Yet, by the start of the 20th century, the mood had changed. In 1981 the Speyer Cathedral was admitted to UNESCO's World Heritage List. The Heidentrmchen is a remainder of the medieval town fortifications, a tower and a section of the wall, situated a little to the east of the cathedral. Arcading is the single most significant decorative feature of Romanesque architecture. 5,324 3,560 pixel. Despite its Romanesque origins, there are many additions to the cathedral which have changed its original design, including 18th and 19th-century extensions to the facade and towers. However, to receive the title of Holy Roman Emperor, they had to be crowned by the pope. It is, by virtue of its proportions, the largest and the most important; by virtue of the history to which it is linked the Salic emperors made it their place of burial. Speyer Cathedral, a basilica with four towers and two domes, was founded by Conrad II in 1030 and remodelled at the end of the 11th century. So essentially these were all eight Holy Roman Emperors, but four of them were "uncrowned".). Radding, Charles M. and Clark, William W.: Medieval Architecture, Medieval Learning: Builders and Masters in the Age of Romanesque and Gothic, Yale University Press, New Haven and London, 1992, List of regional characteristics of Romanesque churches, History of medieval Arabic and Western European domes, "Romanesque architecture and art | Infoplease", "Romanesque Architecture And Art | Encyclopedia.com", "Der Kaiserdom zu Speyer Zahlen, Namen, Fakten fr besonders Eilige", "Endlich wieder "Ischa Freimaak!" Later some cannons captured in the Franco-Prussian war of 1870/71 were displayed. At the behest of King Ludwig I of Bavaria, Johann von Schraudolph and Joseph Schwarzmann decorated the interior walls of the cathedral with Nazarene style frescoes (18461853). Speyer Cathedral, a basilica with four towers and two domes, was founded by Conrad II in 1030 and remodelled at the end of the 11th century. The church had been consecrated in 1061 when it was just about completed and it was one of the main building projects in Europe at the time. Speyer Cathedral is historically, artistically and architecturally one of the most significant examples of Romanesque architecture in Europe. The major elements within the combination remain independent. Speyer became a model for many other church buildings but was unsurpassed in its magnificence. The interior of the Speyer Cathedral features one of the tallest naves from the Romanesque Age. This will also allow our fans to get more involved in what content we do produce. The Cathedral incorporates the general layout of St Michael of Hildesheim and brings to perfection a type of plan that was adopted generally throughout the Rhineland. It is the seat of the Bishop of Speyer. The nave of 15m wide, has six sections corresponding to the 12 sections of the aisles. These buildings are characterized by their massive stone walls, rounded . Although repeatedly occupied and ransacked, town and cathedral survived the Thirty Years' War (16181648) with little damage. In addition the frescos by Johann Schraudolph, which were removed in the 1950s, were restored and are now displayed in the "Kaisersaal" of the cathedral. Success! The cathedral was consecrated in the year 1061 and years later, Henry IV continued construction are built apses and transepts, and is covered with vault the nave. Today, it doesn't look unusual - but the construction work done here helped develop techniques that enabled many of the other grand churches in the region to flourish. It also served as the model for multiple other buildings in Europe. Gutted in 1689 and rebuilt several times, it was consecrated in 1961 after its most recent restoration. We may all come from different walks of life but we have one common passion - learning through travel. The cathedral, which is dedicated to St. Mary, patron saint of Speyer ("Patrona Spirensis") and St. Stephen is generally known as the Kaiserdom zu Speyer (Imperial Cathedral of Speyer). The interior decorations and the new westwork were considered a major feat in the 19th century. colour corrected. In 1806 the French had in mind to tear the building down and use it as a quarry, which was only prevented by the bishop of Mainz, Joseph Ludwig Colmar. This cathedral was built to honor St. Mary and St. Stephen. maximum image resolution. Despite the fact that now the basilica is dedicated exclusively to the service of mass and organ concerts, the construction of the cathedral had political overtones. In the course of the centuries knowledge of the exact location was lost. [2][16], Around 1090, Conrad's grandson, Emperor Henry IV, conducted an ambitious reconstruction in order to enlarge the cathedral. Some parts of this article have been translated using Googles translation engine. Some of the contents, e. g. clothing, can be seen at the Historical Museum of the Palatinate near the cathedral. This makes it the most important