Rhineland-Palatinate / Rheinland Pfalz

Speyer gained importance, when the Salian dynasty entered the political stage with Holy Roman Emperor Conrad II. He commissioned the construction of of this church, known as the "Imperial Cathedral of Speyer". It was planned to be the largest cathedral worldwide. A display of the Emperor´s power, that was - before the "Investiture Controversy" - secular and ecclesiastical. This "blueprint" from about 1025/1030 got changed later and the even enlarged cathedral was completed in 1106, the year Conrad´s grandson Emperor Henry IV died. As the history of the cathedral is really complex, I add the Wikipedia-links here: english: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speyer_Cathedral french: fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cath%C3%A9drale_Notre-Dame-de-l%27A... german: de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speyerer_Dom "Europaeische Stiftung Kaiserdom zu Speyer" has a very good website, but only in German: www.dom-speyer.de/index.html

Speyer gained importance, when the Salian dynasty entered the political stage with Holy Roman Emperor Conrad II. He commissioned the construction of of this church, known as the "Imperial Cathedral of Speyer". It was planned to be the largest cathedral worldwide. A display of the Emperor´s power, that was - before the "Investiture Controversy" - secular and ecclesiastical. This "blueprint" from about 1025/1030 got changed later and the even enlarged cathedral was completed in 1106, the year Conrad´s grandson Emperor Henry IV died. Extensive archivolts frame the window. As the history of the cathedral is really complex, I add the Wikipedia-links here: english: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speyer_Cathedral french: fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cath%C3%A9drale_Notre-Dame-de-l%27A... german: de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speyerer_Dom "Europaeische Stiftung Kaiserdom zu Speyer" has a very good website, but only in German: www.dom-speyer.de/index.html

Speyer gained importance, when the Salian dynasty entered the political stage with Holy Roman Emperor Conrad II. He commissioned the construction of of this church, known as the "Imperial Cathedral of Speyer". It was planned to be the largest cathedral worldwide. A display of the Emperor´s power, that was - before the "Investiture Controversy" - secular and ecclesiastical. This "blueprint" from about 1025/1030 got changed later and the even enlarged cathedral was completed in 1106, the year Conrad´s grandson Emperor Henry IV died. A detail of the archivolt (previous upload). A lion (?) fighting a griffin. As the history of the cathedral is really complex, I add the Wikipedia-links here: english: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speyer_Cathedral french: fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cath%C3%A9drale_Notre-Dame-de-l%27A... german: de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speyerer_Dom "Europaeische Stiftung Kaiserdom zu Speyer" has a very good website, but only in German: www.dom-speyer.de/index.html

Speyer gained importance, when the Salian dynasty entered the political stage with Holy Roman Emperor Conrad II. He commissioned the construction of of this church, known as the "Imperial Cathedral of Speyer". It was planned to be the largest cathedral worldwide. A display of the Emperor´s power, that was - before the "Investiture Controversy" - secular and ecclesiastical. This "blueprint" from about 1025/1030 got changed later and the even enlarged cathedral was completed in 1106, the year Conrad´s grandson Emperor Henry IV died. As the history of the cathedral is really complex, I add the Wikipedia-links here: english: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speyer_Cathedral french: fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cath%C3%A9drale_Notre-Dame-de-l%27A... german: de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speyerer_Dom "Europaeische Stiftung Kaiserdom zu Speyer" has a very good website, but only in German: www.dom-speyer.de/index.html

Speyer gained importance, when the Salian dynasty entered the political stage with Holy Roman Emperor Conrad II. He commissioned the construction of of this church, known as the "Imperial Cathedral of Speyer". It was planned to be the largest cathedral worldwide. A display of the Emperor´s power, that was - before the "Investiture Controversy" - secular and ecclesiastical. This "blueprint" from about 1025/1030 got changed later and the even enlarged cathedral was completed in 1106, the year Conrad´s grandson Emperor Henry IV died. Looking up to the vault of the "double chapel", added to the cathedral to the south about 1050. The lower level, dedicated St. Martin and St. Emmeran, is a baptisterium now. The upper level, dedicated St. Catherine of Alexandria is used for displaying relics. On the northern side of the cathedral is the chapel of St. Afra, now a tabernacel. Henry IV was buried in the unconsecrated chapel om 1106 to 1111, when Pope Paschalis II revoked the ban, which had been in effect since 1088. As the history of the cathedral is really complex, I add the Wikipedia-links here: english: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speyer_Cathedral french: fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cath%C3%A9drale_Notre-Dame-de-l%27A... german: de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speyerer_Dom "Europaeische Stiftung Kaiserdom zu Speyer" has a very good website, but only in German: www.dom-speyer.de/index.html

