Strasbourg Facts for Kids | KidzSearch.com 13 Facts About Notre-Dame Cathedral | Mental Floss [41][42], During World War II, the cathedral was seen as a symbol for both warring parties. The current cathedral was completed in 1439 and has been on the UNESCO World Heritage list since 1988. 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. And finally, here's my list of the top 4 packing essentials you shouldn't head to the Strasbourg Cathedral without. Cathedral Facts for Kids - Kiddle Strasbourg Cathedral is the oldest Gothic cathedral in the world and one of the must-sees when visiting Strasbourg. This was changed and the French Gothic style or Rayonnant Gothic was used for most parts of the cathedral starting in the 13th century. The cathedral was built in Gothic style. 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 (official French: Notre-Dame de Strasbourg ,German: Liebfrauenmnster zu Straburg, Our Lady of Strasbourg) is the Cathedral in Strasbourg. Strasbourg: Cathedral Guided Walking Tour | GetYourGuide The first astronomical clock was installed in the cathedral from 135254 until 1500. It is still in place.[86]. 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. It is the third clock on that spot and dates from th. 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. Repairs to war damage were completed only in the early 1990s. The 15 Best Things to Do in Strasbourg, France - TripSavvy 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. Strasbourg Cathedral (official French: Notre-Dame de Strasbourg ,German: Liebfrauenmnster zu Straburg, Our Lady of Strasbourg) is the Cathedral in Strasbourg. Several of the original Romanesque structures were torn down to make way for this revolutionary new architectural style. [67] It is surrounded and supported by four more slender towers containing circular stairways. All the parts of the clock together are 18m (59ft) high. Strasbourg Cathedral (1015-1439) is an absolute masterpiece of Gothic art. [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. [40], In 1903, the architect Johann Knauth discovered cracks on the first pillar of the northern side of the nave. 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. This unique architectural style of the cathedral makes it all the more beautiful. Under the roof of the Klotz tower are the six bells that ring the weekly masses but also the baptisms, marriages and deaths of parishioners. The design is composed of a series of unfolded arches which rest on a submerged "Latin Cross" floor plan. During the Franco-Prussian War of 187071, city was under siege. [48] The bishopric of Strasbourg had been elevated to the rank of archbishopric a few months before, in June 1988. The length of the cathedral is about 100 metres, with the main aisle of 38 metres. Cathedral of Our Lady of Strasbourg | www.strassburg.eu [37] It is the least decorated side of the cathedral. Strasbourg Cathedral de Notre-Dame is known as one of the most beautiful gothic cathedrals in Europe. Free shipping for many products! This clock functioned until 1788, and can be seen today in the Strasbourg Museum of Decorative Arts. The larger crypt has three naves, of equal size, divided by slender columns. If you enjoyed this video, make sure to subscribe to our channel. Strasbourg Cathedral 104 Results Strasbourg Alsace France Petite France Ill Waterfront Sticker By artshop77 From $1.40 DECEMBER Canvas Print By Tritri Choupi $84.50 Strasbourg Cathedral - France Sticker By Moritz Schwble From $2.61 Strasbourg Alsace France Petite France street scene Sticker By artshop77 From $1.40 strasbourg cathedral Sticker Select from premium Strasbourg Strasbourg Cathedral of the highest quality. 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. Its therefore considered to be one of the 4 capitals of Europe along with Brussels, Luxembourg City, and Frankfurt. Other 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. Cathdrale Notre Dame de Strasbourg Address Pl. Theres a reason why the church has an asymmetrical form, 12. [18], The new church was exceptionally large, just ten meters shorter than the present cathedral, and just ten meters narrower on its west front. The octagonal vault is covered with arches and lacelike interlaced sculpture in the late Gothic Flamboyant style. Decrees of the Emperor rendering justice were traditionally read out in front of this doorway. The ornate and colourful decoration of pinnacle, spires, and sculpture Sculpture also hangs beneath the organ, including a moving figure of Samson opening the jaws of a lion. Strasbourg Cathedral in France: overview, description, history and [83] The present clock was built by Jean-Baptiste Schwilgu between 1837 and 1842.[83]. One of the most fascinating churches in the world can be found in the east of France. 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. This is a real masterpiece of high Gothic. It measures 142 m (466 ft) and remained the tallest building in the world until 1847. 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. [50], The restoration of the tower was completed in 2006, and in 2014 a new campaign of restoration was begun on the south transept. The rose window, with a rayonnant Gothic design, is fourteen metres in diameter and was finished in 1345. 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 cathedral is open from October to March from 10 a.m.. 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. [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. [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. 