 1146 Bernard of Clairvaux preached the second crusade exactly here. Conrad III was very reluctant, but in the end, he joined Louis VII in the expedition with an armee of about 20.000 men. They were defeated by the Seljuks. Conrad III escaped, but most soldiers were killed or captured. As the history of the cathedral is really complex, I add the Wikipedia-links here: english: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speyer_Cathedral french: fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cath%C3%A9drale_Notre-Dame-de-l%27A... german: de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speyerer_Dom "Europaeische Stiftung Kaiserdom zu Speyer" has a very good website, but only in German: www.dom-speyer.de/index.html

Speyer gained importance, when the Salian dynasty entered the political stage with Holy Roman Emperor Conrad II. He commissioned the construction of of this church, known as the "Imperial Cathedral of Speyer". It was planned to be the largest cathedral worldwide. A display of the Emperor´s power, that was - before the "Investiture Controversy" - secular and ecclesiastical. This "blueprint" from about 1025/1030 got changed later and the even enlarged cathedral was completed in 1106, the year Conrad´s grandson Emperor Henry IV died. Looking west through the left aisle. When the cathedral was constructed, the builders were able to vault the two aisles, but not the 14 meters wide central nave. This got a wooden ceiling. When Emperor Henry IV took over in 1090, he had the eastern sections demolished and had them replaced by an enlarged structure. The nave then was elevated and the wooden ceiling replaced with a groin vault of square bays. Not many people are here today. When Bernard of Clairvaux preached the second crusade here in December 1146, the church was probably packed to bursting. As the history of the cathedral is really complex, I add the Wikipedia-links here: english: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speyer_Cathedral french: fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cath%C3%A9drale_Notre-Dame-de-l%27A... german: de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speyerer_Dom "Europaeische Stiftung Kaiserdom zu Speyer" has a very good website, but only in German: www.dom-speyer.de/index.html

Theologian Manegold of Lautenbach, a celebrity of his time, lived here in the 11th. century. During the Investiture Controversy, Manegold sided strongly with Pope Gregory VII. Emperor Henry IV was so annoyed about this, that he sent an army, to destroy the monastery and churches. That ended the monastery 1084. About 50 years later Augustinian Canons settled here - and rebuilt the church, reusing a lot of old material. Many changes took place in and around the building (now the parish church) over the time, but the ground floor of the westwork seen here, seems still unchanged. One of the two thin monolithic pillars inside the narthex of the collegiate church. Note the complex ribbed vault formed by bow-shaped segments from red and white sandstones.

"Saint Germain" is in the center of the large "enclos paroissial". The enclosure comprises of the parish church, the calvary and a funeral chapel/ ossuary. The construction of "Saint Germain" began in 1530. It was consecrated in 1583. Over the centuries, the church has undergone several restorations and reconstructions. Over the nave is panelled wooden vault surrounded, dated to 1571. All the beams have polychrome carvings.

