Strasbourg Cathedral in France: overview, description, history and interesting facts

Goethe called it "the exalted tree of God," and Victor Hugo called it "a gigantic, elegant miracle." All these poetic epithets describe the cathedral in Strasbourg - the German city of France. For two centuries this building was the highest in the world. The spire of the cathedral is seen far beyond Strasbourg. Its silhouette against the background of a glowing pre-dawn sky is the visiting card of the city. The spire is visible even from the other side of the Rhine, along which the modern border passes. Therefore, the Strasbourg Cathedral in Germany is considered almost their own (taking into account the history of Alsace and Lorraine). This church is both majestic and graceful. Even in the twenty-first century, the era of skyscrapers, Notre Dame of Strasbourg ranks sixth in the world in height among temples. And she also holds the leadership as the largest building from such a short-lived stone as sandstone. Let's make a virtual tour of this unique Gothic temple.

How to get to Strasbourg Cathedral

Find this building is not difficult - the 142-meter tower is visible from afar. But the center of Strasbourg is built on an island surrounded by the river Il. A dense half-timbered building with overhanging balconies along narrow medieval streets closes the view. There are so many interesting sights around, that it's just right to forget where you intended to come. Strasbourg Cathedral suddenly appears in all its glory in the narrow aperture of Mercier Street. You can get to it by crossing the bridge over Vieux Marsh Oaks Poisson (near the Historical Museum). From this position, take photos of him. If you come closer, you can capture only fragments of facades, but not the giant-handsome man entirely. By the way, on the right side of Mercier's street there is an old half-timbered house of Kammertzel (XV cent.), Decorated with wooden sculptures - now there is a large souvenir shop.

Cathedral in Strasbourg: history

Modern Alsace was once part of the vast Roman Empire. Therefore, there is nothing surprising in the fact that in the very center of the Gallic settlement of Argententum there was a pagan temple. Much later, Strasbourg received a modern name from two German words: "Strasse" - the road and "burg" - a castle or fortified city. When Christianity became the dominant religion, the pagan temple was destroyed, and in its place began to build a church. About a thousandth year the population of the "City on the roads" so increased that there was a need in the cathedral. The first stone in the building was laid by Bishop Werner of Habsburg in 1015. Naturally, according to the layout it was a typical Romanesque cathedral. The fire of 1176 destroyed the wooden roof and the upper floors. Therefore, it was decided to build a cathedral of stone. He was brought from the nearest mountains - the Vosges. This sandstone has an amazing property to glow pink at sunset or sunrise.

Strasbourg Cathedral (France) and episcopal vanity

In the thirteenth century, gothic was fashion. The cities of Western Europe competed among themselves, who will build the tallest, largest and most beautiful House of God. Bishop Strasbourg did not give rest to the laurels of his Basel, Ulm and Cologne colleagues. Therefore, he did not spare money to write out the most fashionable (and highly paid) architects to build his cathedral. Of course, he did not wait for the end of the works and did not see the majestic creation. After the death of the bishop, the construction was paid by the municipality - consuls and ordinary citizens. So it turned out that the eastern and southern portals, as well as the choir, were made in the Romanesque style, and the western part with the northern tower - in the Gothic. By the way, the plan provided for the construction of its one, southern, spire. But the city just did not have enough time for it. The asymmetry of the design also makes it unique. And the 142-meter-high northern tower was completed only in 1439.

Western facade

Do not rush to go inside. An unchanging ritual of all tourists is a leisurely and thoughtful tour around the majestic building. Strasbourg Cathedral in France is famous for its western facade. This is a real masterpiece of high Gothic. One of the architects was Erwin von Steinbach. He in 1284 and developed a western facade, with a thousand sculptures and an elegant rosette window. When money for construction was not enough, the architect sold his horse and donated the necessary amount. In the fourteenth century, the chief architect was Ulrich von Encingen, creator of the cathedral in Ulm. And the famous North Tower was completed by Johann Hultz, a master from Cologne. Thousands of stone sculptures and ornaments adorning the western façade of the Strasbourg Cathedral entered all textbooks on medieval Gothic. Wonderful stained glass is better to look from the inside. They were taken away by the Nazis during the last World War, but later the German government returned them together with stolen tapestries and paintings.

