The cathedral is illuminated by one of the most remarkable collections of stained-glassed windows in the world. The cathedral was built in Gothic style. In 1015, bishop Werner laid the first stone of a new cathedral on the foundations of the Carolingian church. However, the official ownership of the structure was given, and belongs today, to the French state, and it is administered by the Mayor of Strasbourg. Its the capital of the Grand Est region of France in the historic region of Alsace. The pulpit itself, in the form of a very ornate corbeille or basket, is entirely covered with colonettes, gables, pinnacles, and niches filled with sculpture, including images of Christ on the cross, a crowned Virgin Mary, Apostles, the Crucifixion, and well as Kings and doctors of the Church. It took hundreds of years to complete. As the spire of the cathedral is dominating the Strasbourg skyline, one starts to wonder why the building has an asymmetrical form, giving the structure the appearance that something is missing. Stavelot Triptych. [48] The bishopric of Strasbourg had been elevated to the rank of archbishopric a few months before, in June 1988. Its place as the bourdon, or largest and deepest-sounding bell, was taken by an older bell, the "Totenglock", or "Death bell", which was traditionally used for mourning. Under Charlemagne, the Bishop Remi consecrated the altar and built a funeral crypt in about 778. Strasbourg Cathedral While Goethe's poems on nature, romance, science and his great novel Faust have long been available to the English-speaking audience, his writings on art and literature, as in Essays, are less familiar. Back in the day that Strasbourg was referred to as Argentoratum by the Ancient Romans, the site was already occupied by a Roman sanctuary. The crossing dome is placed over the meeting point of the transept and the choir, and, like the bell tower, has eight sides. The Bishop appealed to the new Emperor, who granted one eighth of his revenues in the province toward the construction of a new Cathedral. Strasbourg is, indeed, in France. Above this are two levels of animated mechanical figures, above that a figure of Christ and the four Evangelists, under a dome formed by crossed arches. Ensingen worked on the cathedral from 1399 to 1419, taking over from Claus von Lohre, and Hltz from 1419 to 1439, completing the building at last. The initial property, inscribed in 1988 on the World Heritage List, was formed by the Grande-le, the historic centre of Strasbourg, structured around the cathedral. The central decoration is sculptural work dedicated to the Virgin Mary donated by the de Barby brothers in 1521. LMENTS POUR UNE RPONSE", Les grandes dates de lhistoire de la Cathdrale de Strasbourg, "1439 1527: Strasbourg, loge suprme du Saint-Empire romain germanique", "Strasbourg Cathedral and the French Revolution (17891802)", "1906-1926: Consolidation des fondations du pilier de la tou", "CLBRATION DANS LA CATHDRALE DE NOTRE-DAME STRASBOURG HOMLIE DU PAPE JEAN-PAUL II Samedi, 8 octobre 1988", "Sculpture - Muse de l'uvre Notre-Dame", "L'histoire de la sculpture de saint Arbogast", "1399 1419: Construction de la haute tour", "Jubil du demi-millnaire de la flche de la cathdrale de Strasbourg. The Chapel of John the Baptist preserves its thick Romanesque walls and two Romanesque windows. The rounded arches of tympanum over the doorway contain sculpture of the Virgin Mary dying, surrounded by the Twelve Apostles and being crowned by Christ. With a height of 18 meters (59 feet), its one of the largest astrological clocks of its kind in the world! The transept of the cathedral was 55 meters long, the same length as the nave and choir. Take a moment to yourself in the cathedral; sit in a pew and enjoy the peace. The cathedral was one of the earliest structures built with exterior flying buttresses. 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. Walk through history on a guided walking tour of the Strasbourg Cathedral. the choir and south portal, still have very Romanesque features, with more emphasis placed on walls than on windows. The main architect and the man credited with most of the cathedrals design was Erwin von Steinbach (1244-1318), a German architect. Other scenes are painted onto the reverse of the bas-reliefs. (15th c.), The chapel as it appeared in the 14th century (19th-century engraving), Tomb of Bishop Conrad de Lichtenberg (131020), The Chapel of Saint John the Baptist is located just to the left of the apse, at the northeast end of the cathedral. [84], Canon Conrad de Bussnang praying to Virgin and Child. Bayeux Tapestry. The capitals of the columns are decorated with dragons and other mythical