The altar was recreated in 1809 by the architect Pierre-Valentin Boudhors, who discovered the old central medallion of the original altar and combined it with white and black marble panels. [18]. Repairs to war damage were completed only in the early 1990s. [81], The man on the balustrade (south transept). Between the lower tower and spire there is a balustrade, almost hidden by pinnacles and other architectural decoration. It was built over a period of 424 years, 3. Here are the best facts about Strasbourg Cathedral 1. The choir and the north transept of the cathedral were completed in a Romanesque style starting in 1176, and it wasnt until the year 1225 that the switch was made to the Gothic style. The columns are lavishly decorated with sculpted foliage. The original Romanesque cathedral burned down in the year 1176 and the construction of the modern-day cathedral started shortly after this disaster. The church was repaired after each fire, and reconstructions and modifications made, but it retained its essentially Romanesque form, with thick walls, small windows and massive columns. Theres a statue of the main architect next to the cathedral, 8. Above this is a globe, with painted figures of the Church and the Antichrist confronting each other. This embroidered cloth has a length of about 70 meters (230 feet) and a height of 50 centimeters (20 inches). It's easy to get to by train from other regions in France (I took a direct train from Paris) or by car if you are driving. The Gothic style also appeared in the statuary, particularly the Pillar of the Angels, and in the tympanums over the double portals on the south transept, which showed the influence of the sculpture in French Gothic cathedrals. It takes its reddish-brown color from the sandstone of the Vosges mountains. Completed in 1439, it looms majestically over the Place de la Cathdrale, a major city square. Most of the stained-glass windows date back to the Middle Ages, 14. This was then carried out in the south transept. With a height of 18 meters (59 feet), its one of the largest astrological clocks of its kind in the world! Strasbourg Cathedral or the Cathedral of Our Lady of Strasbourg (French: Cathdrale Notre-Dame de Strasbourg, or Cathdrale de Strasbourg, German: Liebfrauenmnster zu Straburg or Straburger Mnster), also known as Strasbourg Minster, is a Catholic cathedral in Strasbourg, Alsace, France. It is the third clock on that spot and dates from th. The cathedral has a rich history, dating back to the . Architect Jakob von Landshut and sculptor Hans von Aachen rebuilt the portal of the northern portal, now referred to as the Saint-Lawrence portal or Portail Saint-Laurent, starting in 1505, which was the height of the Renaissance period. Cathedral facts for kids. Its therefore considered to be one of the 4 capitals of Europe along with Brussels, Luxembourg City, and Frankfurt. [21] From 1341 until 1372 (or according to other sources: 13391371), the post of chief architect was held by a Master Gerlach (not to be confused with Erwin's other son, Gerlach von Steinbach, architect of the Niederhaslach Church),[22] who has been identified as Erwin's grandson Johannes Gerlach von Steinbach. Strasbourg Cathedral still holds a remarkable record, 7. As it turns, it shows the 1,022 stars identified by Ptolemy, as viewed above the horizon of Strasbourg. The walls are pierced with narrow slits, like a medieval fortress, giving it a very military appearance. The exterior height of the central nave reaches an astounding 40 meters (130 feet) as well. Klotz's dome was in turn heavily damaged by bombing raids during World War II, and restored between 1988 and 1992. A retrouver dans la galerie. Strasbourg Cathedral is the oldest Gothic cathedral in the world and one of the must-sees when visiting Strasbourg. Take a moment to yourself in the cathedral; sit in a pew and enjoy the peace. A monument has been erected in his honor in a town nearby called Steinbach which is part of the town of Baden-Baden, about 30 kilometers (20 miles) to the northeast of Strasbourg. A little history about Notre-Dame de Strasbourg Strasbourg's cathedral is an emblematic monument of the city, built on a site that was occupied by an important Roman camp when the city was called Argentoratum, and which has hosted many places of worship over the centuries. Climbing up to the Cathedral's platform and guard house is a thrilling experience. One of the most remarkable facts about Strasbourg Cathedral is that even though its considered to be the epitome of a church in the Gothic architectural style, the first phase consisted of Romanesque buildings. It's the most. The cathedral has a length of 112 meters (367 feet) and a width of 16 meters (52 feet). The 142 m high spire looks incredibly lightweight and made the Cathedral the highest edifice in all Christianity until the 19th century. [85], The bourdon, the largest and deepest-sounding bell, In 1519 Strasbourg Cathedral commissioned Jerg von Speyer to create what was said to be the largest bell in Europe; 2.74 meters in diameter and weighing twenty tons. The current cathedral was completed in 1439 and has been on the UNESCO World Heritage list since 1988. Formerly the floor of the crossing was filled with tombs of notable religious figures, but they were moved in later reconstructions. In 1524, the city council assigned the cathedral to the Protestant faith, while the building suffered some damage from iconoclastic assaults. The visual effect of the faade is enhanced by its unusual darkish red stone. Strasbourg Cathedral is a beautiful Gothic cathedral in the city of Strasbourg, France. The sculpture over the central tympanum and over the south portal of the transept was saved