Facade of the south crosshead

The Strasbourg Cathedral is worth a complete walk over. Attracts attention not only the tall spire and richly decorated with sculptures the western facade. The southern traverse with the entrance is also very interesting. It is adorned by the not less famous sculptural group "Church and Synagogue". At the time of the crusade against the Albigensians, this plot was rethought as the struggle of the Roman Papacy with dissident Christian beliefs. Gargoyles, serving as rain gutters, seem to say: "Outside the Catholic Church there is no Salvation." In the Gothic facade on the triple portal of the main entrance, we see the scene of the worship of the Magi. There are sculptures of the prophets of the Old Testament and the martyrs of the New. Allegorical figures depict Sins and Virtues.

Sights of the interior

And now we'll go inside the cathedral, especially since the entrance to it is free. The Strasbourg cathedral continues to perform its functions as a functioning temple, therefore, during the services the entrance to it is restricted to tourists. Inside the church is decorated no less luxuriously than outside. It's good to come here on a sunny day - then the stained-glass windows look especially impressive. What it is necessary not to miss in Strasbourg Cathedral? This is a font for baptism, created in the middle of the fifteenth century by sculptor Dottinger. Attention is drawn to tapestries, paintings on religious subjects, an ancient organ. Very beautiful is the pulpit, decorated with numerous statues belonging to the cutter Hans Hammer. Still need to look into the limit of St. Lawrence and see a picture of Nicholas Raeder (in the northern transept).

Tower

It is necessary to climb the spire, which is crowned by the Strasbourg Cathedral. Strasbourg from the observation platform - as in the palm of your hand. In addition, you can consider some of the sculptures and gargoyles near. If it is difficult to climb a narrow spiral staircase, remember: these steps overcame Stendhal and Goethe. And the latter did this every day while studying at Strasbourg University. So he cured the phobia of heights. This spire until the eighteenth century (until the Cologne Cathedral was completed ) remained the highest construction. It is noteworthy that during the French Revolution the bell tower was to be destroyed. Say, she neutralized the principle of equality. But the local people decorated it with a Phrygian cap (a symbol of freedom), and the ideological glow of the revolutionaries was lifted. The entrance to the tower is paid: 4.5 euros for an adult and 2.5 for children and students.

Astronomical clock

If you buy a ticket to the North Tower, you will be able to visit the choirs that go along the upper tier of the entire cathedral. This will give you a unique opportunity to view more closely stained glass windows and beautiful gothic rosettes. But in the temple there is another paid attraction for tourists. This is the astronomical clock of the Strasbourg Cathedral. The third chronometer was improved and installed in 1832. Before him, the clock with astronomical functions served the city faithfully since 1574. The first chronometer is mentioned since 1353. What is interesting in the clock of the Strasbourg Cathedral? A complex mechanism shows the orbits of the Earth and the Moon, as well as all the planets known at the time. In addition, on New Year's Eve, the clock makes a full turn and shows the dates on which fall "floating" Catholic holidays (Easter, Ascension, Pentecost). The gear mechanism, which rotates most slowly, is responsible for determining the precession of the earth's axis. It will make a complete revolution (if, of course, the chronometer survives) for twenty-five thousand eight hundred years.

Developments

Strasbourg Cathedral has always played a key role in the life of the city. Here, not only are liturgies. On Sundays, in the morning hours, in the cathedral you can listen to the Gregorian chapel. Very often organ concerts are organized here, in which an ancient, richly decorated instrument is involved. It is especially good to come to Strasbourg in the summer. Firstly, the weather promotes walks and swimming along canals on boats. In the cold season they also ply, but their top is glazed. As a bonus, summer tourists are given the opportunity to see a beautiful spectacle. Every evening on the square in front of the cathedral different concerts are arranged. A lot of searchlights illuminate the walls of the majestic building in time with the music, which makes it seem that the statues on the facades come to life.

The city and its sights

Strasbourg Cathedral is a kind of dominant. But it does not exhaust the tourist attractions of the city. Of course, to begin acquaintance with Strasbourg is necessary with his cathedral. Especially recommend the feedback of tourists not to be lazy and climb the tower. This will give you a visual representation of the location of the city, and therefore, it will be possible to make a route for further excursions. It is necessary to visit the bishop's palace, the "Little France" quarter, the Alsace Museum. We do not forget that the European Court of Human Rights is also located in Strasbourg. This newest building is not in the center of the city, and it is best to get there by tram. Reviews of tourists are strongly recommended, despite of the season, to ride a sightseeing boat along the channels of the Il river with their numerous locks.