creatures. [34] The main or high altar, a major work of early Renaissance sculpture, was also demolished that year. A professor of the University of Iowa even wrote a paper concluding that the faade indeed had a well-planned design as it was designed using a series of rotated octagons. [67], The Klotz designed crossing dome over the transept, The crossing dome being built, 1878 or 1879, Romanesque vaults beneath the Klotz crossing dome. Apart from that, he is also standing just outside of the Cathedral near the southern transept of the church. On the last level are the Apostles, passing in front of Christ. The cathedral in Strasbourg is widely known as one of the most beautiful gothic cathedrals in whole Europe. The sculpture largely dates to the late 13th century and is similar in theme and style to that of the sculpture of Reims Cathedral made between 1250 and 1260, though the Strasbourg sculpture shows greater realism.[53]. Constructed of pink sandstone from the Vosges Mountains, it took nearly 3 centuries of work to complete this "gigantic and delicate marvel", as Victor Hugo called it. It houses one of the biggest astronomical clocks in the world, 15. It is the second most visited cathedral in France, just after Notre Dame de Paris! In addition to being one of the finest examples of high Gothic architecture remaining today, Strasbourg Cathedral has a fascinating history spanning hundreds of years. But it hasn't always been. The north tower was the world's tallest building from 1647 (when the taller spire of St. Mary's Church, Stralsund burnt down) until 1874 (when the tower of St. Nikolai's Church in Hamburg was completed). The statue of the "Synagogue" is blindfolded, since Jews did not recognise the divinity of Christ. Cathedrals can be found in the Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox . The octagonal vault is covered with arches and lacelike interlaced sculpture in the late Gothic Flamboyant style. These windows consist of 5 sets and depict 19 Emperors of the Holy Roman Empire. The South Transept contains the Pillar of Angels, a massive supporting pillar for the ceiling. The current cathedral wasnt the first building on the site, 4. A bas-relief of an abstracted Gothic cathedral will emerge on the . The first traverses were made in what was known as the Lorraine style, with two levels of quadripartite windows, traversed by a narrow passageway. The cathedral is open from October to March from 10 a.m.. 1. Architect Erwin von Steinbach is credited for major contributions from 1277 to his death in 1318, and beyond through his son Johannes von Steinbach, and his grandson Gerlach von Steinbach, who succeeded him as chief architects. Other objects and works from the cathedral, including the mechanism of the original astronomical clock, are found in the Muse des arts dcoratifs de Strasbourg. Construction of the Neo-Romanessque dome over the transept was begun, and new bronze doors were installed in 1879. This is crowned by the cross, which is surrounded by four smaller crosses and images of the host and chalice, elements of the liturgy of the Eucharist. With its elaborate astrological clock and red sandstone surface, a visit to the Cathedral is a must. Completed in 1439, it looms majestically over the Place de la Cathdrale, a major city square. [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. It is the seat of the Archbishop of Strasbourg and one of the finest examples of Gothic architecture in Europe. Strasbourg and Cologne Cathedral together represent some of the earliest uses of architectural drawing. The church is located in the Alsace Region in eastern France, 2. It is composed of an octagonal pillar surrounded by four engaged columns, which reach upwards to support the vaults, and four slender colonettes. Bishop Heinrich I von Hasenburg (1181 March 25, 1190) decided to construct a new cathedral, to be more beautiful than that of Basel Munster, which was just being finished. He reconstructed the dome over the transept in a grander, Romanesque Revival style. