Strasbourg's 11th-15th-century Cathedral of Notre-Dame, damaged in 1870 and again in World War II, has been carefully restored. Built entirely in the Middle Ages, Strasbourg Cathedral was the tallest building in the world for more than 200 years. The portal outside the northern transept is equally fascinating, 10. Cathdrale Notre Dame de Strasbourg Address Pl. [17] The first recorded bishop, Amand, participated in the Councils of Cologne and Sardique in 346 and 347. The reddish-brown sandstone from the Vosges mountains gives the cathedral its distinctive colour.[8]. In 1372 the work was taken over a master Conrad, also known as Kuntze, about whom little is known, until 1382. SUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSLETTER AND GET THE FREE EBOOK 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. Strasbourg Cathedral is a beautiful Gothic cathedral in the city of Strasbourg, France. The belltower is 142 m high. If you enjoyed this video, make sure to subscribe to our channel. Construction of the original, on the exact site of a Roman temple, was initiated in 1015 but later destroyed by a fire. [8], A set of "Emperor" windows, (Otto I, Otto II, Otto III, Conrad II, Henry III), Emperors Philip of Swabia, Henry IV, Henry V, Frederick II, Henry II of Bamberg, with head remounted on earlier body (1522), The five lower bays on the north side contain some of the oldest stained glass of the cathedral, installed in the old Romanesque cathedral in about 1180. [71], Two chapels, devoted to Saint Andrew and Saint John the Baptist, were attached to the two sides of the apse. Each holds a sceptre in his right hand and an orb in the left hand, symbols of their responsibility as both sovereigns and religious figures. Strasbourg Cathedral (1015-1439) is an absolute masterpiece of Gothic art. The more recent one is under the transept, from about 1150, and the older one, under the apse, was built in about 1110 to 1120. In 1524, the city council assigned the cathedral to the Protestant faith, while the building suffered some damage from iconoclastic assaults. 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. The design is composed of a series of unfolded arches which rest on a submerged "Latin Cross" floor plan. 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]. 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. Church of St Peter the Young. Another two old bells by Mathieu Edel (1787) ring on the quarter hours. The statue of the "Synagogue" is blindfolded, since Jews did not recognise the divinity of Christ. Lets take a closer look at some of the most interesting facts about Strasbourg Cathedral. Most of these windows date back to the 12th and 13th centuries! The church is located in the Alsace Region in eastern France, 2. In the portal of the Last Judgement, (right) Christ sits on his throne sorting the virtuous from the wicked. The Cathedral of Our Lady of Strasbourg is the landmark of the city and known in the whole world. [68] Its base is topped by a gallery with pointed arches, beneath a level with large arched bays, two on each side, side, divided by clusters of columns. Repairs to war damage were completed only in the early 1990s. It was the tallest building of world for over 227 years. [10], The history of Strasbourg's cathedral is well documented thanks to the archives of the Notre-Dame Foundation, the city of Strasbourg, and of the diocese. 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. 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. 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. [86], Life of the Virgin Mary tapestry - "The Nativity" (163857), The cathedral has a particularly fine group of fourteen tapestries depicting the life of the Virgin Mary. [79]. The Strasbourg Cathedral in France is known for its unique spire, because of it the cathedral was the highest monument in the world for more than two centuries! The original construction of the church on its current location started in the year 1015. CATHDRALE ALLEMANDE? 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. 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. On the bottom, figures of the Four Seasons surround a mechanical astrolabe, which indicates the location of the planets according to Copernicus, and is surrounded by the signs of the zodiac. At the lower level are statues of the four Evangelists. 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. 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. [45] During that same war, the stained glass was removed in 74 cases. [37] [80], The north transept also contains the two baptismal fonts, one circular and one octagonal, in their own architectural settings, They were made by Jost Dotzinger in 1453. They wear diadems and have flowers in their hair, and carry twigs of the tree of life, or fruit. Strasbourg Cathedralor the Cathedral of Our Lady of Strasbourg(French: Cathdrale Notre-Dame de Strasbourg, or Cathdrale de Strasbourg, German: Liebfrauenmnster zu Straburgor Straburger Mnster), also known as Strasbourg Minster, is a cathedral. 