Saint Nicholas Church Ruin, Visby

The Saint Nicholas Church Ruin holds a rich history spanning several centuries. The church, named after the patron saint of sailors, Saint Nicolaus, was initially constructed around 1215-1220 to serve as a parish church for the Germans in the northern parish of the city. However, unfortunate events halted the construction when a fire broke out and severely damaged the church. Consequently, the current Cathedral took over as the German parish church around 1240, leaving the damaged structure to be taken over by Dominican friars.

The resourceful Dominican friars took charge of rebuilding the ruined church into a convent church, commencing in the middle of the 13th century. They initiated the construction of the current west gable in 1251, which can still be seen today. Notably, a plaque on the north side of the church commemorates Petrus de Dacia, who served as the prior of the convent during the end of the 13th century.

In 1525, Visby faced a devastating attack by the Lübeckers, during which the convent and church were set on fire by the city's defenders. After the Reformation, the convent buildings were never reconstructed, and the church fell into neglect. In 1795, mayor Peter Herman Grevesmühl allowed the removal of building materials from the church, contributing to the loss of much of its sculptural decorations. However, since the latter half of the 19th century, archaeological excavations and restoration efforts have been undertaken to preserve the historical significance of the Saint Nicholas Church Ruin.