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. This artifact was later kept in the historical collections of the city until they were all destroyed during the Siege of Strasbourg in a massive fire in August 1870. The nave and choir were composed of three vessels, each with two traverses. Strasbourg is the second most popular tourist city in France, after Paris; and there are three main attractions. The two lower lancet windows were put together in the 19th century out of glass from different centuries. In 1518, a 'dancing plague' affected around 400 people in Strasbourg, Alsace (Now a city of France . Cathedral. It is the seat of a Bishop. The first cathedral was built on top of this temple and was completed in the 7th century, but nothing of these structures remains today. The chair of Bishop Broughton, first Anglican Bishop of Sydney, Australia. HayleesSilver From shop HayleesSilver. Above this is a colourful clock with the signs of the zodiac. Other [83], The apse, with the Virgin of Alsace window (1956), Crowning of Mary, by Eduard Steinle in the vault of the apse, The apse of the cathedral, the hemispherical vault behind the altar on the northeast end, features Romanesque and Gothic architecture overlaid with 19th-century Neo-Romanesque decoration, The paintings on the half-dome and walls were made by douard Steinl in 187779, in the style of a Byzantine mosaic. The European capital and the capital of Alsace, Strasbourg exudes youthfulness and energy. The observation deck is located at a height of 66 meters (217 feet) and offers some of the most amazing views of the wonderful city of Strasbourg and its surroundings! Decrees of the Emperor rendering justice were traditionally read out in front of this doorway. The church marked a historic moment in architecture, 11. Strasbourg is located close to the border of Germany. Overview Download history Purchase history Invoices Boards SIGN OUT. The columns are lavishly decorated with sculpted foliage. [72], The three levels of the nave; arcades and collateral aisles (bottom); triforium, and upper windows, The nave is the section of the cathedral between the narthex and the choir where ordinary parishioners are seated and worship. Strasbourg Cathedral is a beautiful Gothic cathedral in the city of Strasbourg, France. 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. Figures of two reclining women hold a cadran (clock face) between them which tells the minutes. As with so many other European Gothic churches, Strasbourg Cathedral was constructed on the ruins of its Romanesque predecessor. The two rose windows above are later, from the 14th century, with vegetal designs. In 1505, architect Jakob von Landshut and sculptor Hans von Aachen finished rebuilding the Saint-Lawrence portal (Portail Saint-Laurent) outside the northern transept in a markedly post-Gothic, early-Renaissance style. The construction of the Strasbourg Cathedral, we know today, thereafter started and it took quite a bit of time to finish. Strasbourg is a city in eastern France, the prefecture of Grand Est. The walls of the tower have tall lancet openings, which show the bells and bring light into the interior, and are decorated on the exterior with interlocking pointed gables. 1. Ad vertisement from shop HayleesSilver. One of the most fascinating churches in the world can be found in the east of France. The second wave of construction started in the 12th century, when the Gothic style of architecture had started to develop. Strasbourg Cathedral (official French: Notre-Dame de Strasbourg ,German: Liebfrauenmnster zu Straburg, Our Lady of Strasbourg) is the Cathedral in Strasbourg. [16], A Roman settlement called Argentoratum, twenty hectares in size, existed on the site since about 12 B.C., at a strategic point where bridges crossed the Rhine and two of its tributaries. Previous buildings on the site It is separated from the nave by two massive pillars, 8.5 by 5 meters, which support the tower above. As with the other portals of the cathedral, most of the statues now to be seen in situ are copies, the originals having been moved to the Muse de luvre Notre-Dame.[32]. The original construction phase utilized the Romanesque architectural style. The Director of public works of Strasbourg, Grold, quickly took down and protected the statues of the portal, but 215 statues of the voussures over the portals were smashed with hammers, as were the angels atop the gables on the facade, and the crowns and sceptres of the statues of the kings. It was the tallest building in the world for a period of 227 years, 6. The sacristy occupies the upper level over the chapel. A pointed arch frames the window, and a row of blind arches at the lower level completes the decoration. The Strasbourg Christmas markets are located in old Strasbourg, which is located on an island in the middle of the city. CATHDRALE ALLEMANDE? More recently, a group of six modern bells was cast in Heidelberg between 1974 and 1976; they range from 1.7 meters to 0.9 meters in diameter, and from 3.9 to 5.7 tons in weight. An additional element of decoration is given by the small sculpted, painted, and gilded heads on the keystones of the vaults, where the ribs meet. [39][37] Following the war, Klotz took German nationality so he could continue his work.
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