[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. It is the seat of a Bishop. It was the tallest building of world for over 227 years. [85], The cathedral has two Romanesque crypts, the oldest parts of the cathedral. The first traverses were made in what was known as the Lorraine style, with two levels of quadripartite windows, traversed by a narrow passageway. In 1918 Alsace and Strasbourg and Alscace were once again attached to France. Outside, the facade is the greatest "book" of images the Middle Ages has to offer. The rose window, with a rayonnant Gothic design, is fourteen metres in diameter and was finished in 1345. On the south side of the nave, the upper walls have windows depicting female saints, including local saints from Alsace or Strasbourg. It was the highest building in the world from 1647 to 1874. They wear diadems and have flowers in their hair, and carry twigs of the tree of life, or fruit. In 1372 the work was taken over a master Conrad, also known as Kuntze, about whom little is known, until 1382. He reconstructed the dome over the transept in a grander, Romanesque Revival style. It is separated from the nave by two massive pillars, 8.5 by 5 meters, which support the tower above. He was followed by a Michael von Freiburg (also known as Michael von Gmnd, or Michael Parler, from the Parler family of architects), recorded as magister operis in 13831387,[24] who was then succeeded by Claus von Lohre (13881399). Climbing up to the Cathedral's platform and guard house is a thrilling experience. The Neustadt draws the inspiration for its urban layout partially . Marvel at the oldest Gothic cathedral of Europe with your local tour guide. [52], The west front takes its distinctive appearance and sense of verticality from the dense network of lacelike pointed gables, pinnacles and tall, slender columns that cover it. The Bayeux Tapestry is without a doubt the most fascinating Romanesque artwork that was ever produced. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Cathedral Strasbourg France Church Vintage Antique Photo 1910's 1920's 1930's at the best online prices at eBay! [79]. You will surely enjoy exploring the vibrant . The central art work of the North Transept is a large statue of Christ on the cross, over a sculptural landscape depicting the Mount of Olives, crowded with carved figures in dramatic poses. The construction of this church is a mixture of Roman and Gothic architecture. The church marked a historic moment in architecture, 11. I love my Sony A6000, which is light, compact and . With its elaborate astrological clock and red sandstone surface, a visit to the Cathedral is a must. 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. Behind him is the portal of Saint Laurent. [45] During that same war, the stained glass was removed in 74 cases. It is a major architectural, historical, and cultural landmark in the city. The construction, and later maintenance, of the cathedral is supervised by the Fondation de l'uvre Notre-Dame ("Foundation of Our Lady") since at least 1224. Strasbourg Cathedral Interesting Facts The construction of the cathedral took 424 years. 300 years actually, give or take a few decade! Today, about 275,000 people live there (with around 780,000 in the metropolitan area ). [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. [50], The restoration of the tower was completed in 2006, and in 2014 a new campaign of restoration was begun on the south transept. This switch was made under the influence of architects who worked on the Cathedral of Chartres. These include an old bell made by Jean Rosier and Cesar Bonbon (1691). 26 November the Church (majestic and crowned), King Solomon (above two other small statues of children evoking his famous judgement), and the Synagogue (eyes blindfolded, a sign of the refusal of true faith by the Jewish religion). The wicked attempt, without success, to seduce the noble Virgins, but succeed with the foolish virgins. Thanks to the installation of rib vaults, the nave was raised in height to 27 meters, and the upper walls were filled with stained glass windows. STRASBOURG CATHEDRAL .925 Sterling Silver Charm Pendant Alsace France Europe Landmark Travel Souvenir New tf35 ad vertisement by HayleesSilver. The Strasbourg Cathedral was built over a period of 424 years The original construction of the church in its current location started in the year 1015. [46] and stored in a salt mine near Heilbronn, Germany. [72] Rays of yellow glass radiate outwards like a sun, surrounded mosaic-like pieces of green and blue and by small oculi with red floral designs. From the platform of Strasbourg Cathedral, 66 meters above the ground, discover a striking panorama of the city in 1490 to the west, and in 1730 to the east. On the last level are the Apostles, passing in front of Christ. The Cathedral of Our Lady of Strasbourg is the landmark of the city and known in the whole world. 