Strasbourg cathedral

Legend tells that Notre Dame in Strasbourg stands where once there was a dolmen and a sacred wood dedicated to the Celtic god “Esus”, a god of war, which in Roman times was replaced by a temple dedicated to Mars. In 510 Clovis raise a Christian church in the same place, and above it was built the cathedral, which was adorned by many kings.

This early cathedral was badly damaged by a fire in the late ninth century (873). The work of reconstruction, after a second destruction in 1007, began in 1025. Bishop Conrad de Lichtemberg entrusted the job to Erwin de Steimbach, and the primitive Romanesque appearance was replaced by a structure of Gothic style in 1028. The work was continued by his son John, who built the central rosette. The Cathedral was completed in 1439 by John Hürtz. During the wars of religion, it passed to the Protestant faith, but it was returned to the Catholic rite in 1681. It was again severely damaged by bombs during the War of 1870.

The beautiful façade of the cathedral is in Gothic style, decorated with an impressive array of low-relieves angels, saints, and floral motives. The three doors are finely worked in low relief too, with the main door, onto which they open a large window of stained glass. On fourprotruding pillars are the equestrian statues of Clovis, Dagobert (603 c.-639), Rudolph of Austria (1218-1291) and Louis XIV (1638-17159.

To the north of the facade raises the imposing tower with its soaring spire. The interior has a Latin cross with three aisles, supported by columns of enormous proportions, the length of the cathedral is about 100 metres, with the main aisle of 38 metres; the very beautiful stained glass windows date from the fourteenth century and for most is a work by John Kircheim (active in XIV century). Among the paintings, worthy of mention are the “Assumption of the Virgin” and “Ascension of Christ”, by Joseph Heim (1787-1865).

Also extraordinary is the pulpit, with its famous clock (1487), by Hammerer (active in XV century). The clock is a masterpiece of mechanics of the sixteenth century (the Twelve Apostles emerge every day who pass in the presence of the Redeemer), designed by Corrado Dasipodio and executed by the brothers Isaac and Joshua Habrecht from Schaffhausen.

See Alsace and Bas-Rhin (the region and department for Strasbourg cathedral) for more travel ideas...

Tourist classifications for Strasbourg cathedral: Village in bloom (ville fleurie) 2*; Listed town of Art and History; 'Historical protected town centre' (secteur sauvegardé);

Suggested places to visit near Strasbourg cathedral, France

Distances shown are direct, driving distances will be greater.

More suggestions: Obernai 24km; Barr 29km; Marmoutier 30km; Mont-Sainte-Odile 30km; Mittelbergheim 31km; Chateau Andlau 32km; Epfig 33km; Saverne 34km; Ebersmunster 34km; Neuwiller-les-Saverne 37km; Le Struthof 40km;

Strasbourg cathedral tourist information: sights and attractions nearby

Jardin botanique de l'université de Strasbourg - remarkable garden (0km) : Bischheim - ville fleurie 4* (4km) : Le jardin de Marguerite - remarkable garden (12km) : Jardin du chateau de Kolbsheim - remarkable garden (12km) : Jardin de l'Escalier - remarkable garden (17km) : Drusenheim - ville fleurie 4* (25km) : Domaine du Windeck - remarkable garden (28km) : Diebolsheim - ville fleurie 4* (33km) :

See more places and a map at places near Strasbourg