Speyer gained importance, when the Salian dynasty entered the political stage with Holy Roman Emperor Conrad II. He commissioned the construction of of this church, known as the "Imperial Cathedral of Speyer". lt was planned to be the largest cathedral worldwide. A display of the Emperor´s power, that was - before the "Investiture Controversy" - secular and ecclesiastical. This "blueprint" from about 1025/1030 got changed later and the even enlarged cathedral was completed in 1106, the year Conrad´s grandson Emperor Henry IV died. The crypt of the cathedral, consecrated in 1041, is the largest Romanesque columned hall crypt in Europe, with an area of 850 m². The crypt is so large, that it is impossible to give an impression by just one photo, so I´ll upload a couple of shots. Seen here is the central chapel of the crypt. The burial site of the Salian (and other) emperors is in another part of the crypt. As the history of the cathedral is really complex, I add the Wikipedia-links here: english: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speyer_Cathedral french: fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cath%C3%A9drale_Notre-Dame-de-l%27A... german: de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speyerer_Dom "Europaeische Stiftung Kaiserdom zu Speyer" has a very good website, but only in German: www.dom-speyer.de/index.html

Speyer gained importance, when the Salian dynasty entered the political stage with Holy Roman Emperor Conrad II. He commissioned the construction of of this church, known as the "Imperial Cathedral of Speyer". lt was planned to be the largest cathedral worldwide. A display of the Emperor´s power, that was - before the "Investiture Controversy" - secular and ecclesiastical. The cathedral was completed 1106, the year Conrad´s grandson Emperor Henry IV died. The cathedral is the burial site for the Salian emperors, so we will meet Conrad II, his son, grandson and some of their Staufer and Habsburg collegues again. There has always been a long competition between Speyer and Cluny about the "largest church of Christendom". As Cluny is a ruin since 200 years, the "Imperial Cathedral of Speyer" is the largest romanesque church - undisputed worldwide. Seeing this, you should have the Cluny in mind, as both churches had about the same size. Looking through the central nave from west to east. 33 meters high, 14 meters wide - and from the point of view to the end of the elevated choir are more than 120 meters. When the cathedral was constructed, the builders were able to vault the smaller aisles, but the 14 meters wide nave got a wooden ceiling. When Emperor Henry IV took over in 1090, he had the eastern sections demolished - and had them replaced by an enlarged structure. The nave then was elevated and the wooden ceiling replaced with a groin vault of square bays. Each vault here extends over two bays of the elevation. In December 1146 Bernard of Clairvaux preached the second crusade exactly here. Conrad III was very reluctant, but in the end, he joined Louis VII in the expedition with an armee of about 20.000 men. They were defeated by the Seljuks. Conrad III escaped, but most soldiers were killed or captured. As the history of the cathedral is really complex, I add the Wikipedia-links here: english: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speyer_Cathedral french: fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cath%C3%A9drale_Notre-Dame-de-l%27A... german: de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speyerer_Dom "Europaeische Stiftung Kaiserdom zu Speyer" has a very good website, but only in German: www.dom-speyer.de/index.html

Founded by the Romans, Speyer gained importance, when the Salian dynasty entered the political stage with Holy Roman Emperor Conrad II. He commissioned the construction of of this church, known as the "Imperial Cathedral of Speyer". The cathedral was completed 1106, the year Conrad´s grandson Henry IV died. The cathedral is the burial site for the Salian emperors, so we will meet Conrad II, his son, grandson and some of their Staufer and Habsburg collegues again. Actually the cathedral was planned by Conrad II as the largest cathedral worldwide as a display of his imperial power, that was - before the "Investiture Controversy" - secular and ecclesiastical. There has always been a competition between Speyer and Cluny about the "largest church of Christendom". As Cluny is a ruin since the French Revolution, the "Imperial Cathedral of Speyer" is the largest romanesque church - undisputed worldwide. The church, here seen from the north, is 444 Roman feet (134 meters) long and 111 Roman feet (33 meters) wide. When the construction of the cathedral started, Speyer had a population of about 500. Bishop Walther (1006–1031) called Speyer a "vaccina" in a letter, what could be translated "one-horse town", though the word "vacca" means "cow", not "horse". The cathedral was built on a solid rock, overlooking the river Rhine. The area around the rock was often flooded and always a little swampy. So while the cathedral is stable, the "Gasthaus zum Halbmond" in the foreground seems a bit slanted. As the history of the cathedral is really complex, I add the Wikipedia-links here: english: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speyer_Cathedral french: fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cath%C3%A9drale_Notre-Dame-de-l%27A... german: de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speyerer_Dom "Europaeische Stiftung Kaiserdom zu Speyer" has a very good website, but only in German: www.dom-speyer.de/index.html