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. While its most definitely assumed that drawings of buildings were made before the construction of this cathedral, the construction of this particular church marked an important moment in architectural history. [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. 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. The known dimensions of the building are as follows:[87]. The arched tympanum over the doors of the central portal is crowded with sculpture, as are the voussures, the stone arches around the door. A first Romanesque cathedral was built in the 11th century which later burnt to the ground. Add to Favorites . A paleochristian church or cathedral is believed to have been founded by an edict of Clovis I, but its exact location and appearance is unknown. 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. 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. The first stone was placed on May 25, 1277, by Bishop Conrad of Lichtenberg. It was the tallest building in the world for a period of 227 years, 6. The currently visible, much higher crossing dome was designed in grand Romanesque Revival style by the architect Gustave Klotz, after the original dome had been heavily damaged by Prussian shelling during the Siege of Strasbourg. Top 10 Little Known Facts about Palais Rohan. The ornate and colourful decoration of pinnacle, spires, and sculpture Sculpture also hangs beneath the organ, including a moving figure of Samson opening the jaws of a lion. Strasbourg Cathedral in France is famous for its western facade. The cathedral has a rich history, dating back to the . It's the most. The first overhead vault before the cupola features a 19th-century painting of the Last Judgement by Charles Auguste Steinheil, a collaborator of Eugne Viollet-le-Duc and other notable cathedral-restorers. Strasbourg is the second most popular tourist city in France, after Paris; and there are three main attractions. [67], The spire above the tower is composed of eight stages of elaborate octagonal structure, linked together by interlaced arches and pinnacles, which contain a stairway to the lantern at the top. The Strasbourg Cathedral is impossible to miss as it towers above the surrounding buildings and is located in the center of the city. A retrouver dans la galerie. Adolf Hitler, who visited it on 28 June 1940, intended to transform the church into a "national sanctuary of the German people",[43] or into a monument to the Unknown German Soldier. The pointed gable over the central portal, decorated with a sculpture of the Virgin Mary and child, reaches up into the space in front of the rose window. The tracery and decoration of the interior are very much like of that exterior, with blind galleries and delicate parallel vertical lines, like the strings of a harp. The reason is simply that the intention was to eventually build the south tower, but this never happened, resulting in the buildings distinctive form today. There are three stairways down to the crypt, the oldest, from the apse, dates to about 1150. It is the third clock on that spot and dates from th. 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. Strasbourg and Cologne Cathedral together represent some of the earliest uses of architectural drawing. Walk up 66 meters to marvel at the view of Strasbourg from the top of the clock. The city celebrated its 2,000th anniversary in October of the year 1988 because it was first mentioned as the Ancient Roman settlement of Argentoratum in the year 12 B.C. The first cathedral was built on top of this temple and was completed in the 7th century, but nothing of these structures remains today. Under the balustrade is a large painting on wood illustrating the Nativity, in a sweeping landscape. The supporting buttresses on either side also have very expressive sculpture representing the Virgin Mary and the three Magi on one side, and a group of Saints on the other, both sheltered beneath lacelike flamboyant sculpture and pinnacles. A pointed arch frames the window, and a row of blind arches at the lower level completes the decoration. How tall is Strasbourg Cathedral? Above this are blind arcades, an ornate cornice, and then a pointed roof with a pair of dormer or skylight windows, a small window above a large one, on each side, which brought light to the choir below. [29][30] The building of the second tower was often discussed, and was seriously proposed when Alsace became part of Germany after the 1871 French-German War in 1871, but was coldly received by the population of Strasbourg, who considered it would be a symbol of German occupation.