Even before Leipzig was first mentioned in a document in 1015, a Slavic settlement existed here. The city was founded in 1165 when Margrave Otto the Rich of Meissen granted city and market rights to the city at the intersection of the Via Regia and the Via Imperii. Leipzig was in the Margraviate of Meissen, which became part of the Electorate of Saxony in 1439. Leipzig then belonged to the Duchy of Saxony, whose capital was chosen to be Dresden, which had been insignificant compared to Leipzig or Meissen. Leipzig was often the place where the state parliament met, but Leipzig was never a residence city or a bishop's seat and has always been shaped by the urban bourgeoisie. The University of Leipzig was founded in 1409 as "Alma Mater Lipsiensis" and was thus one of the three oldest universities in Germany. After being elevated to the status of "Reichsmessestadt" (imperial trade fair city) in 1497 and an extension of the staple right by the future Emperor Maximilian I, Leipzig became a trade fair city of European standing. It developed into the most important German trading center for the exchange of goods between Eastern and Western Europe. Alongside London, the Leipziger Brühl became the international trade center for the fur industry, and the important role played by the Leipzig Jewish community was closely linked to it. In 1539, the Reformation was finally introduced in Leipzig by Luther and Justus Jonas. Over decades, the development of Leipzig was characterized above all by the constantly improving living conditions. As a trading and trade fair city of increasing importance, Leipzig benefited from the wealthy Leipzig merchant class. The Thirty Years' War was a severe cut in the prosperous development of the city. Between 1631 and 1642 the city was besieged five times, from 1642 to 1650 it was occupied by the Swedes. The "Völkerschlacht" (Battle of Leipzig) near Leipzig took place in 1813. In this battle, the allied armies of Austria, Prussia, Russia and Sweden defeated Napoleon's troops and their allies which ultimately led to Napoleon's banishment to the island of Elba. During WWII there were frequent air raids on the city, which led to considerable destruction of the city center. In 1989, the Monday demonstrations that started at the Nikolaikirche helped herald the end of the GDR. With the occupation of the district administration for state security by demonstrators on December 4, 1989, state surveillance measures ended in Leipzig. Johann Sebastian Bach (1685 - 1750) is regarded as one of the best-known, most prolific and most important musicians of all. He is often regarded, especially by musicians, as the greatest composer in music history. He is the most prominent representative of the Bach family of musicians and is today In his main creative period, he was Thomaskantor and music director in Leipzig. In his main creative period, he was Thomaskantor and music director in Leipzig. As a Thomaskantor Bach was required to instruct the students of the Thomasschule in singing and provide church music for the main churches in Leipzig. A cantata was required for the church services on Sundays and additional church holidays during the liturgical year. The Thomaskirche in Leipzig is known as the place where Johann Sebastian Bach and the Thomanerchor worked. The foundations of a Romanesque church were unearthed during archaeological excavations. The Thomanerchor was founded in 1212 and is one of the oldest boys' choirs in Germany. Around 1355 the Romanesque chancel was rebuilt. Towards the end of the 15th century, Leipzig became extremely prosperous thanks to silver discoveries in the Erzgebirge (Ore Mountains). This made it possible to afford to rebuild the Leipzig churches within about 40 years. So the old nave was demolished in 1482 and rebuilt in the shape that is largely in place today. The church was reconsecrated in 1496. Over the centuries it has undergone several additions and conversions; the most important is the 68 m high tower, the lowest floor of which dates back to before 1355 and which received the octagonal top in the 14th century. In 1537 the upper part of the tower was rebuilt. The rib vault

Freiberg came into being around 1162/1170. Between 1156 and 1162, Margrave Otto von Meissen had the forest cleared and several villages laid out, including Christiansdorf. In 1168 silver ore was discovered near Christiansdorf. The promise of special freedoms for the miners attracted numerous miners, traders and craftsmen, along with their families, to the Ore Mountains. Due to the wave of immigration, the city of Freiberg developed within two decades. This name is derived from the important feature, the freedom of mining introduced by Margrave Otto, i.e. the mining rights of every immigrant. Anyone could dig for the silver ore for a fee. The silver could only be sold to the margravial mint. The wealth of silver and the mint made the Electorate of Saxony a prosperous state. Further development in the 13th century is characterized by constant growth after the municipality was almost completely destroyed by a city fire around 1225. A town school was established in 1260, which had been converted into a Latin school in 1515. In the 14th century, crises gradually emerged, which were mainly caused by the decline in silver production from the middle of the 14th century and by large-scale city fires. In the 15th century, Freiberg lost its leading economic position within Saxony to Leipzig due to the exodus of capital. The Bergakademie was founded in 1765, one of the world's oldest mining engineering universities. - Around 1180, the Romanesque basilica "Unserer Lieben Frauen" was built in Freiberg, which was developing rapidly due to the silver that had been found. In 1480, the church was turned into a Collegiate church. However, the college was dissolved after only 57 years due to the reformation of the Electorate of Saxony. In the great fire of 1484, the church was almost completely destroyed. The "Cathedral of St. Mary" was built at the same location as a triple-naved Gothic hall church. The cathedral was reconsecrated in 1512. The rib vault

