strasbourg cathedral facts strasbourg cathedral facts

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. "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. 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 . [26][27][28], The octagonal north tower was the combined work of architects Ulrich Ensingen (shaft) and Johannes Hltz of Cologne (top). They wear diadems and have flowers in their hair, and carry twigs of the tree of life, or fruit. Homepage Strasbourg. An even older bell, by Jean Jacques-Miller (1595), repeats the sounding of the hours one minute later. Architect Jakob von Landshut and sculptor Hans von Aachen rebuilt the portal of the northern portal, now referred to as the Saint-Lawrence portal or Portail Saint-Laurent, starting in 1505, which was the height of the Renaissance period. [40], In 1903, the architect Johann Knauth discovered cracks on the first pillar of the northern side of the nave. the choir and south portal, still have very Romanesque features, with more emphasis placed on walls than on windows. 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. The known dimensions of the building are as follows:[87]. Above this is a globe, with painted figures of the Church and the Antichrist confronting each other. 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. It is the tallest building in the city and has been a World Heritage Site since 1988. But it hasn't always been. [18], The new church was exceptionally large, just ten meters shorter than the present cathedral, and just ten meters narrower on its west front. 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. SUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSLETTER AND GET THE FREE EBOOK The belltower is 142 m high. He reconstructed the dome over the transept in a grander, Romanesque Revival style. 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.. 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. History. 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. 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. [70], The chevet, at the northeast end of the cathedral, close to the transept, has vestiges that go back to the Romanesque cathedral, particularly at the lower levels. It's the most. Ad vertisement from shop HayleesSilver. Cathdrale Notre Dame de Strasbourg or Strasbourg Cathedral is the 6th tallest church in the world, built entirely in the medieval period. 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. [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. The sculptor Jacques Zimmer added the heads of cherubs made of bronze. Bengel, Sabine; Nohlen, Marie-Jos; Potier, Stphane: This page was last edited on 21 February 2023, at 19:21. [36], A series of major reconstructions and restorations were carried out in the second of the century Gustave Klotz[fr] from 1837 to 1888. In 1918 Alsace and Strasbourg and Alscace were once again attached to France. 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 most fascinating facts about Strasbourg Cathedral is that it took hundreds of years to complete. Built of red Vosges sandstone, it is a harmonious edifice despite the variety of its architectural styles. . 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. The Bishop appealed to the new Emperor, who granted one eighth of his revenues in the province toward the construction of a new Cathedral. 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. A sculpture of a head, wearing the hat of an architect or magistrate, gazes from the balustrade at the pillar of angels. [79], The Romanesque north transept has four traverses, which were the first in the cathedral to receive Gothic rib vaults. 9. 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 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. 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. The original construction phase utilized the Romanesque architectural style. Work on the church was frequently interrupted by wars and political crises. [37] Strasbourg and Cologne Cathedral together represent some of the earliest uses of architectural drawing. On a clear day, it can be seen all the way from the Vosges Mountains, a mountain range over 30 kilometers to the southeast of the city, and the Black Forest, a famous forest an equal distance to the east! [56], Lintel decoration Mary ascends to Heaven, Ecclesia and Synagoga among other statues from the cathedral in the Muse de l'uvre Notre-Dame, The south portal, or Portal of the Virgin, dates to about the 1220s, the same time as the Pillar of the Angels and the Astronomic clock in the interior. The visual effect of the faade is enhanced by its unusual darkish red stone. A door opens from the chapel to an adjoining cloister behind the cathedral. One of the most fascinating facts about Strasbourg Cathedral is that it took hundreds of years to complete. It also preserves the earliest plans of the cathedral, as well as paintings and tapestries and other objects. 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]. 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. The first stone was placed on May 25, 1277, by Bishop Conrad of Lichtenberg. The Cathedral stands on the exact site of a roman temple built on a little hill above the muddy ground. Other scenes are painted onto the reverse of the bas-reliefs. "[36], The cathedral was not returned to church control until July 15, 1801, along with confiscated property that had not been destroyed. The cathedral can be seen from over 30 kilometers (20 miles) away from all sides on a clear day. 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. Most of these windows date back to the 12th and 13th centuries! While Strasbourg, today, is a symbol of unity in Europe, for centuries, it was at the center of conflict. [51], The rose window and gallery of the Apostles, The west front or faade, the main entrance of the cathedral, is a relatively late addition, constructed between 1277 and 1490. While previous faades were certainly drawn prior to construction, Strasbourg has one of the earliest faades whose construction is inconceivable without prior drawing. The west front was also exceptional because it was flanked by two towers, the "harmonic" style which became common in Gothic cathedrals during the following century. The two lower lancet windows were put together in the 19th century out of glass from different centuries. Use them in commercial designs under lifetime, perpetual & worldwide rights. The construction of the cathedral, which had started in the year 1015 and had been relaunched in 1190, was finished in 1439.