[31]. The chapel is devoted to memorials to six canons who were entombed there between 1478 and 1681. 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. One of the most fascinating facts about Strasbourg Cathedral is that it took hundreds of years to complete. Originally the lantern was topped by a statue of the Virgin Mary, the patron saint of the cathedral, but in 1488 it was replaced by a fleuron, or flower-shaped ornament. 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. Firstly the cathedral, the second most visited French cathedral after Notre Dame de Paris; secondly the picture-book historic quarter of Petite France, with its half-timbered medieval houses and its quays overlooking branches of the river Ill (that is the river " ill "); and thirdly . Free shipping for many products! The small circular windows above the Emperors depict scenes from the life of Christ.[73]. 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. In 2010, the metropolitan area of Strasbourg is inhabited by 759,868 people. 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. Media in category "Strasbourg Cathedral organ" The following 102 files are in this category, out of 102 total. All these automata are put into operation daily at 12:30 pm except Sundays. Construction was resumed in 1571 by Conrad Dasypodius and the Habrecht brothers, and this clock was given a more ambitious program of mechanical figures. The clock shows much more than the official time; it also indicates solar time, the day of the week (each represented by a god of mythology), the month, the year, the sign of the zodiac, the phase of the moon and the position of several planets. Recht, Roland; Foessel, Georges; Klein, Jean-Pierre: Learn how and when to remove this template message, Al-Qaeda plot to bomb the adjacent Christmas market, List of tallest structures built before the 20th century, St. Peter and St. Paul's Church, Wissembourg, "Architecture et sculpture gothiques: cathdrale de Strasbourg (1)", "Prodige du gigantesque et du dlicat (translation)", "Chronologie des fouilles archologiques", "17. The columns are purely decorative, and are so thin they are compared to the strings of a harp. When Bishop Werner I supported the winning candidate, Henry II of Germany, one of his Henry's rivals, Hermann of Germany, raided Strasbourg and burned down the cathedral. The extension concerns the Neustadt, new town, designed and built under the German administration (1871-1918). Strasbourg is the seat Council of Europe, of the European Court of Human Rights and of the European Parliament. Previous buildings on the site The vaults are supported by a circular pillar with modest decorative stone rings. These windows consist of 5 sets and depict 19 Emperors of the Holy Roman Empire. It also dates from the 15th century. In 2015, the city has celebrated the millennial anniversary of its cathedral. [81], The man on the balustrade (south transept). [61], Lower portion of octagonal tower and spire, The octagonal tower and spire (remote view), The cathedral was originally intended to have two towers on the west front, but only the north one was built. After the French defeat, Alsace was ceded to the new German Empire until 1918. Most of the sculptures decorating this portal are copies and the originals are on display in a museum in Strasbourg called the Muse de luvre Notre-Dame.. [34] The main or high altar, a major work of early Renaissance sculpture, was also demolished that year. Plans to rebuild and restore the Notre Dame Cathedral are underway, with donations pouring in from all over. On the east wall, the windows depict Christ in Majesty, Saint Lawrence, a Virgin and Child, and John the Baptist. Many of his writings have not ever been translated. The statue of the "Synagogue" is blindfolded, since Jews did not recognise the divinity of Christ. Full description. While previous faades were certainly drawn prior to construction, Strasbourg has one of the earliest faades whose construction is inconceivable without prior drawing. Recent Boards {{ board.name }} {{ board.total_asset_count }} View all Boards View all Sets CREATE BOARD. Another two old bells by Mathieu Edel (1787) ring on the quarter hours. [80], The north transept connects with the Chapel of Saint John, entered through a pointed Gothic arch containing a rounded Romanesque arch. 