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. [39][37] Following the war, Klotz took German nationality so he could continue his work. A gallery of statues of the Apostles, each in his own arch, is placed above the rose window. 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. Archaeological excavations below and around the cathedral have been conducted in 1896-1897, 1907, 1923-1924, 1947-1948, between 1966 and 1972, and finally between 2012 and 2014.. A statue on the west side of the pillar represents a famed preacher contemporary with the cathedral; Johann Geiler von Kaysersberg (d. 1510); a small sculpture along the railing of the stairs depicts Geiler's dog, mourning his master on steps of the pulpit where he once preached. [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 narthex is the portion of the cathedral just inside the west front, beneath the tower. 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. The transept of the cathedral was 55 meters long, the same length as the nave and choir. If you love heritage, culture and the art of living, there's no doubt that you'll fall in love with this city! After the French defeat, Alsace was ceded to the new German Empire until 1918. 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. These include some of the original statues from the portals and faade dating from the 13th century, including the statues of "The Church" and "The Synagogue" from the portal of the south transept. One of the most amazing facts about Strasbourg Cathedral is that an addition was made in the early 16th century in the post-Gothic, early-Renaissance style, as well. Although considerable parts of it are still in Romanesque architecture, it is widely considered At 142 metres , Strasbourg Cathedral was the world's tallest building from 1647 to 1874 , when it was surpassed by St. Nikolai's Church, Hamburg. Even though the cathedral was eventually surpassed in height by the St. Nikolai Church in Hamburg, Germany, it still holds the record of being the tallest church in the world that was completely constructed during the Middle Ages. The current cathedral wasnt the first building on the site, 4. 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. 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. 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. Strasbourg Cathedral Interesting Facts The construction of the cathedral took 424 years. The columns are purely decorative, and are so thin they are compared to the strings of a harp. [26][27][28], The octagonal north tower was the combined work of architects Ulrich Ensingen (shaft) and Johannes Hltz of Cologne (top). [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. 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. 1. Several of the original Romanesque structures were torn down to make way for this revolutionary new architectural style. [79], The Romanesque north transept has four traverses, which were the first in the cathedral to receive Gothic rib vaults. Above this level is a celestial globe in a sky of painted stars which makes a complete revolution every 23 hours, fifty-six minutes and four seconds. 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. [85], The cathedral has two Romanesque crypts, the oldest parts of the 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. The new plan was inspired in part by French cathedrals, particularly the Basilica of Saint-Urbain of Troyes. Dreamstime is the world`s largest stock photography community. The central vessel was higher than the two collaterals. The central figures depict the entry of Christ into Jerusalem, and the Crucifixion and Passion of Christ, all with exceptional expression and detail. 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. Until today, the church remains the 6th-tallest church in the world and is the most prominent landmark in Strasbourg. When the Romans were driven out, the original structure was replaced by a temple dedicated to the Virgin Mary. Strasbourg and Cologne Cathedral together represent some of the earliest uses of architectural drawing. Strasbourg Cathedral de Notre-Dame is known as one of the most beautiful gothic cathedrals in Europe. [17] The first recorded bishop, Amand, participated in the Councils of Cologne and Sardique in 346 and 347. 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. It also contains the tomb of Conrad de Bussnang, a prominent member of the chapter, whose image is portrayed in sculpture praying before the Virgin and child. Portal of Saint Lawrence (North transept). 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 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. Construction of the original, on the exact site of a Roman temple, was initiated in 1015 but later destroyed by a fire. You will surely enjoy exploring the vibrant . The cathedral was eventually surpassed in height by the St. Nikolai Church in Hamburg, Germany. Construction was resumed in 1571 by Conrad Dasypodius and the Habrecht brothers, and this clock was given a more ambitious program of mechanical figures. It takes its reddish-brown color from the sandstone of the Vosges mountains. [35] Fragments can be seen in the Muse de luvre Notre-Dame. Inside Strasbourg Cathedral. SUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSLETTER AND GET THE FREE EBOOK The central decoration is sculptural work dedicated to the Virgin Mary donated by the de Barby brothers in 1521. [18], The new church was exceptionally large, just ten meters shorter than the present cathedral, and just ten meters narrower on its west front. This is a real masterpiece of high Gothic. Under the roof of the Klotz tower are the six bells that ring the weekly masses but also the baptisms, marriages and deaths of parishioners. They are traditionally hung in the arcades of the nave during Advent. It dates to the end of the 15th century. 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. Strasbourg is the second most popular tourist city in France, after Paris; and there are three main attractions. One of the most fascinating churches in the world can be found in the east of France. It is the third clock on that spot and dates from th. 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. The length of the cathedral is about 100 metres, with the main aisle of 38 metres. The construction of the cathedral, which had started in the year 1015 and had been relaunched in 1190, was finished in 1439.[6]. 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. Is Strasbourg in Germany or France? The belltower is 142 m high. They were purchased by the Chapter of Strasbourg Cathedral in 1739, and were an example of the importation of the French style of that period into Alsace. In 1372 the work was taken over a master Conrad, also known as Kuntze, about whom little is known, until 1382. Marvel at the oldest Gothic cathedral of Europe with your local tour guide. The faade is supported and divided vertically by four narrow buttresses, each decorated with sculpture. [50], The restoration of the tower was completed in 2006, and in 2014 a new campaign of restoration was begun on the south transept. At the lower level are statues of the four Evangelists. Construction of the new cathedral began on the foundations of the preceding structures. 