Speyer gained importance, when the Salian dynasty entered the political stage with Holy Roman Emperor Conrad II. He commissioned the construction of of this church, known as the "Imperial Cathedral of Speyer". lt was planned to be the largest cathedral worldwide. A display of the Emperor´s power, that was - before the "Investiture Controversy" - secular and ecclesiastical. The cathedral was completed 1106, the year Conrad´s grandson Emperor Henry IV died. A huge crown hanging on a chain like a pendulum. Below the choir is the large crypta, that is used as the burial site for the Salian emperors. So this crown marks the burial site below. The crown is a giant copy of the orginal crown, Conrad II wore, when he was buried here in 1039. The original is on view in the nearby museum. Engraved is"PACIS ARATOR ET VRBIS BENEFACTOR" what is "Sower of peace and Benefactor of the city (of Rome)". As the history of the cathedral is really complex, I add the Wikipedia-links here: english: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speyer_Cathedral french: fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cath%C3%A9drale_Notre-Dame-de-l%27A... german: de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speyerer_Dom "Europaeische Stiftung Kaiserdom zu Speyer" has a very good website, but only in German: www.dom-speyer.de/index.html

Speyer gained importance, when the Salian dynasty entered the political stage with Holy Roman Emperor Conrad II. He commissioned the construction of of this church, known as the "Imperial Cathedral of Speyer". It was planned to be the largest cathedral worldwide. A display of the Emperor´s power, that was - before the "Investiture Controversy" - secular and ecclesiastical. This "blueprint" from about 1025/1030 got changed later and the even enlarged cathedral was completed in 1106, the year Conrad´s grandson Emperor Henry IV died. Looking west through the left aisle. When the cathedral was constructed, the builders were able to vault the two aisles, but not the 14 meters wide central nave. This got a wooden ceiling. When Emperor Henry IV took over in 1090, he had the eastern sections demolished and had them replaced by an enlarged structure. The nave then was elevated and the wooden ceiling replaced with a groin vault of square bays. Not many people are here today. When Bernard of Clairvaux preached the second crusade here in December 1146, the church was probably packed to bursting. As the history of the cathedral is really complex, I add the Wikipedia-links here: english: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speyer_Cathedral french: fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cath%C3%A9drale_Notre-Dame-de-l%27A... german: de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speyerer_Dom "Europaeische Stiftung Kaiserdom zu Speyer" has a very good website, but only in German: www.dom-speyer.de/index.html

Speyer gained importance, when the Salian dynasty entered the political stage with Holy Roman Emperor Conrad II. He commissioned the construction of of this church, known as the "Imperial Cathedral of Speyer". It was planned to be the largest cathedral worldwide. A display of the Emperor´s power, that was - before the "Investiture Controversy" - secular and ecclesiastical. This "blueprint" from about 1025/1030 got changed later and the even enlarged cathedral was completed in 1106, the year Conrad´s grandson Emperor Henry IV died. Standing outside (north) looking to the transept, the crossing tower and the two eastern towers (one is behind the dome). The little "shack" in the corner is the chapel of St. Afra. Here Henry IV was buried in the (then) unconsecrated chapel from 1106 to 1111, when Pope Paschalis II revoked the ban, which had been in effect since 1088. A special architectural feature seen here is the "dwarf gallery" that runs all around the cathedral under the roof. This is just a kind of arcaded gallery, that is just a decorative element similar to a "blind arcade". This "dwarf galleries" were popular in the Rhine area (Germany, Belgium) and in some parts of Italy. The Leaning Tower of Pisa has six rings of dwarf galleries. As the history of the cathedral is really complex, I add the Wikipedia-links here: english: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speyer_Cathedral french: fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cath%C3%A9drale_Notre-Dame-de-l%27A... german: de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speyerer_Dom "Europaeische Stiftung Kaiserdom zu Speyer" has a very good website, but only in German: www.dom-speyer.de/index.html

