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The St. Nicolai church is situated near the historical town hall, which attracts by its outstanding architecture.
The Schiffer church in the town's water quarter was built in the style of French cathedrals in the time from 1407 to 1440 (without tower) and is so the youngest of the original 4 inner city churches (St. Lamberti was pulled down in 1861). The church is different in construction from the two other churches (St. Johannis and St. Michaelis are so-called hall churches, the main nave and side aisles have the same height) because the main nave has a height of 28,5m and the side aisles a height of 13,5m, a so-called basilica. Another difference can be seen immediately when one enters the church: the brick masonry, crowned by the star vault.
Gothic can't hardly be any more simple and grand. The severe slenderness takes the view upwards and lets the visitor pause for a moment.
Then again the eye stops at the gold shiny main altar. It stood on top of the footpace in the St. Lamberti church until 1861 and can be dated back to the middle of the 15th-century. The 20 carved scenes from the life of Jesus covered during Passiontide show until Easter scenes from the life of saints and martyrs; during Holy Week then the Binding of Isaac's and Jesus' crucifixion.
If one stops on the stairs to the altar to look at the picture tablets by Hans Bornemann one will also notice the tow modern windows in the church's choir (Johannes Schreiter, 1987). They can be comprehend by the observer through in-depth meditation as well as the two depictions (Gethsemane und Golgatha) situated directly beneath the windows. Older than the present St. Nicolai church building is the bronze baptismal font from the time of around 1325. It belonged originally to the Cyriakus church at the foot of the Kalkberg.
At the ambulatory there is one of Lüneburg's oldest cityscape to be seen on a tablet with golden background (around 1445). This picture and all exhibited tablets and relief belong to the so-called Heiligenthal altar, the predecessor of the present main altar. It contains another but much larger cityscape at the depiction of the meeting of Abraham and Melchisedek (left from the choir window). Opposite this window hangs a predella from the year 1577. One can see 4 displays from the old testament referring to the in the middle depicted Christ with symbols of reformatory sacraments baptism and Last Supper.
If you want to continue the walk-about after seeing the art treasures and climb the church's tower you will be awarded with a unique view. It will take 239 steps and lead you past the famous Mary bell (Gerhard van Wou, 1491).
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