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. The Cathedrale Strasbourg is a Roman Catholic Church renovated and essentially rebuilt (from the original church of 1015) at the end of the 12th century in a Gothic architectural style. Strasbourg is the seat Council of Europe, of the European Court of Human Rights and of the European Parliament. The statues in the portals are all standing upon realistically carved capitals decorated with the signs of the zodiac. The upper windows of the nave depict eighty-four saints, added by various artists between 1250 and 1275. The choir was given its multicolour painted decoration, by douard Steinl and Charles Auguste Steinheil, finished in 1879. Goethe and the Strasbourg Cathedral - My French Quest The level above displays a group of mechanical chariots, with allegorical figures representing the days of the week, which move daily to bring to the front the current day of the week. It was constructed beginning in about 1330, following the rebuilding of the transept. 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. Only the names remain carved on the walls. [41][42], During World War II, the cathedral was seen as a symbol for both warring parties. Free shipping for many products! Built entirely in the Middle Ages, Strasbourg Cathedral was the tallest building in the world for more than 200 years. Protestant and Revolutionary iconoclasm, the war periods of 1681, 1870 and 19401944, as well as changes in taste and liturgy, have taken a toll on some of Strasbourg Cathedral's most outstanding features such as the choir screen of 1252 and the successive high altars (ca. 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. Strasbourg Cathedral Building, France - e-architect How tall is Strasbourg Cathedral? 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. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Strasbourg Cathedral (1015-1439) is an absolute masterpiece of Gothic art. 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. Dreamstime is the world`s largest stock photography community. The work was completed in 1439. [67] It is surrounded and supported by four more slender towers containing circular stairways. The original Romanesque crypt was kept and expanded westwards. It was built next to Strasbourg Cathedral in the 1730s, from designs by Robert de Cotte . 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.. [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. [45] During that same war, the stained glass was removed in 74 cases. 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]. It was rebuilt 1298, in 13241327, in 1384, 1430, and 1489 and finally in 1716 by Andr Silbermann. Strasbourg France Facts 1: the population. The cathedral in Strasbourg is widely known as one of the most beautiful gothic cathedrals in whole Europe. [83] The present clock was built by Jean-Baptiste Schwilgu between 1837 and 1842.[83]. Other objects and works from the cathedral, including the mechanism of the original astronomical clock, are found in the Muse des arts dcoratifs de Strasbourg. The faade is supported and divided vertically by four narrow buttresses, each decorated with sculpture. 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. Strasbourg Cathedral: How to Visit & What to See - TripSavvy 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]. 1500) by Nikolaus Hagenauer, probably from the former main altar of the cathedral, Parts of the original astronomical clock (Strasbourg Museum of Decorative Arts). This is, however, nothing compared to the height of the spire, which reaches a total height of 142 meters (466 feet) above the ground. A door opens from the chapel to an adjoining cloister behind the cathedral. 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. The Bishop appealed to the new Emperor, who granted one eighth of his revenues in the province toward the construction of a new Cathedral. Judgement of Solomon at Strasbourg Cathedral. Because of this amazing trick, the spire was saved! 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. The central figures depict the entry of Christ into Jerusalem, and the Crucifixion and Passion of Christ, all with exceptional expression and detail. Strasbourg is the second most popular tourist city in France, after Paris; and there are three main attractions. Work on the church was frequently interrupted by wars and political crises. [67], The Klotz designed crossing dome over the transept, The crossing dome being built, 1878 or 1879, Romanesque vaults beneath the Klotz crossing dome. An additional element of decoration is given by the small sculpted, painted, and gilded heads on the keystones of the vaults, where the ribs meet. [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. The capitals of the columns are decorated with dragons and other mythical creatures. The church is located in the Alsace Region in eastern France, 2. 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. In 1524, the city council assigned the cathedral to the Protestant faith, while the building suffered some damage from iconoclastic assaults. The roof was set afire and the cross at the top of the spire was bent by a German artillery shell. The original construction phase utilized the Romanesque architectural style. The Strasbourg Cathedral in France is known for its unique spire, because of it the cathedral was the highest monument in the world for more than two centuries! Emperior Charles V visits the cathedral in 1552. This massive faade was decorated with thousands of figures giving it a unique and magnificent impression! These are the best places for couples seeking sights & landmarks in Strasbourg: Cathedrale Notre Dame de Strasbourg; La Petite France; glise Saint-Pierre-le-Jeune; Barrage Vauban; Centre-ville de Strasbourg; See more sights & landmarks for couples in Strasbourg on Tripadvisor The most amazing feature of the cathedral is its west faade, 9. It is still in place.[86]. The sacristy occupies the upper level over the chapel. Strasbourg Cathedral - Wikiwand [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. On the south side, the upper windows depict soldiers, popes, bishops, and other masculine figures. All the parts of the clock together are 18m (59ft) high. It became a major trading center for wine, grain, and later for textiles and luxury products. The South Transept contains the Pillar of Angels, a massive supporting pillar for the ceiling. VR Strasbourg Cathdrale - Apps on Google Play pictures from Axis Mundi Design. 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. The pointed gable over the central portal, decorated with a sculpture of the Virgin Mary and child, reaches up into the space in front of the rose window. Here are the best facts about Strasbourg Cathedral 1. The cathedral of Notre-Dame - Strasbourg | Visit Alsace If you love heritage, culture and the art of living, there's no doubt that you'll fall in love with this city! The octagonal vault is covered with arches and lacelike interlaced sculpture in the late Gothic Flamboyant style. A monument has been erected in his honor in a town nearby called Steinbach which is part of the town of Baden-Baden, about 30 kilometers (20 miles) to the northeast of Strasbourg. The chapel is devoted to memorials to six canons who were entombed there between 1478 and 1681. They wear diadems and have flowers in their hair, and carry twigs of the tree of life, or fruit. 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. [60], As with all the other portals, several of the statues have been replaced by copies in situ and are today displayed in the Muse de l'uvre Notre-Dame. [30], Notre Dame of Strasbourg turned into a Temple of Reason during the French Revolution, Strasbourg cathedral in 1837 with an optical telegraph, Strasbourg and the cathedral in 1869 (photo by Charles David Winter[fr]), Following the outbreak of the French Revolution, on 2 November 1789, all church property was seized by the French state and was soon vandalised by the most ardent revolutionaries, the Enrags. The windows are devoted to nine Emperors of the Holy Roman Empire. 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. Strasbourg Cathedral While Goethe's poems on nature, romance, science and his great novel Faust have long been available to the English-speaking audience, his writings on art and literature, as in Essays, are less familiar. Strasbourg Facts for Kids | KidzSearch.com The cathedral is open from October to March from 10 a.m.. The Neustadt draws the inspiration for its urban layout partially . 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 . The original statues were replaced by copies in the 20th century and are today kept in the Muse de l'uvre Notre-Dame. [81], The man on the balustrade (south transept). Strasbourg | History, Geography, & Points of Interest | Britannica It is one of the oldest parts of the cathedral, constructed in about 1170 and then rebuilt in Gothic style in 1230, with the same height as the adjoining nave. 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 Cathedral, Strasbourg | Ticket Price | Timings - TripHobo 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. It also dates from the 15th century. .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. Strasbourg Cathedral is a beautiful Gothic cathedral in the city of Strasbourg, France. The Chapel of John the Baptist preserves its thick Romanesque walls and two Romanesque windows.