Wettin - Nikolaikirche

The Sorbs had a fortified refuge here, and a "Civitas Vitin" was first mentioned in a deed, issued by German king Otto I. in 961. The place came into the possession of Dedo in 985, and his grandson Thimo von Wettin expanded the castle and the sphere of influence of the Counts of Wettin in the 11th century. Subsequently, the Wettins, who provided the margraves, electors and kings in Saxony, Great Britain, Belgium, Bulgaria and Poland, became one of the most important ruling families in Germany.

In 1288, however, the first ancestral seat passed to the Archdiocese of Magdeburg. During the Thirty Years' War, the castle and town were repeatedly plundered by the Swedes, and in 1660 two fires almost destroyed the entire town.

Nikolaikirche was built in the 12th century in Romanesque style as a civic church next to the old city wall, later redesigned in Gothic style and rededicated around 1290 in honor of St. Nicholas, the patron saint of boatmen and fishermen. Remnants of these Romanesque and early Gothic predecessors have been preserved in the masonry of the chancel and in the basement of the church tower.

Between 1500 and 1615 the church was completely rebuilt and enlarged: the chancel was raised and fitted with large late Gothic windows. In 1589 the Romanesque church tower was raised and crowned with Renaissance brick gables. The nave was demolished and rebuilt as a Gothic hall church with two entrance portals and eight windows.