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. Other articles where Cathedral of Notre-Dame is discussed: Strasbourg: The contemporary city: Strasbourg's 11th-15th-century Cathedral of Notre-Dame, damaged in 1870 and again in World War II, has been carefully restored. [19], 1277 plan for west front (Plan Riss B restitution), Construction of Strasbourg Cathedral, by Thophile Schuler, 1850, Strasbourg Cathedral in the Middle Ages, painting by August von Bayer (19th century), The next major project was the rebuilding of the west front, or facade, in the Gothic style. [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. [49], In 2000, an Al-Qaeda plot to bomb the adjacent Christmas market was prevented by French and German police. The construction of the Strasbourg Cathedral, we know today, thereafter started and it took quite a bit of time to finish. The capitals of the columns are decorated with dragons and other mythical creatures. Both the interior and exterior of the Strasbourg Cathedral are extraordinary, once called by Victor Hugo "a prodigy of the gigantic and the delicate." Built on the foundations of a Roman. Back in the day that Strasbourg was referred to as Argentoratum by the Ancient Romans, the site was already occupied by a Roman sanctuary. After trying several temporary measures, in 1915, during the First World War, he launched a large-scale project to replace the entire foundation of the cathedral with concrete. During the French Revolution nine bells were taken out and melted down to make cannon, but the "Totonglock" and a second bell, the "Zehrnerglock" (1.58 meters, 2.225 tons), made in Mathieu Edel in 1786, were preserved to ring the hours and serve as alarm bells for the city. By car Served by the A4 and the A35. The original statues were replaced by copies in the 20th century and are today kept in the Muse de l'uvre Notre-Dame. 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]. Take the time to marvel at the magnificent, amazing statuary inside and outside of this masterpiece of Gothic architecture. Use them in commercial designs under lifetime, perpetual & worldwide rights. The belltower is 142 m high. The meeting points between the columns and the vault ribs is decorated with vegetal sculpture. 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. The church is located in the Alsace Region in eastern France, 2. Strasbourg Cathedral (official French: Notre-Dame de Strasbourg ,German: Liebfrauenmnster zu Straburg, Our Lady of Strasbourg) is the Cathedral in Strasbourg. Stavelot Triptych. The next major step toward Gothic took place with the raising of the vaults of the south transept, creating thinner walls and more space for high windows. The Silbermann organ had three keyboards, thirty-nine jeux, or effects and two thousand, two hundred forty-two pipes. Parcours "The Cathedral of Strasbourg" Streetcar line: Ligne A, D-Arrt : Langstross Grand'Rue. [53], Unlike the sculpture of earlier cathedrals, the Strasbourg statues clearly show emotions; the prophets look severe, the Virgins appear serene, the Virtues look noble, and the frivolous Virgins appear foolish. The original construction of the church on its current location started in the year 1015. In the late Middle Ages, the city of Strasbourg had managed to liberate itself from the domination of the bishop and to rise to the status of Free Imperial City. Cathedral. Each pillar bundles sixteen smaller columns, of which five reach upward to support the vaults overhead. The new building, with its wooden roof beams, was unfortunately prone to fire; it suffered from fires in 1136, 1140,1150, and 1176. The first astronomical clock was installed in the cathedral from 135254 until 1500. They are covered with Romanesque groin vaults, formed by the intersection of rounded barrel vaults, and supported by massive cruciform pillars and cylindrical columns with palm leaf decoration on their capitals. This project was completed in 1926, after the end of the war. [75], The dog of the preacher Johann Geiler von Kaysersberg, on the steps, mourning his master, The pulpit, attached to the fourth pillar of the north side of the nave, was sculpted in 1485 following a design by Hans Hammer. The face is flanked by two cylindrical towers with narrow lancet windows and pointed roofs. When the word was spread that Adolf Hitler wanted to turn the church into a national sanctuary of the German people during World War II, all the stained-glass windows were put into 74 boxes and stored in a salt mine near Heilbronn in Germany. 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. 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. When the nave was rebuilt in Gothic style in the 13th century, the old windows were reinstalled in random locations. It is composed of an octagonal pillar surrounded by four engaged columns, which reach upwards to support the vaults, and four slender colonettes. 