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. Remains of the choir screen are displayed in the Muse de luvre Notre-Dame and in The Cloisters. This project was completed in 1926, after the end of the war. In 1905 he began taking measures to consolidate and strengthen the north side of the west facade, which supports the spire. As with so many other European Gothic churches, Strasbourg Cathedral was constructed on the ruins of its Romanesque predecessor. It was built next to Strasbourg Cathedral in the 1730s, from designs by Robert de Cotte . 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. [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 was changed and the French Gothic style or Rayonnant Gothic was used for most parts of the cathedral starting in the 13th century. The genuinely Romanesque chevet can only be seen from the courtyard of the adjacent complex of 18th-century buildings. The most amazing feature of the cathedral is its west faade, 9. [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 (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 . ABOUT Strasbourg Cathedral: discover the Gothic masterpiece! Today it is the sixth-tallest church in the world and the highest still standing extant structure built entirely in the Middle Ages. At 142 metres (466 feet), Strasbourg Cathedral was the world's tallest building from 1647 to 1874 (227 years), when it was surpassed by St. Nikolai's Church, Hamburg. Interior of the Strasbourg cathedral De kathedraal van Straatsburg (Cathdrale Notre-Dame de Strasbourg, Strassburger Mnster) behoort tot de grootste en beroemdste kathedralen van Frankrijk. 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 painted figures on the wall represent fathers of the church and founders of religious orders, depicted in Byzantine style. It was called the Dreiknigsuhr ("three-king clock"), and was located at the opposite wall from where today's clock is. At noon, a group of three mechanical kings would prostrate themselves before the infant Jesus, while the chimes of the clock sounded the hour. Built of red Vosges sandstone, it is a harmonious edifice despite the variety of its architectural styles. The pillar was created in the middle of the 13th century, most probably by a group of sculptors from France or Burgundy. They were eventually returned and installed, along with numerous other works of art, by the specially created Monuments, Fine Arts and Archives section of the United States military. A pointed arch frames the window, and a row of blind arches at the lower level completes the decoration. At the same time, the planned two spires on either side of the facade would reach an extraordinary height of 122 meters. Judgement of Solomon at Strasbourg Cathedral. Construction began in 1015, and it was largely completed in 1432. Decrees of the Emperor rendering justice were traditionally read out in front of this doorway. Built of red Vosges sandstone, it is a harmonious edifice despite the variety of its architectural styles. While Strasbourg, today, is a symbol of unity in Europe, for centuries, it was at the center of conflict. [84], The stained glass window in the axis of the apse depicts the Virgin of Alscace. The crossing of the transept and the choir is topped by the central cupola or dome, which is supported by four gigantic pillars, each wrapped in eight columns, which reach up to support the vaults under the cupola. The grand organ, located high on the wall of the north side of the nave, is recorded as existing in 1260. 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). It is the seat of a Bishop. The chevet, or east end, probably also had a tower, and was flanked by two chapels. 1500 and 1682), but many treasures remain inside the building; others, or fragments of them, being displayed in the Muse de luvre Notre-Dame. The Cathedral of Our Lady of Strasbourg is the landmark of the city and known in the whole world. The Silbermann organ had three keyboards, thirty-nine jeux, or effects and two thousand, two hundred forty-two pipes. History. 15 Fabulous Facts About Luxembourg Palace, A-Z Index - Art Timeline - Architecture Timeline - Contact - Terms - Privacy Policy - About Art Facts, 1. [37] [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 octagon tower was begun in 1399 by Ulrich von Ensingen (chief architect until 1419), and crowned with a spire by his successor Johannes Hltz. Cathedral facts for kids. [79]. Back in the day that Strasbourg was referred to as Argentoratum by the Ancient Romans, the site was already occupied by a Roman sanctuary. It is really beautiful and imposing! Strasbourg's 11th-15th-century Cathedral of Notre-Dame, damaged in 1870 and again in World War II, has been carefully restored. One of the architects was Erwin von Steinbach. Parcours "The Cathedral of Strasbourg" Streetcar line: Ligne A, D-Arrt : Langstross Grand'Rue. A balustrade crosses the face of the transept, and above is a wall of two bays filled with stained glass. 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. [38], Seven church bells were removed and melted down to made into cannon, and gold and other precious objects in the interior confiscated and taken away, and in November 1793 the cathedral was formally proclaimed a "Temple of Reason. STRASBOURG CATHEDRAL .925 Sterling Silver Charm Pendant Alsace France Europe Landmark Travel Souvenir New tf35 ad vertisement by HayleesSilver. [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. 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. The tympanum was destroyed in the French Revolution and replaced by a work by the sculptor Jean Vallastre[fr] (17651833). This enormous bell was installed but cracked shortly afterwards. Strasbourg Cathedral is a beautiful Gothic cathedral in the city of Strasbourg, France. It also preserves the earliest plans of the cathedral, as well as paintings and tapestries and other objects. The octagonal vault is covered with arches and lacelike interlaced sculpture in the late Gothic Flamboyant style. 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. 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]. 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. 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 Gothic pillars of the new section were copied exactly from those of the Basilica of Saint Denis. One angel sounds the bell while a second turns over an hourglass. Work on the church was frequently interrupted by wars and political crises. The church marked a historic moment in architecture, 11. The South Transept contains the Pillar of Angels, a massive supporting pillar for the ceiling. Johann Knauth, le sauveur de la cathdrale", "Les rcentes fouilles de Strasbourg (19471948), leurs rsultats pour la chronologie d'Argentorate", "Dcouverte majeure sous la cathdrale: un bassin antique serait la premire piscine baptismale de Strasbourg", "Des lgionnaires romains aux btisseurs de la cathdrale: la fouille de la place du Chteau Strasbourg", "1340 1371: Construction de la chapelle Sainte-Catherine et de la tour nord", "LA CATHDRALE DE STRASBOURG CATHDRALE FRANAISE? 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.

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strasbourg cathedral facts