burial place of kings and emperors in Germany, comparable to the burial places of kings in other European countries: Among the leaders buried there are; King Philipp of Swabia (died 1208), son of Frederick Barbarossa. The graves of the emperors and kings were originally placed in the central aisle in front of the altar. The Pope may have given him the crown, but it was God who gave him his power and glory, at least according to the emperor himself. In designing the faade of the Westwerk, Heinrich Hbsch, an architect of early Historicism, created a Neo Romanesque design which drew on features of the original westwerk and those of several other Romanesque buildings, scaling the windows differently and introducing a gable on the facade, a row of statues over the main portal and polychrome stonework in sandstone yellow and rust. 1854 to 1858, Ludwig's successor, King Maximilian II, had the Baroque westwork replaced by a Neo-Romanesque one, with the two tall towers and the octagonal dome resembling those that were lost, thus restoring the cathedral's overall Romanesque appearance. full/alternative names. [2], Over the centuries, crypts developed from tiny chambers into large semi-subterranean and very articulated hall crypts, which became standard forms in Italy and Germany, sometimes extending under the transepts as well as the chancel. The church features a Romanesque architectural style and was inscribed in 1981. WebGL must be enable, Declaration of principles to promote international solidarity and cooperation to preserve World Heritage, Heritage Solutions for Sustainable Futures, Recommendation on the Historic Urban Landscape, Central Africa World Heritage Forest Initiative (CAWHFI), Reducing Disasters Risks at World Heritage Properties, World Heritage and Sustainable Development, World Heritage Programme for Small Island Developing States (SIDS), Initiative on Heritage of Religious Interest, Der Dom zu Speyer (Deutsche UNESCO-Kommission - german only). Commissioned by the Bavarian King Ludwig I., the interior was painted in late Nazarene style by the school of Johannes Schraudolph and Josef Schwarzmann from 1846 to 1853. This plan is characterized by the equilibrium of the eastern and western blocks and by the symmetrical and singular placement of the towers which frame the mass formed by the nave and the transept. In Germany, the bells are always numbered from largest to smallest, Bell 1 is always the tenor or bourdon. The cathedral was inaugurated in 1061. As the pilgrim is being reminded of the origin and perfection of the salvation, he may enter the church. Construction was started in 1030 and took 80 years to complete. [3][4] With the Abbey of Cluny in ruins, it remains the largest Romanesque church. The crypt consists of four rooms, situated beneath the choir, the crossing and the transepts. And a few words on the Speyer Cathedral Architecture, Indian Scout renovation: when your paint creates generator issues. In terms of its architectural feature, the triple-naved vaulted basilica is the central feature of the element design. ", "Romanesque Art and Architecture ninemsn Encarta", Speyer Cathedral / UNESCO Official Website, Rhineland-Palatinate website for Speyer Cathedral (German), Scan of the chapter on early christianity in Speyer, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Speyer_Cathedral&oldid=1151221727, The Imperial Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption and St Stephen, Stages of construction and reconstruction, Total length: 134 m (from the steps at the entrance to the exterior wall of the east apse), External width of the nave (with aisles): 37.62 m (from exterior wall to exterior wall), Height of the nave at the vertex of the vaults: 33 m, Crypt Length: east-west 35 m; north-south 46 m Height: between 6.2 m and 6.5 m, Features of Speyer Cathedral and its surroundings. . After Napoleon's victories over the Prussian and Russian armies in the Battles of Grossgrschen and Ltzen in 1813, around 4,000 wounded soldiers came to Speyer. What are the features of this style? One of the most famous organists in Germany, Leo Kremer and Ludwig Derr, gave concerts here. The cathedral, along with those of Worms and Mainz, is a major monument of Romanesque art. During the Napoleonic Wars (1803 to 1815) the cathedral was used as a stable and storage facility for fodder and other material. Description is available under license CC-BY-SA IGO 3.0. Become a member to get ad-free access to our website and our articles. Under Henry IV renovations and extensions were undertaken. Although repeatedly occupied and ransacked, town and cathedral survived the Thirty Years' War (1618-1648) with little damage. A gallery open to the outside around the building starting at the same level inside the dome. Many believe this started the Cathedral Wine Fair that is held in the region annually. The funds were not sufficient to rebuild the whole cathedral in the style of the time. Only the Gothic sacristy