Jakobskirche, Nuremberg

Emperor Otto IV gave the Jakobskirche, or Church of St. Jakob to the Order of Teutonian Knights in 1209 but the Gothic building we see today dates from the earlier half of the 14th century. This is why the sandstone figures that can be seen in the main body of the church are older than the Church itself. The interior also houses beautiful stained glass windows and a Gothic high altar. Two gravestones decorated with the Knights' insignia are a reminder of the Church's origins. The City Council was initially unsuccessful in forcing the ideals of the Reformation through in this parish.