Strasbourg Cathedral de Notre-Dame is known as one of the most beautiful gothic cathedrals in Europe. Homepage Strasbourg. By the use of buttresses and a double wall, the outer wall decorative with wide spaces, and the inner wall bearing the weight and having large windows, the interior of the cathedral could have more light. [45] During that same war, the stained glass was removed in 74 cases. The walls are pierced with narrow slits, like a medieval fortress, giving it a very military appearance. The two lower lancet windows were put together in the 19th century out of glass from different centuries. While previous faades were certainly drawn prior to construction, Strasbourg has one of the earliest faades whose construction is inconceivable without prior drawing. 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. The Strasbourg Cathedral is impossible to miss as it towers above the surrounding buildings and is located in the center of the city. [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. Built entirely in the Middle Ages, Strasbourg Cathedral was the tallest building in the world for more than 200 years. The first stone was placed on May 25, 1277, by Bishop Conrad of Lichtenberg. The reddish-brown sandstone from the Vosges mountains gives the cathedral its distinctive colour.[8]. In 1682, the choir screen (built in 1252) was broken out to expand the choir towards the nave. 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. 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 . The statue of the "Synagogue" is blindfolded, since Jews did not recognise the divinity of Christ. After the annexation of the city by Louis XIV of France, on 30 September 1681, and a mass celebrated in the cathedral on 23 October 1681 in presence of the king and prince-bishop Franz Egon of Frstenberg,[33] the cathedral was returned to the Catholics and its inside redesigned according to the Catholic liturgy of the Counter-Reformation. The central figures depict the entry of Christ into Jerusalem, and the Crucifixion and Passion of Christ, all with exceptional expression and detail. 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 (. [46] and stored in a salt mine near Heilbronn, Germany. Strasbourg Cathedral is over one thousand years old. the choir and south portal, still have very Romanesque features, with more emphasis placed on walls than on windows. 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 planned south tower was never built and as a result, with its characteristic asymmetrical form, the cathedral is now the premier landmark of Alsace. The cathedral is illuminated by one of the most remarkable collections of stained-glassed windows in the world. The painted figures on the wall represent fathers of the church and founders of religious orders, depicted in Byzantine style. 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 . Under Charlemagne, the Bishop Remi consecrated the altar and built a funeral crypt in about 778. The Strasbourg astronomical clock is located in the Cathdrale Notre-Dame of Strasbourg, Alsace, France. In 1015, bishop Werner laid the first stone of a new cathedral on the foundations of the Carolingian church. Free shipping for many products! 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 vaults are supported by a circular pillar with modest decorative stone rings. Until today, the church remains the 6th-tallest church in the world and is the most prominent landmark in Strasbourg. The very beautiful stained glass windows date from the fourteenth century and is mostly a work by John Kircheim. [39][37] Following the war, Klotz took German nationality so he could continue his work. 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! Construction of the new cathedral began on the foundations of the preceding structures. Strasbourg Cathedral is a beautiful Gothic cathedral in the city of Strasbourg, France. .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. 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. 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. In 2010, the metropolitan area of Strasbourg is inhabited by 759,868 people. [18], The next major step was the reconstruction of the nave into the Gothic style, which took place between 1240 and 1274. [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. After the spire of the St. Marys church in Stralsund burned down, it became the tallest building in the world, a record it would hold a total of 227 years between 1647 and 1874! After the war, it was returned to the cathedral by the Monuments, Fine Arts and Archives section of the United States military.[47]. 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. The Chapel of John the Baptist preserves its thick Romanesque walls and two Romanesque windows. It is surrounded by a big place where tourists and inhabitants of Strasbourg like to take a walk. They feature a Tree of Jesse (The Genealogy of Christ) and the judgement of Solomon (right window) and the Virgin Mary with John the Baptist and John the Evangelist) as well as King Solomon, the Queen of Sheba and King David on the left. 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 construction of the Strasbourg Cathedral, we know today, thereafter started and it took quite a bit of time to finish. 