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 was called the Dreiknigsuhr ("three-king clock"), and was located at the opposite wall from where today's clock is. [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. Like the city of Strasbourg, the cathedral connects German and French cultural influences, while the eastern structures, e.g. Strasbourg Cathedral Facts for Kids - Kiddle 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. [72], The creation of Adam and Eve (Narthex) (12801345), The lower bay on the south has stained glass windows that depict the Last Judgement, while the north bay windows illustrate twelve episodes from the Book of Genesis, including the creation of Adam and Eve, the original sin, the expulsion from Paradise, and Noah's ark. 1. The wicked attempt, without success, to seduce the noble Virgins, but succeed with the foolish virgins. 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. Built of red Vosges sandstone, it is a harmonious edifice despite the variety of its architectural styles. It houses one of the biggest astronomical clocks in the world, 15. Under the balustrade is a large painting on wood illustrating the Nativity, in a sweeping landscape. 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. 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. During the French Revolution in the late 18th century, churches in France were in great danger. 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 Cathedral stands on the exact site of a roman temple built on a little hill above the muddy ground. Its also the capital of the Bas-Rhin department. This was then carried out in the south transept. Visit Strasbourg, the European capital - Visit Alsace Find Strasbourg Strasbourg Cathedral stock photos and editorial news pictures from Getty Images. These windows date to about 1345. 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. [79]. The portal outside the northern transept is equally fascinating, 10. Top 10 Little known Facts about Palais Rohan This part of the clock is surrounded by painted figures representing the ancient empires Greece, Assyria, Persia, and Rome. 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 pillar was created in the middle of the 13th century, most probably by a group of sculptors from France or Burgundy. [84], Canon Conrad de Bussnang praying to Virgin and Child. Strasbourg Cathedral - Wikiwand 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. 15 Fabulous Facts About Luxembourg Palace, A-Z Index - Art Timeline - Architecture Timeline - Contact - Terms - Privacy Policy - About Art Facts, 1. Most of these windows date back to the 12th and 13th centuries! In the portal of the Last Judgement, (right) Christ sits on his throne sorting the virtuous from the wicked. On the south side of the nave, the upper walls have windows depicting female saints, including local saints from Alsace or Strasbourg. While previous faades were certainly drawn prior to construction, Strasbourg has one of the earliest faades whose construction is inconceivable without prior drawing. This mechanism displays the phases of the moon. Back in the day that Strasbourg was referred to as Argentoratum by the Ancient Romans, the site was already occupied by a Roman sanctuary. These windows consist of 5 sets and depict 19 Emperors of the Holy Roman Empire. As it turns, it shows the 1,022 stars identified by Ptolemy, as viewed above the horizon of Strasbourg. The cathedral of Notre-Dame - Strasbourg | Visit Alsace Fortunately for Strasbourg, the Romanesque church burnt down in 1176, and reconstruction dragged on sufficiently for the bishop to mostly use the newly . This project was completed in 1926, after the end of the war. Here are the best facts about Strasbourg Cathedral 1. Most of the stained-glass windows date back to the Middle Ages, 14. Plans to rebuild and restore the Notre Dame Cathedral are underway, with donations pouring in from all over. A gallery of statues of the Apostles, each in his own arch, is placed above the rose window. Construction of the Neo-Romanessque dome over the transept was begun, and new bronze doors were installed in 1879. The second wave of construction started in the 12th century, when the Gothic style of architecture had started to develop. Another two old bells by Mathieu Edel (1787) ring on the quarter hours. 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. This enormous bell was installed but cracked shortly afterwards. Type of place: Religious site. [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. [17], The Romanesque chevet of the cathedral, seen in 1671, Romanesque pillars, vaults and squinches of the transept, In 1002, following the death of the Holy Roman Emperor Otto III, a battle broke out between his potential successors. Christmas in Strasbourg, France (2022): Everything You Need to Know History. 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. The original construction of the church on its current location started in the year 1015. [23] He completed the installation of the rose window, and above it twelve statues of the apostles. 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. The cathedral was one of the earliest structures built with exterior flying buttresses. The Cathedral, Strasbourg | Ticket Price | Timings - TripHobo 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. The two lower lancet windows were put together in the 19th century out of glass from different centuries. One of the architects was Erwin von Steinbach.