Augsburg Cathedral

Coordinates: 48°22′22″N 10°53′48″E / 48.37278°N 10.89667°E / 48.37278; 10.89667
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Augsburg Cathedral
Dom Mariä Heimsuchung
Style
Romanesque/Gothic
Administration
DioceseDiocese of Augsburg

The Cathedral of Augsburg (German: Dom Mariä Heimsuchung) is a

Basilica of St. Ulrich and Afra, it is one of the city's main attractions. It measures 113 x 40 m, and its towers are 62 m high. It is dedicated to the Visitation of Virgin Mary
.

History

The cathedral is perhaps located on the site of a pre-existing 4th-century building, not necessarily a church, whose foundations have been excavated beneath the current level; the site is included within the ancient Roman walls of Augusta Vindelicorum. The first known church in the place is documented from 822, but dating to the late 8th century reigns of bishops Wikterp and Simpert.

The edifice was damaged by the

empress Adelaide. The current Romanesque structure was commissioned in 1043 by Bishop Henry III and was completed in 1065. The two towers, which are visible from the whole city, were completed in 1075. From 1331 to 1431 numerous Gothic elements were added, including the eastern choir
.

During the

neo-Gothic elements. In 1565 the northern tower was heightened. The church suffered only limited damage during World War II
, mostly to the Chapel of Our Lady.

Description

The church has some unusual features, such as the absence of true

nave and four aisles and is primarily built of red brickwork, supported by buttresses. The western apse is preceded by a transept. It has also two choirs and two towers, ending with a triangular pediment and copper spires
. In front of the church are the foundations of the church of St. John (10th century) and remains of the Roman walls.

Stained glass window of Prophet Jonah.

The southern portal, dating to 1356, features numerous carved reliefs, portraying scenes from the

Birth of Christ, the Adoration of the Magi, and the Death and the Coronation of the Virgin
. Some of the figures have been transferred to the interior.

The 11th-century bronze door, once in the southern choir portal, is now in the Cathedral's Museum. It includes 35 bronze panels in two series: on the left are scenes from the

Judas Maccabaeus
and other Prophets. Finally, there are lions, bears, birds and centaurs, element of medieval symbolism.

The southern clerestory has five stained glass windows dated to the late 11th-early 12th centuries, the oldest in Germany:[1] they feature the prophets David, Jonah, Daniel, Moses, Hosea, and were perhaps part of a larger series, the others now being missing. The southern aisles house more recent medieval stained glass windows (1330–1340), with stories of the Virgin Mary. The western choir contains three windows by de:Johannes Schreiter which symbolically show the Coming of the Kingdom of God.

The nave pillars have four paintings of the life of Mary, executed by

bishops of Augsburg, which was begun in 1488 and continued up to modern times. The Chapel of Our Lady was designed in 1720-21 by Gabriel de Gabrieli
.

Other artworks in the church include the

Ecce Homo" by Baroque artist Georg Petel. The church has also a Romanesque crypt, dating to the 10th century and located under the western choir, and an annexed cloister
.

References

  1. ^ "Augusta". Historic Highlights of Germany. Archived from the original on 14 August 2011. Retrieved 6 May 2011.

Sources

  • Chevalley, Denis André (1995). Der Dom zu Augsburg (in German). Munich: Verlag Oldenbourg.
    ISBN 3-486-55960-5
    .

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Augsburg Cathedral.


48°22′22″N 10°53′48″E / 48.37278°N 10.89667°E / 48.37278; 10.89667

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Augsburg_Cathedral&oldid=1175624159"