because it was covered with wooden planks with the revolutionary motto "Libert-Egalit-Fraternit,"[36], In April 1794, the Enrags started planning to tear the spire down, on the grounds that it hurt the principle of equality. The second wave of construction started in the 12th century, when the Gothic style of architecture had started to develop. The same was about to happen to the spire of Strasbourg Cathedral as the agitators who ruled the city during the revolution, referred to as the Enrags, planned to demolish it in April of 1794. It is surrounded by a big place where tourists and inhabitants of Strasbourg like to take a walk. But it hasn't always been. This cathedral was then again replaced by a more prominent structure which consisted of three naves and three apses, and it was on the ruins of this Carolingian cathedral that the original modern-day cathedral was constructed in 1015. After the annexation of the city by Louis XIV of France, on 30 September 1681, and a mass celebrated in the cathedral on 23 October 1681 in presence of the king and prince-bishop Franz Egon of Frstenberg,[33] the cathedral was returned to the Catholics and its inside redesigned according to the Catholic liturgy of the Counter-Reformation. This part of the clock is surrounded by painted figures representing the ancient empires Greece, Assyria, Persia, and Rome. [60], As with all the other portals, several of the statues have been replaced by copies in situ and are today displayed in the Muse de l'uvre Notre-Dame. #1 A Good Camera - No doubt you're going to be snapping like crazy with these amazing Cathedral views and need to ensure you have a good camera to do this city justice. In 1988, the Strasbourg Cathedral was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List along with the historic centre of the city (called the "Grande le") because of its outstanding Gothic architecture. Cathedrals can be found in the Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox . During the French Revolution in the late 18th century, churches in France were in great danger. Bishop Heinrich von Hasenburg was the leading figure behind the start of the construction of the church and he had one goal, to make it more amazing than the newly finished cathedral of Basel. On a clear day, it can be seen all the way from the Vosges Mountains, a mountain range over 30 kilometers to the southeast of the city, and the Black Forest, a famous forest an equal distance to the east! When the Romans were driven out, the original structure was replaced by a temple dedicated to the Virgin Mary. The chapel contains the tomb of Bishop Conrad de Lichtenberg, made between 1310 and 1320, and now framed by flamboyant tripe arch. Other moving figures include a trumpet player carrying a banner and a pretzel vendor being offered flour, water, and salt by the caryatides on the console. Strasbourg (UK: / s t r z b r /, US: / s t r s b r , s t r z-,-b r /, French: (); German: Straburg [tasbk] (); Bas Rhin Alsatian: Strossburi [dsbui] (), Haut Rhin Alsatian: Strossburig [dsbui] ()) is the prefecture and largest city of the Grand Est region of eastern France and the official seat of the . The upper windows of the nave depict eighty-four saints, added by various artists between 1250 and 1275. Strasbourg Cathedral Interesting Facts The construction of the cathedral took 424 years. In the portal of the Last Judgement, (right) Christ sits on his throne sorting the virtuous from the wicked. [53], The portal of Saint-Laurent, on the north transept, The three Kings with the Virgin Mary and child, Original statues in the Muse de l'uvre Notre-Dame, The portal of Saint Lawrence, was added to the north transept between 1495 and 1505 by Jacob von (or Jacques de) Landshut, with sculptures by Hans von Aachen (aka Johan von Ach, or Jean d'Aix-la-Chapelle) and Conrad Sifer. [71], Two chapels, devoted to Saint Andrew and Saint John the Baptist, were attached to the two sides of the apse. A first Romanesque cathedral was built in the 11th century which later burnt to the ground. A pointed arch, a tribune for singers, and a balustrade were added in the 15th century. [57] Following their destruction during the French Revolution, several of the sculptures have been replaced in the 19th century by works by Philippe Grass,[58] Jean-tienne Malade,[59] and Jean Vallastre. It was electrified after 1807, and was restored and modified several times, most recently in 193435 and in 197581, giving it the current forty-seven jeux.[76]. Although considerable parts of it are still in Romanesque architecture, it is widely considered[2][3][4][5] to be among the finest examples of Rayonnant Gothic architecture. The chair of Bishop Broughton, first Anglican Bishop of Sydney, Australia. Lets take a closer look at some of the most interesting facts about Strasbourg Cathedral. This Carolingian church is believed to have had an apse flanked by two chapels and a nave covered with a wooden beamed roof, but no trace remains today. In 2010, the metropolitan area of Strasbourg is inhabited by 759,868 people. It was the tallest building in the world for a period of 227 years, 6. It was built on the site of a chapel from the Merovingian dynasty - the ruling family of the Franks from the middle of the fifth to the eighth centuries. The two lower lancet windows were put together in the 19th century out of glass from different centuries. The northern transept is decorated with the Emperor Windows, also referred to as the Kaiserfenster.. Church of St Peter the Young. Together with the Cologne Cathedral, the faade of the Strasbourg Cathedral is considered to be one of the first buildings in history which made architectural drawings necessary to make it conceivable.