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. In 1372 the work was taken over a master Conrad, also known as Kuntze, about whom little is known, until 1382. It's the most. 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. While Strasbourg, today, is a symbol of unity in Europe, for centuries, it was at the center of conflict. The reverse of the central doors of the portal has a column statue of Saint Peter holding the keys of the kingdom and above it a blind rose, without glass, a miniature version of the large rose window above it. Remains of the choir screen are displayed in the Muse de luvre Notre-Dame and in The Cloisters. Overview Download history Purchase history Invoices Boards SIGN OUT. 00 4006 Langhausorgel im Strassburger Mnster.jpg 1,467 2,200; 3.7 MB 14-02-07-Cathdrale Notre-Dame de Strasbourg-RalfR-05.jpg 2,848 4,288; 9.23 MB 14-02-07-Cathdrale Notre-Dame de Strasbourg-RalfR-11.jpg 2,848 4,288; 8.14 MB 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. [50], The restoration of the tower was completed in 2006, and in 2014 a new campaign of restoration was begun on the south transept. It was the highest building in the world from 1647 to 1874. Drawing A, circa 1260. 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. (New York, NY) April 21, 2011 - Axis Mundi was invited to submit a proposal for a new cathedral for the city of Strasbourg, France. The genuinely Romanesque chevet can only be seen from the courtyard of the adjacent complex of 18th-century buildings. 1500) by Nikolaus Hagenauer, probably from the former main altar of the cathedral, Parts of the original astronomical clock (Strasbourg Museum of Decorative Arts). 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. Formerly the floor of the crossing was filled with tombs of notable religious figures, but they were moved in later reconstructions. 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. During the Franco-Prussian War of 187071, city was under siege. Its the capital of the Grand Est region of France in the historic region of Alsace. In 2015, the city has celebrated the millennial anniversary of its cathedral. 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. It is separated from the nave by two massive pillars, 8.5 by 5 meters, which support the tower above. 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. The transept of the cathedral was 55 meters long, the same length as the nave and choir. [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". It also preserves the earliest plans of the cathedral, as well as paintings and tapestries and other objects. 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. Cathdrale Notre Dame de Strasbourg Address Pl. Between the lower tower and spire there is a balustrade, almost hidden by pinnacles and other architectural decoration. Strasbourg Cathedral still holds a remarkable record, 7. [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]. What makes this monument extraordinarily impressive are the steeple with . Another remarkable feature inside the church is the Strasbourg astronomical clock. Its the third clock on this location and was installed in the year 1843, with previous clocks dating back to the 14th and 16th centuries. 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. [48] The bishopric of Strasbourg had been elevated to the rank of archbishopric a few months before, in June 1988. Media in category "Strasbourg Cathedral organ" The following 102 files are in this category, out of 102 total. The most amazing feature of the cathedral is its west faade, 9. Every day at solar noon, Christ and the Apostles go on a procession and the rooster is integrated into the clock crows thrice. The rose window, with a rayonnant Gothic design, is fourteen metres in diameter and was finished in 1345. 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. It is easily recognizable by its pink sandstone faade and its unique tower. Klotz's dome was in turn heavily damaged by bombing raids during World War II, and restored between 1988 and 1992. One of the oldest gothic cathedrals in France and the world, along with the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. Built of red Vosges sandstone, it is a harmonious edifice despite the variety of its architectural styles. The window was a gift to the Cathedral in 1956 from the Council of Europe, which has headquarters in Strasbourg. ABOUT Strasbourg Cathedral: discover the Gothic masterpiece! Is Strasbourg in Germany or France? 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. 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). It is the seat of the Archbishop of Strasbourg and one of the finest examples of Gothic architecture in Europe. On the south side, the upper windows depict soldiers, popes, bishops, and other masculine figures. The nave and choir were composed of three vessels, each with two traverses. The original construction of the church on its current location started in the year 1015. 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. Find Strasbourg Strasbourg Cathedral stock photos and editorial news pictures from Getty Images. It weighs 7.5 tons and 2.2 meters in diameter, and was cast in 1447 by Hans Gremp.