strasbourg cathedral facts

Formerly the floor of the crossing was filled with tombs of notable religious figures, but they were moved in later reconstructions. The construction of this church is a mixture of Roman and Gothic architecture. Stavelot Triptych. 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 central vessel was higher than the two collaterals. They were manufactured between 1638 and 1657 in Paris by Pierre Damour. Lets take a closer look at some of the most interesting facts about Strasbourg Cathedral. . With its spire soaring 142m above the city, Our Lady of Strasbourg Cathedral was the highest building in the West until the nineteenth century. On the south side, the upper windows depict soldiers, popes, bishops, and other masculine figures. A little-known treasure of Strasbourg, the gothic Eglise Saint-Pierre-le-Jeune was consecrated in 1053 by the Alsatian Pope Leo IX. 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 reason is simply that the intention was to eventually build the south tower, but this never happened, resulting in the buildings distinctive form today. Behind him is the portal of Saint Laurent. It has an asymmetrical facade (mainly 13th century) with fine . [39][37] Following the war, Klotz took German nationality so he could continue his work. 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). Construction of the new cathedral began on the foundations of the preceding structures. The windows are devoted to nine Emperors of the Holy Roman Empire. [69] The medieval crossing dome's aspect was altered several times over the centuries. 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. [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. 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. One of the architects was Erwin von Steinbach. It is really beautiful and imposing! In 1918 Alsace and Strasbourg and Alscace were once again attached to France. The Strasbourg Cathedral is impossible to miss as it towers above the surrounding buildings and is located in the center of the city. Built of red Vosges sandstone, it is a harmonious edifice despite the variety of its architectural styles. It houses one of the biggest astronomical clocks in the world, 15. It was rebuilt 1298, in 13241327, in 1384, 1430, and 1489 and finally in 1716 by Andr Silbermann. Here are the best facts about Strasbourg Cathedral 1. Other scenes are painted onto the reverse of the bas-reliefs. Type of place: Religious site. 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. [9] The Muse de l'uvre Notre-Dame, a municipal museum located in the Foundation's buildings, displays original works of art from the cathedral, such as sculptures and stained-glass, but also the surviving original medieval buildings plans. [25] The three men completed the bell tower over the central part of the faade, in a design that moved away from Gerlach von Steinbach's initial idea of a central tower and whose precise authorship is unknown. .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. Its considered to be the epitome of French Gothic architecture, 5. 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. 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. Bengel, Sabine; Nohlen, Marie-Jos; Potier, Stphane: This page was last edited on 21 February 2023, at 19:21. 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. The cathedral was built in Gothic style. 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 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! The painted figures on the wall represent fathers of the church and founders of religious orders, depicted in Byzantine style. The roof was set afire and the cross at the top of the spire was bent by a German artillery shell. 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. 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 outgoing 15th century was marked by the sermons of Johann Geiler von Kaisersberg and by the emerging Protestant Reformation, represented in Strasbourg by figures such as John Calvin, Martin Bucer and Jacob Sturm von Sturmeck. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. The face is flanked by two cylindrical towers with narrow lancet windows and pointed roofs. "[36], The cathedral was not returned to church control until July 15, 1801, along with confiscated property that had not been destroyed. The grand organ, located high on the wall of the north side of the nave, is recorded as existing in 1260. Strasbourg Cathedral is over 1,000 years old Officially named "Notre-Dame de Strasbourg" ("Our Lady of Strasbourg"), the Cathedral was built in a Gothic style, and is still to this day a "light and delicate marvel", as Victor Hugo called it. Remains of the choir screen are displayed in the Muse de luvre Notre-Dame and in The Cloisters. One of the coolest facts about Strasbourg Cathedral is that you can get the best view of all on top of the cathedral itself! #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. Because of this amazing trick, the spire was saved! The statue of the "Synagogue" is blindfolded, since Jews did not recognise the divinity of Christ. It was the tallest building in the world for a period of 227 years, 6. There are two altars fixed to west pillars of the crossing, both from the 16th century; one devoted to Saint Pancras of Rome and the other to Saint Maurice. The tower was saved, however, when in May of the same year citizens of Strasbourg crowned it with a giant tin Phrygian cap of the kind the Enrags themselves wore. 