Speyer had a great birthday party in 1990 (2000 years!), but still was a small town with a population of only 500 about 1000 years after the foundation. Speyer gained importance, when the Salian dynasty entered the political stage with Holy Roman Emperor Conrad II. He commissioned the construction of of this church, known as the "Imperial Cathedral of Speyer". Actually this was planned by Conrad II as the largest cathedral worldwide as a display of imperial power (this is before the "Investiture Controversy"). The cathedral was completed 1106, the year Conrad´s grandson Henry IV died. The cathedral is the burial site for the Salian emperors, so we will meet Conrad II, his son, grandson and some of their Staufer and Habsburg collegues again. The westwork, seen here - is pretty new. After heavy damage during the "Nine Years' War" (1688–97) the cathedral got a baroque facade in the 1770s. This got demolished and replaced by this neo-romanesque westwork in the 1850s. As the history of the cathedral is really complex, I add the Wikipedia-links here: english: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speyer_Cathedral french: fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cath%C3%A9drale_Notre-Dame-de-l%27A... german: de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speyerer_Dom "Europaeische Stiftung Kaiserdom zu Speyer" has a very good website, but only in German: www.dom-speyer.de/index.html

Speyer gained importance, when the Salian dynasty entered the political stage with Holy Roman Emperor Conrad II. He commissioned the construction of of this church, known as the "Imperial Cathedral of Speyer". It was planned to be the largest cathedral worldwide. A display of the Emperor´s power, that was - before the "Investiture Controversy" - secular and ecclesiastical. This "blueprint" from about 1025/1030 got changed later and the even enlarged cathedral was completed in 1106, the year Conrad´s grandson Emperor Henry IV died. In medieval times the burial places was at the eastern end of the central nave, just in front of the choir. Early 20th century, during renovations all tombs in the nave were opened by archeologists. Later this area in the crypt was created. Here are the tombs of eight German kings and emperors. Here are to be seen (front to back) are the tombs of: Adolf of Nassau, King of Germany, + 1298 Albert I, King of Germany, son of Rudolph I, + 1308 Rudolph I, King of Germany (aka "Rudolph of Habsburg"), + 1291 Beatrice I, Queen of Burgundy, wife of Frederick I, + 1184 Philip of Swabia, King of Germany, son of Frederick I (aka "Barbarossa"), + 1208 Only a few tombs are visble to the left. There are the the tombs of: Henry IV, Holy Roman Emperor, son of Henry III, + 1106 He did the "Walk to Canossa") Henry III, Holy Roman Emperor (aka "Henry the Pious"), son of Conrad II, + 1056 Conrad II, Holy Roman Emperor, the first king of the Salian dynasty. He comissioned this cathedral around 1025. + 1039 Gisela of Swabia, Empress, wife of Conrad II, mother of Henry III, + 1043 Bertha of Savoy, Empress, wife of Henry IV. She accompanied her husband on the "Walk to Canossa". Mother of Conrad III and Henry V. + 1087

Speyer gained importance, when the Salian dynasty entered the political stage with Holy Roman Emperor Conrad II. He commissioned the construction of of this church, known as the "Imperial Cathedral of Speyer". lt was planned to be the largest cathedral worldwide. A display of the Emperor´s power, that was - before the "Investiture Controversy" - secular and ecclesiastical. This "blueprint" from about 1025/1030 got changed later and the even enlarged cathedral was completed in 1106, the year Conrad´s grandson Emperor Henry IV died. The crypt of the cathedral, consecrated in 1041, is the largest Romanesque columned hall crypt in Europe, with an area of 850 m². The crypt is so large, that it is impossible to give an impression by just one photo, so I´ll upload a couple of shots. In the background to the right is the same the central chapel of the crypt as before, visible here is the right aisle. There are more than 40 groin vaults. The sandstones alternate in colour, a design often used in romanesque architecture (e.g. Vezelay) that may be connected to Mozarabic art. As the history of the cathedral is really complex, I add the Wikipedia-links here: english: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speyer_Cathedral french: fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cath%C3%A9drale_Notre-Dame-de-l%27A... german: de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speyerer_Dom "Europaeische Stiftung Kaiserdom zu Speyer" has a very good website, but only in German: www.dom-speyer.de/index.html

