strasbourg cathedral facts strasbourg cathedral facts

[53], Unlike the sculpture of earlier cathedrals, the Strasbourg statues clearly show emotions; the prophets look severe, the Virgins appear serene, the Virtues look noble, and the frivolous Virgins appear foolish. The Bayeux Tapestry is without a doubt the most fascinating Romanesque artwork that was ever produced. 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. [57] Following their destruction during the French Revolution, several of the sculptures have been replaced in the 19th century by works by Philippe Grass,[58] Jean-tienne Malade,[59] and Jean Vallastre. [67], The Klotz designed crossing dome over the transept, The crossing dome being built, 1878 or 1879, Romanesque vaults beneath the Klotz crossing dome. 1500) by Nikolaus Hagenauer, probably from the former main altar of the cathedral, Parts of the original astronomical clock (Strasbourg Museum of Decorative Arts). It was originally made in 1498 by Nicolas Roder for the cemetery of Saint-Thomas, and was based on engravings by Martin Schongauer and Albrecht Drer. A first Romanesque cathedral was built in the 11th century which later burnt to the ground. While previous faades were certainly drawn prior to construction, Strasbourg has one of the earliest faades whose construction is inconceivable without prior drawing. 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. The original Romanesque crypt was kept and expanded westwards. These windows consist of 5 sets and depict 19 Emperors of the Holy Roman Empire. Today, about 275,000 people live there (with around 780,000 in the metropolitan area ). Theres a reason why the church has an asymmetrical form, 12. The church was repaired after each fire, and reconstructions and modifications made, but it retained its essentially Romanesque form, with thick walls, small windows and massive columns. Strasbourg is the seat Council of Europe, of the European Court of Human Rights and of the European Parliament. 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. While Strasbourg, today, is a symbol of unity in Europe, for centuries, it was at the center of conflict. 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. In 2010, the metropolitan area of Strasbourg is inhabited by 759,868 people. There are three stairways down to the crypt, the oldest, from the apse, dates to about 1150. Cathedrals can be found in the Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox . The pilasters between the stairways are older, from 1015. [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. Construction finished in 1439 with the erection of the emblematic North tower. [52], The cathedral has three portals, corresponding to the three vessels of the nave. Let's find out the people who live in Strasbourg. The belltower is 142 m high. The two rose windows above are later, from the 14th century, with vegetal designs. Strasbourg Cathedral in France is famous for its western facade. The Director of public works of Strasbourg, Grold, quickly took down and protected the statues of the portal, but 215 statues of the voussures over the portals were smashed with hammers, as were the angels atop the gables on the facade, and the crowns and sceptres of the statues of the kings. They were commissioned by Cardinal Richelieu for the Cathedral of Notre Dame de Paris, and were made to accompany a painting there, "The Vow of Louis XIII". They wear diadems and have flowers in their hair, and carry twigs of the tree of life, or fruit. Here are the best facts about Strasbourg Cathedral 1. Full description. 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. 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. It's the most. 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! [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. This embroidered cloth has a length of about 70 meters (230 feet) and a height of 50 centimeters (20 inches). A retrouver dans la galerie. After the war, it was returned to the cathedral by the Monuments, Fine Arts and Archives section of the United States military.[47]. Construction of the original, on the exact site of a Roman temple, was initiated in 1015 but later destroyed by a fire. At Strasbourg it is 61.5 metres (202ft) long and 16 metres (52ft) wide, not counting the two collateral aisles, which are each 10.41 metres (34.2ft) wide. 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. 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. The sculpture of the portals was returned to its places or restored between 1811 and 1827. Add to Favorites . Lets take a closer look at some of the most interesting facts about Strasbourg Cathedral. Built of red Vosges sandstone, it is a harmonious edifice despite the variety of its architectural styles. The Palais Rohan (Rohan Palace) in Strasbourg is the former residence of the prince-bishops and cardinals of the House of Rohan, an ancient French Noble family originally from Brittany.. Top 10 Little Known Facts about Palais Rohan. The exterior height of the central nave reaches an astounding 40 meters (130 feet) as well. Strasbourg Cathedral or the Cathedral of Our Lady of Strasbourg (French: Cathdrale Notre-Dame de Strasbourg, or Cathdrale de Strasbourg, German: Liebfrauenmnster zu Straburg or Straburger Mnster), also known as Strasbourg Minster, is a Catholic cathedral in Strasbourg, Alsace, France. Walk up 66 meters to marvel at the view of Strasbourg from the top of the clock. SUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSLETTER AND GET THE FREE EBOOK Back in the day that Strasbourg was referred to as Argentoratum by the Ancient Romans, the site was already occupied by a Roman sanctuary. [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. 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. 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.. On the south side, the upper windows depict soldiers, popes, bishops, and other masculine figures. [84], The stained glass window in the axis of the apse depicts the Virgin of Alscace. 