kept its slate roof. It became a characteristic feature in the design and structure of German Romanesque buildings. It also has some unique features like the earliest example in Germany of a dwarf gallery going around the entire building (the colonnades just below the roofline). In designing the faade of the westwork, Heinrich Hbsch, an architect of early Historicism, created a Neo Romanesque design which drew on features of the original westwork and those of several other Romanesque buildings, scaling the windows differently and introducing a gable on the facade, a row of statues over the main portal and polychrome stonework in sandstone yellow and rust. A German Romanesque Church : Speyer Cathedral Located on the Rhine River in southwest Germany, the trading town of Speyer thrived between the 10th and 11th centuries. Architecture: Speyer Cathedral. In the course of the comprehensive restoration campaign between 1957 and 1972 the original Romanesque interior was reconstructed by deleting the alterations and additions of the Baroque period and the 19th century. Romanesque architecture features rounded arches, barrel vaults, and thick walls. The length of the cathedral is 134 meters. The cathedral has always been a symbol of state power. After a serious fire in 1689 the seven western bays of the nave had to be newly erected (1772-1778) and are an exact copy of the original structure. It once stood right by the Rhine, at the very edge of the plateau, adjoined by some marshy area which used to be called "heath". Speyer Cathedral is the largest Romanesque cathedral in the world and is the burial site for eight different German emperors and kings. Romanesque architecture features rounded arches and barrel vaults, while Gothic architecture features pointed arches and rib vaults. For two hundred years after the Salian dynasty, members of the Hohenstaufen, Habsburg and Nassauer dynasties also chose the cathedral as their resting place. [2] This comprised a high vaulted nave with aisles, with a domed crossing towards at the east which terminated in an apsidal chancel. [19] It was the first building constructed entirely from stone in Europe. Speyer Cathedral is historically, artistically and architecturally one of the most significant examples of Romanesque architecture in Europe. Es uno de los monumentos romnicos ms importantes del Sacro Imperio Romano Germnico. These restorations coincided with the development of Romanticism and German nationalism, during which many buildings were restored in the Romanesque and Gothic style of the Holy Roman Empire. Under Henry IV renovations and extensions were undertaken. Emperors and bishops processed along the city's expansive boulevard. Today it is a memorial for the fallen of the two world wars. : 'cathedral bowl') It formerly marked the boundary between the episcopal and municipal territories. 300 . Regardless, he partially reconstructed the building by elevating the nave by about 5 meters (16.4 feet). Image characteristics. During the Nine Years' War (Palatinate War of Succession 168897), the people of Speyer brought furniture and possessions into the cathedral, stacking everything several metres high hoping to save them from the French troops of Louis XIV marauding the town. During this festival, there are choirs and orchestras that play before the crowd. By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. The cathedral was constructed during the time of Emperor Konrad II and was consecrated in 1061. The archaic building made of copper-red stone impresses with the rigor of its forms and its dimensions. Spira is a leading industrial center and railway junction and its activity is based on the manufacture of machinery, chemicals, food and textiles. 1030-1061 1090-1106 culture. It serves as the home of the Diocese of Speyer in Germany. Their ruins were already removed in the 18th century.[24]. St. Mary is the patron saint of Speyer. The two chapels on top of each other are connected through an opening in the centre. The restoration of the cathedral, beginning in 1957 "was directed towards both securing the structure and recreating the original atmosphere of the interior". He is a 3x Lowell Thomas Award winner and a 3x North American Travel Photographer of the Year. They are all contained in the cathedral belfry, located in the western dome. The towers are surmounted by "Rhenish helm" spires. Today after the destruction of the Abbey of Cluny Speyer Cathedral is the biggest Romanesque church in the world. Ambitious as he was, he wanted to build the largest and most amazing church in the Western World. maximum image resolution. German. Are clear echoes of pre-Romanesque style, with flat roof in its origins. The Speyer Cathedral has all the usual attributes of romanesque buildings: a massive look, thick walls, rounded arches and groin vaults supported by sturdy pillars. He had the eastern sections demolished and the foundations enforced to a depth of up to eight metres.