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. Construction finished in 1439 with the erection of the emblematic North tower. Strasbourg Cathedral is the oldest Gothic cathedral in the world and one of the must-sees when visiting Strasbourg. Cathedral. However, between 1250 and 1255 they decided to become more ambitious, and used what was called the "Parisian style"; this created three levels with a total height of 32 meters from the floor to the vaults. During the Franco-Prussian War of 187071, city was under siege. de la Cathdrale, 67000 Strasbourg, France Phone +33 3 88 21 43 34 Web Visit website A masterpiece of Gothic architecture, Notre-Dame Cathedral rivals its more famous counterpart in Paris. It took hundreds of years to complete. This faade has been credited to Erwin von Steinback and is considered to be an absolute masterpiece of the Gothic Era. The planned south tower was never built and as a result, with its characteristic asymmetrical form, the cathedral is now the premier landmark of Alsace. Some of the capitals also have sculpted monsters and lions on the corners. [49], In 2000, an Al-Qaeda plot to bomb the adjacent Christmas market was prevented by French and German police. It is the second most visited cathedral in France, just after Notre Dame de Paris! It is the seat of a Bishop. The upper windows at Strasbourg fill the entire space between the triforium and the vaults. It looks over the former cloister of the canons of the cathedral. 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. Top 10 Little Known Facts about Palais Rohan. Take the time to marvel at the magnificent, amazing statuary inside and outside of this masterpiece of Gothic architecture. Many of his writings have not ever been translated. The Strasbourg astronomical clock is located in the Cathdrale Notre-Dame of Strasbourg, Alsace, France. Free shipping for many products! In 1518, a 'dancing plague' affected around 400 people in Strasbourg, Alsace (Now a city of France . The tower is one of the first to rely substantially on craftsmanship, with the final appearance being one with a high degree of linearity captured in stone. HayleesSilver From shop HayleesSilver. 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). Free shipping for many products! Strasbourg is located close to the border of Germany. The primary decorative element is the rose window, added between 1320 and 1340, and substantially restored since. Cathedrals can be found in the Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox . The nave and choir were composed of three vessels, each with two traverses. Strasbourg Cathedral (official French: Notre-Dame de Strasbourg ,German: Liebfrauenmnster zu Straburg, Our Lady of Strasbourg) is the Cathedral in Strasbourg. It was the tallest building in the world for a period of 227 years, 6. The belltower is 142 m high. One of the architects was Erwin von Steinbach. [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. Here are the best facts about Strasbourg Cathedral 1. [84], The main altar, in the form of a tomb, is a recreation of an earlier altar in the rocaille or late baroque style, which had been damaged in a fire in 1759 and then ruined during the French Revolution. The urban community is the residence for 467,375 people, while the city proper was occupied by 272,975 people based on the report in 2006. The columns are lavishly decorated with sculpted foliage. The cathedral in Strasbourg is widely known as one of the most beautiful gothic cathedrals in whole Europe. [85], The cathedral has two Romanesque crypts, the oldest parts of the cathedral. The Cathedrale Strasbourg is a Roman Catholic Church renovated and essentially rebuilt (from the original church of 1015) at the end of the 12th century in a Gothic architectural style. By car Served by the A4 and the A35. 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 tympanum was destroyed in the French Revolution and replaced by a work by the sculptor Jean Vallastre[fr] (17651833). 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. The original statue-columns of the Apostles from the 1220s which supported the tympanum were smashed in 1793 during the French Revolution. 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. 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. It takes its reddish-brown color from the sandstone of the Vosges mountains. 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. It rises in three levels; the portals on the ground level; the level of the rose window above them, and the top level, with a balustrade. [40], In 1903, the architect Johann Knauth discovered cracks on the first pillar of the northern side of the nave. Strasbourg Cathedral is over one thousand years old. [50], The restoration of the tower was completed in 2006, and in 2014 a new campaign of restoration was begun on the south transept. Only those Christian denominations that have bishops have cathedrals. The work of Professor Robert O. Bork of the University of Iowa suggests that the design of the Strasbourg faade, while seeming almost random in its complexity, can be constructed using a series of rotated octagons. Strasbourg cathedral is an excellent example of gothic art, though the building also has Romanesque features dating back to before 1225 when there was a change of craftsmen. Above this is a globe, with painted figures of the Church and the Antichrist confronting each other. 