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. Strasbourg Cathedral is a Roman Catholic cathedral in Strasbourg, France. [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. [17], The first cathedral built on the present site was erected by the bishop Saint Arbogast in about 550575. 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. [8], The nave is dominated by the two rows of massive pillars. Select from premium Strasbourg Strasbourg Cathedral of the highest quality. From 1647 until 1874 it was the world's tallest building and today it is still the highest structure still standing that was built in the middle ages. "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 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. 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 nave and choir were composed of three vessels, each with two traverses. 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. 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. [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. Strasbourg's 11th-15th-century Cathedral of Notre-Dame, damaged in 1870 and again in World War II, has been carefully restored. Previous buildings on the site Outside, the facade is the greatest "book" of images the Middle Ages has to offer. 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. 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. The Strasbourg astronomical clock is located in the Cathdrale Notre-Dame of Strasbourg, Alsace, France. [46] and stored in a salt mine near Heilbronn, Germany. The sculpture over the central tympanum and over the south portal of the transept was saved because it was covered with wooden planks with the revolutionary motto "Libert-Egalit-Fraternit,"[36], In April 1794, the Enrags started planning to tear the spire down, on the grounds that it hurt the principle of equality. 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. 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. [54][55] It presents a virtual theater of late Gothic flamboyant architecture and decoration, including three interlocking arches over the doors, containing a statue of the Saint during his martyrdom. 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 same time, the planned two spires on either side of the facade would reach an extraordinary height of 122 meters. 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. The pulpit itself, in the form of a very ornate corbeille or basket, is entirely covered with colonettes, gables, pinnacles, and niches filled with sculpture, including images of Christ on the cross, a crowned Virgin Mary, Apostles, the Crucifixion, and well as Kings and doctors of the Church. The construction of the cathedral, which had started in the year 1015 and had been relaunched in 1190, was finished in 1439.[6]. In 1956, the Council of Europe donated the famous choir window by Max Ingrand, the "Strasbourg Madonna" (see also Flag of Europe Biblical interpretation). [50], The restoration of the tower was completed in 2006, and in 2014 a new campaign of restoration was begun on the south transept. Strasbourg Cathedral (official French: Notre-Dame de Strasbourg ,German: Liebfrauenmnster zu Straburg, Our Lady of Strasbourg) is the Cathedral in Strasbourg. Strasbourg and Cologne Cathedral together represent some of the earliest uses of architectural drawing. Drawing A, circa 1260. Inside Strasbourg Cathedral. In the south transept, the lancet and oculus windows in the two large bays on the east, built in 12201227, are modelled after those in the lower choir of Chartres Cathedral. 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. 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. [69] The medieval crossing dome's aspect was altered several times over the centuries. It takes its reddish-brown color from the sandstone of the Vosges mountains. 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). The original construction of the church on its current location started in the year 1015. 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. 1500 and 1682), but many treasures remain inside the building; others, or fragments of them, being displayed in the Muse de luvre Notre-Dame. "[36], The cathedral was not returned to church control until July 15, 1801, along with confiscated property that had not been destroyed. The four bells in the octagon tower are rung on the hour. 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. As it turns, it shows the 1,022 stars identified by Ptolemy, as viewed above the horizon of Strasbourg. 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. Find Strasbourg Strasbourg Cathedral stock photos and editorial news pictures from Getty Images. In 1918 Alsace and Strasbourg and Alscace were once again attached to France. 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. This clock functioned until 1788, and can be seen today in the Strasbourg Museum of Decorative Arts. One of the most fascinating churches in the world can be found in the east of France. 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. 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 extension concerns the Neustadt, new town, designed and built under the German administration (1871-1918). 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. A Romanesque portal opens to the cloister outside. Built entirely in the Middle Ages, Strasbourg Cathedral was the tallest building in the world for more than 200 years. The church is located in the Alsace Region in eastern France, 2. Another two old bells by Mathieu Edel (1787) ring on the quarter hours. The main architect and the man credited with most of the cathedrals design was Erwin von Steinbach (1244-1318), a German architect. The chapel contains the tomb of Bishop Conrad de Lichtenberg, made between 1310 and 1320, and now framed by flamboyant tripe arch. 1. The reddish-brown sandstone from the Vosges mountains gives the cathedral its distinctive colour.