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 . A large arched bay occupies the central portion, just below a balustrade. It also preserves the earliest plans of the cathedral, as well as paintings and tapestries and other objects. In the portal of the Last Judgement, (right) Christ sits on his throne sorting the virtuous from the wicked. It is really beautiful and imposing! Previous buildings on the site 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. Just think of the Tour Saint Jacques, a sight in Paris that had its entire church demolished. [38], Seven church bells were removed and melted down to made into cannon, and gold and other precious objects in the interior confiscated and taken away, and in November 1793 the cathedral was formally proclaimed a "Temple of Reason. If you love heritage, culture and the art of living, there's no doubt that you'll fall in love with this city! 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. [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. [71], The narthex of the cathedral and massive pillars supporting the tower, seen from the central nave, Inside of west front doors, with blind rose window and column-statue of St. Peter. Judgement of Solomon at Strasbourg Cathedral. Like the city of Strasbourg, the cathedral connects German and French cultural influences, while the eastern structures, e.g. 10. The crossing is filled with statues and busts of saints set into niches as well as bas-reliefs of the Nativity and the Adoration of the Magi. Other articles where Cathedral of Notre-Dame is discussed: Strasbourg: The contemporary city: Strasbourg's 11th-15th-century Cathedral of Notre-Dame, damaged in 1870 and again in World War II, has been carefully restored. They were manufactured between 1638 and 1657 in Paris by Pierre Damour. Christianity was first imposed in 313 by the Edict of Constantine. The cathedral can be seen from over 30 kilometers (20 miles) away from all sides on a clear day. It is easily recognizable by its pink sandstone faade and its unique tower. [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. Cathdrale Notre Dame de Strasbourg Address Pl. History. 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. In 1518, a 'dancing plague' affected around 400 people in Strasbourg, Alsace (Now a city of France . It is the second most visited cathedral in France, just after Notre Dame de Paris! Bengel, Sabine; Nohlen, Marie-Jos; Potier, Stphane: This page was last edited on 21 February 2023, at 19:21. The cathedral was one of the earliest structures built with exterior flying buttresses. 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. [8], The nave is dominated by the two rows of massive pillars. The tower was saved, however, when in May of the same year citizens of Strasbourg crowned it with a giant tin Phrygian cap of the kind the Enrags themselves wore. 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. Among the paintings, those worthy of mention are the "Assumption of the Virgin" and "Ascension of Christ", by Joseph Heim (1787-1865). At the same time, the planned two spires on either side of the facade would reach an extraordinary height of 122 meters. The sculpture of the portals was returned to its places or restored between 1811 and 1827. The chapel is devoted to memorials to six canons who were entombed there between 1478 and 1681. [83], The apse, with the Virgin of Alsace window (1956), Crowning of Mary, by Eduard Steinle in the vault of the apse, The apse of the cathedral, the hemispherical vault behind the altar on the northeast end, features Romanesque and Gothic architecture overlaid with 19th-century Neo-Romanesque decoration, The paintings on the half-dome and walls were made by douard Steinl in 187779, in the style of a Byzantine mosaic. While the spire is the most prominent feature, the western faade is the most impressive element of the cathedrals design. Its also the capital of the Bas-Rhin department. [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. One of the most fascinating facts about Strasbourg Cathedral is that it took hundreds of years to complete. This was changed and the French Gothic style or Rayonnant Gothic was used for most parts of the cathedral starting in the 13th century. [17], The first cathedral built on the present site was erected by the bishop Saint Arbogast in about 550575. 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. It rises in three levels; the portals on the ground level; the level of the rose window above them, and the top level, with a balustrade. Theres a statue of the main architect next to the cathedral, 8. A little-known treasure of Strasbourg, the gothic Eglise Saint-Pierre-le-Jeune was consecrated in 1053 by the Alsatian Pope Leo IX. The work was completed in 1439. 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]. Strasbourg Cathedral de Notre-Dame is known as one of the most beautiful gothic cathedrals in Europe. Strasbourg is the second most popular tourist city in France, after Paris; and there are three main attractions. Is Strasbourg in Germany or France? The wicked attempt, without success, to seduce the noble Virgins, but succeed with the foolish virgins. 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. Another two old bells by Mathieu Edel (1787) ring on the quarter hours. Remains of the choir screen are displayed in the Muse de luvre Notre-Dame and in The Cloisters. A first Romanesque cathedral was built in the 11th century which later burnt to the ground. [84], The main altar, in the form of a tomb, is a recreation of an earlier altar in the rocaille or late baroque style, which had been damaged in a fire in 1759 and then ruined during the French Revolution. It took hundreds of years to complete. The transept of the cathedral was 55 meters long, the same length as the nave and choir. Stavelot Triptych. [16], A Roman settlement called Argentoratum, twenty hectares in size, existed on the site since about 12 B.C., at a strategic point where bridges crossed the Rhine and two of its tributaries. "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. [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. It was built over a period of 424 years, 3. The visual effect of the faade is enhanced by its unusual darkish red stone. These windows date to about 1345. They were constructed around its nave in the 12th century to lend support to the thin walls, after the need. The most amazing feature of the cathedral is its west faade, 9. Cathdrale Notre Dame de Strasbourg or Strasbourg Cathedral is the 6th tallest church in the world, built entirely in the medieval period. At noon, a group of three mechanical kings would prostrate themselves before the infant Jesus, while the chimes of the clock sounded the hour. Construction was resumed in 1571 by Conrad Dasypodius and the Habrecht brothers, and this clock was given a more ambitious program of mechanical figures. It is in a Neo-Byzantine style, with Christ in a red frame in the center. It houses one of the biggest astronomical clocks in the world, 15. With its spire soaring 142m above the city, Our Lady of Strasbourg Cathedral was the highest building in the West until the nineteenth century. The chevet, or east end, probably also had a tower, and was flanked by two chapels. Several of the original Romanesque structures were torn down to make way for this revolutionary new architectural style. The cathedral is known for its ornate architecture and is one of the finest examples of Gothic architecture in Europe. Further modifications were made to the crypts in the 12th century. It is the seat of the Archbishop of Strasbourg and one of the finest examples of Gothic architecture in Europe. Cathedral facts for kids. The Silbermann organ had three keyboards, thirty-nine jeux, or effects and two thousand, two hundred forty-two pipes. Strasbourg Cathedral (official French: Notre-Dame de Strasbourg ,German: Liebfrauenmnster zu Straburg, Our Lady of Strasbourg) is the Cathedral in Strasbourg. When the Romans were driven out, the original structure was replaced by a temple dedicated to the Virgin Mary. Plans to rebuild and restore the Notre Dame Cathedral are underway, with donations pouring in from all over. Thanks to 3D reconstructions of. This is a real masterpiece of high Gothic. Architect Erwin von Steinbach is credited for major contributions from 1277 to his death in 1318, and beyond through his son Johannes von Steinbach, and his grandson Gerlach von Steinbach, who succeeded him as chief architects.