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. The two rose windows above are later, from the 14th century, with vegetal designs. The portal of the infancy of Christ (left) depicts angels, bishops and saints in the voussures, and figures representing the virtues, carrying spears, prod the figures representing the vices. He reconstructed the dome over the transept in a grander, Romanesque Revival style. .The lower part of the massive base of the clock has statues of Apollo and the Goddess Diana presenting a circular calendar of the liturgical year, whose revolving face with a globe points to the dates of major religious festivals and events. Most of the stained-glass windows date back to the Middle Ages, 14. This is, however, nothing compared to the height of the spire, which reaches a total height of 142 meters (466 feet) above the ground. In October 1988, when the city celebrated its 2,000th anniversary (as the first official mention of Argentoratum dates from 12 BC), pope John Paul II visited and celebrated mass in the cathedral. Strasbourg Cathedral is a Roman Catholic cathedral in Strasbourg, France. 10. Stavelot Triptych. And finally, here's my list of the top 4 packing essentials you shouldn't head to the Strasbourg Cathedral without. 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. It is also a very early part of the cathedral, built shortly after 1150, with nine crossings and three naves of slightly different sizes, covered by Romanesque groin vaults. Plans to rebuild and restore the Notre Dame Cathedral are underway, with donations pouring in from all over. Strasbourg is, indeed, in France. This project was completed in 1926, after the end of the war. The length of the cathedral is about 100 metres, with the main aisle of 38 metres. Under the balustrade is a large painting on wood illustrating the Nativity, in a sweeping landscape. 300 years actually, give or take a few decade! [46] and stored in a salt mine near Heilbronn, Germany. 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. One of the coolest facts about Strasbourg Cathedral is that you can get the best view of all on top of the cathedral itself! [81], The man on the balustrade (south transept). These include an old bell made by Jean Rosier and Cesar Bonbon (1691). Between the lower tower and spire there is a balustrade, almost hidden by pinnacles and other architectural decoration. It was decorated with paintings by the Swiss painter Tobias Stimmer. Built of red Vosges sandstone, it is a harmonious edifice despite the variety of its architectural styles. Notre Dame de Strasbourg Cathedral. 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. 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. Under Charlemagne, the Bishop Remi consecrated the altar and built a funeral crypt in about 778. In addition to the grand organ in nave, the cathedral has two smaller organs: The baptismal font by Jost Dotzinger (1453), Judgement of Solomon window in north transept (late 12th c.), Saint John the Baptist and Saint John the Evangelist (3rd quarter of 12th century), left window of north transept, The transept and the apse were built atop the Romanesque crypt, making them a little higher than the nave; they are reached by a short stairway, giving the impression that the choir and apse are the stage of a theater. The octagon tower was begun in 1399 by Ulrich von Ensingen (chief architect until 1419), and crowned with a spire by his successor Johannes Hltz. The Chapel of John the Baptist preserves its thick Romanesque walls and two Romanesque windows. A round, Baroque sacristy of modest proportions was added north-east of the northern transept in 1744 by the city's chief architect Joseph Massol according to plans by Robert de Cotte and between 1772 and 1778 architect Jean-Laurent Goetz surrounded the cathedral by a gallery in early Gothic Revival style in order to reorganise the merchants' shops that used to settle around the building (and would do so until 1843). A trick saved the cathedrals spire during the French Revolution, 13. Climbing up to the Cathedral's platform and guard house is a thrilling experience. Its considered to be the epitome of French Gothic architecture, 5. 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. 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 cathedral has a length of 112 meters (367 feet) and a width of 16 meters (52 feet). The cathedral was eventually surpassed in height by the St. Nikolai Church in Hamburg, Germany. The cathedral was built in Gothic style. A Romanesque portal opens to the cloister outside. The Muse de l'uvre Notre-Dame, or Museum of the Work of Notre-Dame, is located in a medieval and Renaissance building not far from the cathedral, and displays a collection of some of the most delicate original works of sculpture and art from Cathedral, moved there to protect them from environmental damage. The roof was set afire and the cross at the top of the spire was bent by a German artillery shell. 1. The South Transept contains the Pillar of Angels, a massive supporting pillar for the ceiling. the choir and south portal, still have very Romanesque features, with more emphasis placed on walls than on windows. 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. 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. "We will rebuild Notre-Dame together because that is what our history deserves." The goal is to have the repairs completed in time for the 2024 Summer Olympics. The original construction of the church on its current location started in the year 1015. The walls are pierced with narrow slits, like a medieval fortress, giving it a very military appearance. [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. Strasbourg Cathedral in France is famous for its western facade. pictures from Axis Mundi Design. Different characters, representing the ages of life (from a child to an old man) parade in front of Death. The Cathedral stands on the exact site of a roman temple built on a little hill above the muddy ground.

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