Speyer gained importance, when the Salian dynasty entered the political stage with Holy Roman Emperor Conrad II. He commissioned the construction of of this church, known as the "Imperial Cathedral of Speyer". It was planned to be the largest cathedral worldwide. A display of the Emperor´s power, that was - before the "Investiture Controversy" - secular and ecclesiastical. This "blueprint" from about 1025/1030 got changed later and the even enlarged cathedral was completed in 1106, the year Conrad´s grandson Emperor Henry IV died. Seen here is a "double chapel", added to the cathedral to the south about 1050. The lower level, dedicated St. Martin and St. Emmeran, is a baptisterium now. The upper level, dedicated St. Catherine of Alexandria is used for displaying relics. On the northern side of the cathedral is the chapel of St. Afra, now a tabernacel. Henry IV was buried in the unconsecrated chapel from 1106 to 1111, when Pope Paschalis II revoked the ban, which had been in effect since 1088. As the history of the cathedral is really complex, I add the Wikipedia-links here: english: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speyer_Cathedral french: fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cath%C3%A9drale_Notre-Dame-de-l%27A... german: de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speyerer_Dom "Europaeische Stiftung Kaiserdom zu Speyer" has a very good website, but only in German: www.dom-speyer.de/index.html

Speyer gained importance, when the Salian dynasty entered the political stage with Holy Roman Emperor Conrad II. He commissioned the construction of of this church, known as the "Imperial Cathedral of Speyer". It was planned to be the largest cathedral worldwide. A display of the Emperor´s power, that was - before the "Investiture Controversy" - secular and ecclesiastical. This "blueprint" from about 1025/1030 got changed later and the even enlarged cathedral was completed in 1106, the year Conrad´s grandson Emperor Henry IV died. The crypt of the cathedral, consecrated in 1041, is the largest Romanesque columned hall crypt in Europe, with an area of 850 m². Facing east. In front is the tomb of Rudolph I of Germany (aka "Rudolph of Habsburg"). He was a very popular king, having 14 children with his first wife Gertrude of Hohenburg. Three years after Gertrude´s death he married Isabella of Burgundy. Isabella was 14 years of age at that time, he was 66. Behind the everlasting light (obviously equipped with a red LED) is the tomb of Conrad II, Holy Roman Emperor, the first king of the Salian dynasty. He comissioned this cathedral around 1025. He is the founder of the Salian dynasty of four German Kings (1024-1125). His heart and bowels are buried in Utrecht, where he died. Behind the round oculus-window is the altar of the chapel, we saw before.

Worms, one of the five oldest towns in Germany, was an early bishopric in the valley of the Rhine river and an important palatinate of Charlemagne, who built a palace here. Burchard of Worms, bishop since 1000, had the older carolingian church dismantled and started the construction of the cathedral, dedicated to St Peter. In 1018 this church got consecrated - the first time. In 1122 the Concordat of Worms was signed here, ending the Investiture Controversy. In 1521 the Diet of Worms, a general assembly of the estates of the Holy Roman Empire, took place here, presided by Emperor Charles V. Martin Luther said the sentence "Here I stand. I can do no other. May God help me" here. After that he was declared an outlaw. Parts of the basilica collapsed and got rebuilt. The most parts of the cathedral seen today was constructed between 1125 and the end of that century. The church has two choirs (east and west) and is 110 meters long. During the Nine Years' War, the french troops tried to blew up the building, but failed. The chapel of Saint Nicolas was added to the cathedral 1315. A legend tells that Empress Theophanu brought the relics of St. Nicolas to Worms from Byzanz, where she was born, when she was married to Otto II in 972. Looking over the layout of the demolished cloister west to the western choir and the two round towers. The cathedral has five towers including the crossing tower.

Worms, one of the oldest towns in Germany, founded by Celts, was an early bishopric in the valley of the Rhine river and an important palatinate of Charlemagne, who built a palace here. Burchard of Worms, bishop since 1000, had the older carolingian church dismantled and started the construction of the cathedral, dedicated to St Peter. In 1018 this church got consecrated - the first time. In 1122 the Concordat of Worms was signed here, ending the Investiture Controversy. In 1521 the Diet of Worms, a general assembly of the estates of the Holy Roman Empire, took place here, presided by Emperor Charles V. Martin Luther said the sentence "Here I stand. I can do no other. May God help me" here. After that he was declared an outlaw. Parts of the basilica collapsed and got rebuilt. The most parts of the cathedral seen today was constructed between 1125 and the end of that century. The church has two choirs (east and west) and is 110 meters long. During the Nine Years' War, the french troops tried to blew up the building, but failed. The western choir of the cathedral. Somewhere here the important episode of the "Nibelungenlied" is placed. Brynhild and Kriemhild met "at the western entrance" of the cathedral - and had that controversy, that starts the story. Actually they argued about whose right it was (rank!), to enter the cathedral first. The architecture of the choir is clearly influenced by lombardic and burgundian traditions. There are many carvings around it.