[6]. 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 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. This magnificent cathedral is located in the city of Strasbourg in the eastern part of the country. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for CDV Photo Cathedral Strasbourg France E Brion at the best online prices at eBay! Only those Christian denominations that have bishops have cathedrals. This is also true for Ecclesia and Synagoga, arguably the most famous statues of the cathedral, if not of Strasbourg. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. The windows are devoted to nine Emperors of the Holy Roman Empire. Bayeux Tapestry. Further modifications were made to the crypts in the 12th century. Overview Download history Purchase history Invoices Boards SIGN OUT. The roof was set afire and the cross at the top of the spire was bent by a German artillery shell. It was rebuilt 1298, in 13241327, in 1384, 1430, and 1489 and finally in 1716 by Andr Silbermann. In 2010, the metropolitan area of Strasbourg is inhabited by 759,868 people. Choir pipe organ, north side of the choir, Height of observation deck: 66m (217ft), Exterior height of central nave: 40m (130ft), Inside height of central nave: 32m (105ft), Inside width of central nave: 16m (52ft), Inside height of lateral naves: 19m (62ft), Exterior width of west faade: 51.5m (169ft), Diameter of west faade rose window: 13.6m (45ft). Strasbourg Cathedral Interesting Facts The construction of the cathedral took 424 years. 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. 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. All the parts of the clock together are 18m (59ft) high. The choir was given its multicolour painted decoration, by douard Steinl and Charles Auguste Steinheil, finished in 1879. [84], Canon Conrad de Bussnang praying to Virgin and Child. [56], The mid-level of the transept over the portal, built in about 1230, has lancet windows and a statue of Virgin, flanked by Saint Peter and Saint Lawrence. Just think of the Tour Saint Jacques, a sight in Paris that had its entire church demolished. [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. On the south side, the upper windows depict soldiers, popes, bishops, and other masculine figures. [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. [67], The Klotz designed crossing dome over the transept, The crossing dome being built, 1878 or 1879, Romanesque vaults beneath the Klotz crossing dome. Emperior Charles V visits the cathedral in 1552. Together with the Cologne Cathedral, the faade of the Strasbourg Cathedral is considered to be one of the first buildings in history which made architectural drawings necessary to make it conceivable. The pillar was created in the middle of the 13th century, most probably by a group of sculptors from France or Burgundy. Decrees of the Emperor rendering justice were traditionally read out in front of this doorway. In 1518, a 'dancing plague' affected around 400 people in Strasbourg, Alsace (Now a city of France . The Silbermann organ had three keyboards, thirty-nine jeux, or effects and two thousand, two hundred forty-two pipes. [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. [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. Bishop Heinrich von Hasenburg was the leading figure behind the start of the construction of the church and he had one goal, to make it more amazing than the newly finished cathedral of Basel. Walk up 66 meters to marvel at the view of Strasbourg from the top of the clock. The transept of the cathedral was 55 meters long, the same length as the nave and choir. The 142 m high spire looks incredibly lightweight and made the Cathedral the highest edifice in all Christianity until the 19th century. The extension concerns the Neustadt, new town, designed and built under the German administration (1871-1918). In 1956, the Council of Europe donated the famous choir window by Max Ingrand, the "Strasbourg Madonna" (see also Flag of Europe Biblical interpretation). The original construction of the church on its current location started in the year 1015. It takes its reddish-brown color from the sandstone of the Vosges mountains. The exterior height of the central nave reaches an astounding 40 meters (130 feet) as well. It lies on the left bank of the Rhine, opposite the German city of Kehl . Strasbourg is located close to the border of Germany. The cathedral was hit by British and American bombs during air raids on the centre of Strasbourg on 11 August 1944, which also heavily damaged the Palais Rohan and the Sainte-Madeleine Church. Find Strasbourg Strasbourg Cathedral stock photos and editorial news pictures from Getty Images. Here are the best facts about Strasbourg Cathedral 1. The original Romanesque crypt was kept and expanded westwards. This was changed and the French Gothic style or Rayonnant Gothic was used for most parts of the cathedral starting in the 13th century. At the lower level are statues of the four Evangelists. The arched tympanum over the doors of the central portal is crowded with sculpture, as are the voussures, the stone arches around the door. 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. Thanks to 3D reconstructions of. The painted figures on the wall represent fathers of the church and founders of religious orders, depicted in Byzantine style. CATHDRALE ALLEMANDE? Formerly the floor of the crossing was filled with tombs of notable religious figures, but they were moved in later reconstructions. 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 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. Portal of Saint Lawrence (North transept). 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 the original Romanesque building. This massive faade was decorated with thousands of figures giving it a unique and magnificent impression! 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.