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. [17], The first cathedral built on the present site was erected by the bishop Saint Arbogast in about 550575. Further modifications were made to the crypts in the 12th century. The known dimensions of the building are as follows:[87]. [75], The windows of the triforium, between the upper and lower window, contain 19th-century reconstitutions of early windows depicting the ancestors of Christ, but little of the original glass remains. [44] On 1 March 1941, General Leclerc made the "Oath of Kufra" (serment de Koufra), stating he would "rest the weapons only when our beautiful colours fly again on Strasbourg's cathedral". If you love heritage, culture and the art of living, there's no doubt that you'll fall in love with this city! [52], The cathedral has three portals, corresponding to the three vessels of the nave. A sculpture of a head, wearing the hat of an architect or magistrate, gazes from the balustrade at the pillar of angels. The transept of the cathedral was 55 meters long, the same length as the nave and choir. Archaeological excavations below and around the cathedral have been conducted in 18961897,[11] 1907,[12] 19231924,[13] 19471948,[14] between 1966 and 1972,[15] and finally between 2012 and 2014. The second wave of construction started in the 12th century, when the Gothic style of architecture had started to develop. 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. [8], The nave is dominated by the two rows of massive pillars. (New York, NY) April 21, 2011 - Axis Mundi was invited to submit a proposal for a new cathedral for the city of Strasbourg, France. When the nave was rebuilt in Gothic style in the 13th century, the old windows were reinstalled in random locations. 9. Let's find out the people who live in Strasbourg. Cathdrale Notre Dame de Strasbourg or Strasbourg Cathedral is the 6th tallest church in the world, built entirely in the medieval period. The original Romanesque crypt was kept and expanded westwards. The Strasbourg Christmas markets are located in old Strasbourg, which is located on an island in the middle of the city. The first version of the church was starting to be built during 1015 by proposal of Bishop Werner von Habsburg, but fire destroyed most of . Built of red Vosges sandstone, it is a harmonious edifice despite the variety of its architectural styles. 15 Fabulous Facts About Luxembourg Palace, A-Z Index - Art Timeline - Architecture Timeline - Contact - Terms - Privacy Policy - About Art Facts, 1. The new building, with its wooden roof beams, was unfortunately prone to fire; it suffered from fires in 1136, 1140,1150, and 1176. The original Romanesque cathedral burned down in the year 1176 and the construction of the modern-day cathedral started shortly after this disaster. Different characters, representing the ages of life (from a child to an old man) parade in front of Death. The pillar was created in the middle of the 13th century, most probably by a group of sculptors from France or Burgundy. [83], In 1547 a new clock was begun by Christian Herlin and others, but the construction was interrupted when the cathedral was handed over to the Roman Catholic Church. Strasbourg Cathedral (official French: Notre-Dame de Strasbourg ,German: Liebfrauenmnster zu Straburg, Our Lady of Strasbourg) is the Cathedral in Strasbourg. The octagonal vault is covered with arches and lacelike interlaced sculpture in the late Gothic Flamboyant style. It measures 142 m (466 ft) and remained the tallest building in the world until 1847. One of the oldest gothic cathedrals in France and the world, along with the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. 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. A cathedral is a large Christian church. 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. The cathedral was built in Gothic style. 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. Strasbourg Cathedral (official French: Notre-Dame de Strasbourg ,German: Liebfrauenmnster zu Straburg, Our Lady of Strasbourg) is the Cathedral in Strasbourg. 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. By plane 15 minutes from Strasbourg Airport. [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. Strasbourg Cathedral in France is famous for its western facade. It was built next to Strasbourg Cathedral in the 1730s, from designs by Robert de Cotte . It looks over the former cloister of the canons of the cathedral. [82], Multiple faces of the clock -stars and hours, One face of the clock -signs of the zodiac, The astronomical clock, located in the south transept, is one of the most famous features of the cathedral. de la Cathdrale, 67000 Strasbourg, France Phone +33 3 88 21 43 34 Web Visit website One of France's most stunning examples of late Gothic architecture, Strasbourg Cathedral towers over the Northern city's skyline with dramatic, imposing details. Portal of Saint Lawrence (North transept). 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. Top 10 Little Known Facts about Palais Rohan. [82] Other parts of the vaults are upheld by Atlantes, supports in the form of human figures. The original construction of the church on its current location started in the year 1015. The tympanum was destroyed in the French Revolution and replaced by a work by the sculptor Jean Vallastre[fr] (17651833). Free shipping for many products! Described by Victor Hugo as a "gigantic and delicate marvel",[7] and by Goethe as a "sublimely towering, wide-spreading tree of God",[2] the cathedral is visible far across the plains of Alsace and can be seen from as far off as the Vosges Mountains or the Black Forest on the other side of the Rhine. [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 first stone was placed on May 25, 1277, by Bishop Conrad of Lichtenberg. Cathedral facts for kids. It was the highest building in the world from 1647 to 1874. While Strasbourg, today, is a symbol of unity in Europe, for centuries, it was at the center of conflict.

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