Already in the 7th century, it was the location of a fortified Slavonic settlement, at a ford in the Vistula river. Thorn was established in 1231 under the administration of the Teutonic Order. The Teutonic Order had been called earlier by the Polish Duke Conrad of Mazovia to Christianize the pagan Baltic Pruzzes. However, the Order became active only after Emperor Frederick II granted it the right to rule over the land to be conquered in 1226. The foundation stone of the city of Thorn was laid in 1231 and soon after immigrants from Westphalia populated the town. In the 14th century, Thorn joined the Hanseatic League. The Order's efforts to simultaneously expand its sovereignty and control trade led to warlike conflicts. The city was captured by Poland in 1410 during the Polish–Lithuanian–Teutonic War however, after the First Peace of Thorn was signed in 1411, the city fell back to the Teutonic Order. In the 1420s, Polish King Władysław II Jagiełło built the Dybów Castle, located in present-day left-bank Toruń. In 1440, the gentry of Thorn co-founded the Prussian Confederation to further oppose the Knights' policies. The Confederation rose against the Monastic state of the Teutonic Knights in 1454 and its delegation submitted a petition to Polish King Casimir IV Jagiellon asking him to regain power over the region as the rightful ruler. These events led to the Thirteen Years' War. The citizens of the city conquered the Teutonic castle and dismantled the fortifications. In May 1454, a ceremony was held in Toruń, during which the nobility, knights, landowners, mayors, and local officials solemnly swore allegiance to the Polish King. During the war, Toruń financially supported the Polish Army. The Thirteen Years' War ended in 1466, with the Second Peace of Thorn, in which the Teutonic Order renounced any claims to the city and recognized it as part of Poland. During the Great Northern War (Deluge), the city was besieged by Swedish troops. In the second half of the 17th century, tensions between Catholics and Protestants grew. In the early 18th century about half of the population, especially the gentry and middle class, was German-speaking and Protestant, while the other half was Polish-speaking Roman Catholic. The old town of Torun is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. - The church was part of the Franciscan monastery, which had already been founded around 1239. In the late 13th century, a new building was started, which was completed in the 14th century. Since 1557 this was the most important church of Protestantism in Poland. In 1724, after the riots in the city (Toruń tumult), it was expropriated as an act of punishment and given to the Catholic Order of St. Bernard. The order remodeled the church in the spirit of the Counter-Reformation. The Order used the church until 1821, and since 1830 it has been a Roman Catholic parish church. It is a three-nave hall made of brick. The choir is elongated and rectangular. The star vault above the aisle.

Soest was one of the major cities in Westphalia during the 11th./12th century, having a population of around 10.000. Founded (like Erwitte and Paderborn to the east) on the ancient "Hellweg" (=Saltway), Soest played a major role within the Hanseatic League. Once it was even the capital of Westphalia - and (1531) a centre of Protestant Reformation in the area. The town centre has more than 600 listed buildings and a couple of old churches. The "Patrokli Dom" was the church of the canonical foundation, which existed from the 10th century until its abolition in 1812. Since 1823 the church has been the parish church of the St. Patrokli parish. The original building was completed before 1000. In the course of a further building phase the vaulted aisles were erected. At the same time, the transepts were expanded, the westwerk was rebuilt and an attached cloister were added to the south transept. The altar was consecrated in 1118. Later the nave and the transepts were vaulted and the whole interior received painted decoration. This phase of construction ended with the reconsecration of the church by Cologne Archbishop Rainald of Dassel in 1166. The vault were badly damaged in an air raid in 1944. The apse was destroyed in air raids in March 1945. Reconstruction began in 1949.

Riga is the capital of Latvia. With a population of more than 600.000 about a third of all Latvians live here. A settlement of the Finno-Ugric Livs existed on the bank of the Düna. At the end of the 12th century, merchants from Gotland came to trade here. Albert von Buxthoeven, a fierce missionary, was the first bishop in Riga from 1201 to 1229. Riga developed as the hub of Russian trade and the starting point of the German colonization of the Baltic. The merchants who settled here after the subjugation of the surrounding peoples rapidly gained influence. In 1225, they were able to elect the city bailiff themselves, when the City Council existed already. After the Reformation, the power of the archbishops came to an end. After the outbreak of the Livonian War in 1558 the city favoured the status of a free imperial city of the Holy Roman Empire. It was only when the imperial support failed to materialize that the renewed advance of Russian armies led the city to pay homage to Poland's King Stephen Báthory in 1581, who in return confirmed the city's traditional freedoms and privileges. The 40-year Polish-Lithuanian rule, under which the citizens of Riga successfully resisted anti-Reformation efforts ended with the conquest of the city by Gustav II Adolf of Sweden in 1621. The Swedish crown treated Riga by its rank as the second-largest city in the kingdom and had it lavishly fortified. During the Russo-Swedish War (1656-1658), Riga withstood the Russian siege and maintained its position as one of the most important cities in Sweden until the beginning of the 18th century. During this period the city enjoyed extensive self-government. St. John's Church belonged as a chapel to the neighbouring Dominican monastery from 1234. The first documented mention of the church dates back to 1297. At the end of the 15th century, the church was destroyed during battles between the Teutonic Order and the City of Riga. In the period around 1500, the church was rebuilt in its present form. In 1520 it received its net vaults. In 1523, in the course of the Reformation, the Dominicans were deprived of the church and the church was used as an armoury. In 1582, the church was handed over to the Latvian Lutheran parish. The single-nave church interior is spanned by a star vault. There are four bays, twelve meters wide and up to 19 meters high, with the late Gothic network.