Münster St. Nikolaus

Münster St. Nikolaus rises in Überlingen beside Lake Constance as the region’s largest Gothic church. Its five aisles, 66-metre north tower and historic Münsterplatz create a striking view among old townhouses, monasteries and remnants of the city walls.

Construction began with the choir in 1350 and ended in 1586 after changing plans and interruptions. Earlier churches stood here around the year 1000, while the interior now gathers works from the High Middle Ages to the early twentieth century. Jörg Zürn and his workshop carved the light-lindenwood high altar between 1613 and 1616, creating a ten-metre structure that bridges late Renaissance and Baroque design. A 1722 Last Judgment fresco, a late Gothic pulpit, coloured choir windows and two organs add further layers to the space.

Look for the nearly seven-ton Osanna bell in the unfinished south tower, and a cannonball fixed to a pillar commemorating the failed Swedish siege of 1634. The church is wheelchair accessible, while Saint Nicholas remains part of local life through the December boat arrival and procession to the basilica.