Leipzig's elegant city-centre parish church is a medieval marvel founded in 1165 and dedicated to the patron saint of traders. Now Gothic in shape, the interior is well worth a visit for the fantastic palm tree shaped columns. The church became world famous in 1989 for the peace prayers held every Monday, that attracted hundreds and later thousands of people who talked about freedom and political change, much to the chagrin to the authorities, who ordered hundreds of secret police to occupy seats in the church. So, ironically the repressers were forced to listen to the sermons, and were convinced not to use violence to stop the democracy movement that led to the downfall of the GDR regime.