[8]. [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. 5 out of 5 stars (7,356) $ 17.50. The church marked a historic moment in architecture, 11. This was changed and the French Gothic style or Rayonnant Gothic was used for most parts of the cathedral starting in the 13th century. Apart from that, he is also standing just outside of the Cathedral near the southern transept of the church. [83] The present clock was built by Jean-Baptiste Schwilgu between 1837 and 1842.[83]. It is a major architectural, historical, and cultural landmark in the city. It is composed of an octagonal pillar surrounded by four engaged columns, which reach upwards to support the vaults, and four slender colonettes. The Cathedral stands on the exact site of a roman temple built on a little hill above the muddy ground. The genuinely Romanesque chevet can only be seen from the courtyard of the adjacent complex of 18th-century buildings. If you enjoyed this video, make sure to subscribe to our channel. [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. HayleesSilver From shop HayleesSilver. [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. 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. Emperior Charles V visits the cathedral in 1552. 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 . 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 looks over the former cloister of the canons of the cathedral. It was decorated with paintings by the Swiss painter Tobias Stimmer. Strasbourg Cathedral still holds a remarkable record, 7. 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. Today, the city is one of the most important cities in Europe as its home to several European institutions, including the European Parliament. "It is our history," French president Emmanuel Macron said after the fire. 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]. [45] During that same war, the stained glass was removed in 74 cases. The rose window, with a rayonnant Gothic design, is fourteen metres in diameter and was finished in 1345. The sculptor Jacques Zimmer added the heads of cherubs made of bronze. 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. The central decoration is sculptural work dedicated to the Virgin Mary donated by the de Barby brothers in 1521. It was the highest building in the world from 1647 to 1874. 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. 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. Download Strasbourg Cathedral stock photos. The cathedral was built in Gothic style. This is also true for Ecclesia and Synagoga, arguably the most famous statues of the cathedral, if not of Strasbourg. [84], In 2004 the apse and choir received some of its historic furnishings; fifteen choir stalls made by Claude Burdy and Claude Bergerat in 1692, as well as a group of busts of the apostles originally placed there in the 18th century. 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. The portals are set forward from the front of the church by the network of slender columns, spires and arches which form an outer decorative wall. [8], Animated mechanical figure of Samson and a lion. The Bishop appealed to the new Emperor, who granted one eighth of his revenues in the province toward the construction of a new Cathedral. The two lower lancet windows were put together in the 19th century out of glass from different centuries. This was then carried out in the south transept. Portal of Saint Lawrence (North transept). Christianity was first imposed in 313 by the Edict of Constantine. This included rebuilding the crypt and the addition of new stained-glass windows. It is reached by a stairway with a curling sculpted design called "butterfly wings". 10. The upper windows of the nave depict eighty-four saints, added by various artists between 1250 and 1275. Ad vertisement from shop HayleesSilver. The supporting buttresses on either side also have very expressive sculpture representing the Virgin Mary and the three Magi on one side, and a group of Saints on the other, both sheltered beneath lacelike flamboyant sculpture and pinnacles. One of the most fascinating facts about Strasbourg Cathedral is that it took hundreds of years to complete. 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. Cathedral facts for kids. 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. [49], In 2000, an Al-Qaeda plot to bomb the adjacent Christmas market was prevented by French and German police. 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. Free shipping for many products! On the south side of the nave, the upper walls have windows depicting female saints, including local saints from Alsace or Strasbourg. It was constructed beginning in about 1330, following the rebuilding of the transept. [20] Erwin von Steinbach's son Johannes von Steinbach served as magister operis, or Werkmeister (chief architect) from (at least) 1332 until his death in 1341. Since it was built, the platform has been a popular tourist attraction, and, until recently, a strategic fire lookout. [36], A series of major reconstructions and restorations were carried out in the second of the century Gustave Klotz[fr] from 1837 to 1888. [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. Several of the original Romanesque structures were torn down to make way for this revolutionary new architectural style. It is surrounded by a big place where tourists and inhabitants of Strasbourg like to take a walk. [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. Bayeux Tapestry. 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 construction of the Strasbourg Cathedral, we know today, thereafter started and it took quite a bit of time to finish. The Strasbourg Cathedral was built over a period of 424 years The original construction of the church in its current location started in the year 1015. 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.