1. In 1524, the city council assigned the cathedral to the Protestant faith, while the building suffered some damage from iconoclastic assaults. It was called the Dreiknigsuhr ("three-king clock"), and was located at the opposite wall from where today's clock is. Cathedral facts for kids. A door opens from the chapel to an adjoining cloister behind the cathedral. It was hoisted up to its present position in 1327. It is decorated with four vertical groups of statue-columns, depicting scenes from Christ and the Last Judgement, as well as four angels carrying the instruments of the Passion, and above that, four more angels sounding trumpets. It replaces the original window which was one of the few windows not put into safe storage before World War II; it was destroyed by Allied bombing in 1944. One of the most incredible facts about Strasbourg Cathedral is that its spire was saved because the citizens of Strasbourg dressed the spire of the church with a huge tin Phrygian cap, the exact type of cap worn by the Enrags at the time. Select from premium Strasbourg Strasbourg Cathedral of the highest quality. The architects of the rebuilding began to include Gothic elements, following the style that had appeared in northern France in the 12th century, while still preserving the existing Romanesque features. Bayeux Tapestry. Strasbourg Cathedral or the Cathedral of Our Lady of Strasbourg , also known as Strasbourg Minster, is a Catholic cathedral in Strasbourg, Alsace, France. The cathedral was eventually surpassed in height by the St. Nikolai Church in Hamburg, Germany. CATHDRALE ALLEMANDE? During the French Revolution in the late 18th century, churches in France were in great danger. [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. 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. [83], The central tower is composed of three levels. Dreamstime is the world`s largest stock photography community. The rose windows of the west transept facade were made between 1230 and 1235, Above the rose are smaller round oculi from the same period, depicting Biblical symbols; the Alpha and Omega, the Candelabra of the Ancient Alliance, and others which combine floral and geometric designs. 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 cupola itself rests upon four squinches, a base made of rounded arches, which make the connection between the Gothic and Romanesque elements. [86], Original wimperg of the faade in the Muse de l'uvre Notre-Dame, Original statues of the Tempter, the foolish Virgins and the wise Virgins from the right faade portal, Bust (ca. The cathedral was built in Gothic style. [67] It is surrounded and supported by four more slender towers containing circular stairways. The primary decorative element is the rose window, added between 1320 and 1340, and substantially restored since. A pointed arch, a tribune for singers, and a balustrade were added in the 15th century. The chair of Bishop Broughton, first Anglican Bishop of Sydney, Australia. 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. The chapel contains the tomb of Bishop Conrad de Lichtenberg, made between 1310 and 1320, and now framed by flamboyant tripe arch. Since it was built, the platform has been a popular tourist attraction, and, until recently, a strategic fire lookout. 1439-1939", "Straburger Mnster, Cathdrale Notre-Dame de Strasbourg", "Straburger Mnster Mnster Unserer Lieben Frau", Notre Dame Cathedral (original plans and contemporary photographs), Historical Sketch of the Cathedral of Strasbourg, Diocese of GrenobleVienne-les-Allobroges, Armenian Catholic Eparchy of Sainte-Croix-de-Paris, Maronite Catholic Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon of Paris, Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of Saint Vladimir the Great of Paris, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Strasbourg_Cathedral&oldid=1140780300, 15th-century Roman Catholic church buildings in France, Roman Catholic churches completed in 1439, Articles with French-language sources (fr), Articles with German-language sources (de), Articles needing cleanup from October 2021, Cleanup tagged articles with a reason field from October 2021, Wikipedia pages needing cleanup from October 2021, Pages using embedded infobox templates with the title parameter, Articles with MusicBrainz place identifiers, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, First Emperor Window: HENRICUS REX (presumably, Fourth Emperor Window: KAROLUS D[ic]C[tu]S MARTEL PATER BIPPINI (, Fifth Emperor Window: LOTHARIUS ROMANORUM IMPERATOR (.