At the time of his death and interment in the cathedral, the structure was still an unfinished construction site. His son and successor Henry III pushed the construction project forward.
Under Emperor Henry IV, the grandson of the founder, the cathedral was consecrated in Nevertheless, fewer than 20 years after the consecration, the emperor instigated plans for substantial remodelling that amounted to building a new structure.
The eastern part was redesigned and more richly structured. Its huge triple-naved vaulted basilica is the central element of a design that is thought to have greatly influenced Romanesque architecture in the 11th and 12th century. The mighty but eminently well-proportioned main building, consisting of the nave and transept with four towers in a symmetrical design, inspired many other important churches.
A central attraction that strongly reflects the spirit of the time is the fully preserved crypt, which is the largest Romanesque columned hall in Europe. As the burial site for Salian, Hohenstaufen and Habsburg rulers and their wives, the crypt — and the cathedral itself — represent the ultimate symbol of medieval imperial power.
The huge 'cathedral bowl' outside the main door is certainly worth a visit. On the Rhine River, about kilometres south of Frankfurt and before it hits the French border, is the largest Romanesque church in the world. Speyer Cathedral is an impressive building — not just for the sheer size of it but because of the influence it has had on architecture in Europe.
Architecturally, Speyer Cathedral broke new ground as the first structure to have a gallery encircling the whole building and an innovative system of arcades. The first construction of Speyer Cathedral was in and a subsequent renovation in made it the first and largest consistently vaulted church in Europe. Over the centuries there have been other changes to the main design of the building — adding on and improving the original design. Walking in, the first thing that strikes you is how deep it goes and how the beautiful symmetry creates such a sense of space.
The interior is decorated quite simply without some of the grand art in other German churches. The total length of the building is meters, the highest point is 72 meters.
The Crypt is still the original, and harbors the graves of no less than 8 medieval German emperors and kings.
They were buried there between and It includes also the grave of Emperor Koenraad II, who had to be buried elsewhere the first 2 years after he had died because the crypt was not yet finished at the time of his death. The stones of the Cathedral in Speyer have very striking colors: yellowish and several kinds of red. This, and the extraordinary shape of the building, make it a remarkable sight.
The underground part of the cathedral is also worth visiting. You would not expect all this in a small German town, but it is really special. Write a review. A church spire stands over the city upon exiting the Speyer train station, but it isn't part of the Speyer Cathedral. Instead, one has to walk just under one kilometer south down Bahnhofstrasse to Maximilianstrasse in order to see the Romanesque cathedral anchoring the east end of the street.
The cathedral was begun almost 1, years ago, and is quite remarkable both near and far away. Sadly, I visited at the end of March this year, so the towers were not yet open for tours. Additionally, minor work was under way at the front entrance, which required an entrance from the side of the church. I had the cathedral almost all to myself with just the cleaning crew since I arrived just after it opened at Even though I'd already seen many churches in Germany in March, I really appreciated the sparse beauty of the nave.
On the day of my visit, I was also the first to visit the vaults underneath the cathedral, where I had time to contemplate in silence the history of this cathedral, where eight German emperors and kings, as well as some of their wives, were laid to rest.
Speyer Cathedral was one of Germany's first inscribed World Heritage Sites, and it is an absolutely beautiful and impressive sight to see. Logistics: Speyer Cathedral is within walking distance from the train station, which has regular connections to Heidelberg via the S3 rail line.
Neither Germany in particular nor Europe in general suffer from a lack of WH-listed cathedrals, but the one in Speyer was one of the first on the list, and for good reason: it is the largest remaining Romanesque church after the destruction of Cluny Abbey during the French Revolution , and really seems much too big for the relatively small town of Speyer.
It was Emperor Conrad II. Today it is mostly famous for being the burial place of a series of emperors and kings from the Salian, Staufer, and Habsburg dynasties, and the Imperial Crypt is still the most impressive part of the cathedral. The Imperial Hall above the entrance was to me not so impressive, but in general, this is a great site and an easy, worthwhile visit. Australia - Jan -. Be warned — there are a lot of stairs, but the perspective of the cathedral from the tower gives an excellent insight into the architectural design and external features.
Inside the main part of the church, make sure you go down into the crypt to see the tombs of the kings. Also, there is often an art display at the back behind the altar with a mix of classical and contemporary pieces.
Although larger churches have been built in Germany since Speyer Cathedral was first constructed, it is still a grand and impressive building. Once you consider all the history beneath its nave, it gives the site even more significance. Germany - May -. In I went to Speyer by train and explored this wonderful city all day. It is a really worthwhile destination for a trip, not only because of the cathedral.
Speyer's history goes back to more than two thousand years. A thousand years ago, it was the centre of the Salian kingdom and therefore also of the German medieval empire. The day in Speyer was wonderful because the town is just beautiful and has a very special atmosphere. It is so historical and pretty, yet, it did not feel "touristy", but had a very original and down-to-earth feeling to it. We enjoyed strolling around and taking in the atmosphere, but we also visited two museums the Technical Museum and the Historical Museum of Palatine , the old Jewish Quarter and of course the mighty cathedral.
The cathedral itself is beautiful and impressive but it did not touch or strike me as much as others did. As previous reviewers have mentioned, it feels a bit sterile and somehow I expected it to be more exciting. Nevertheless, it is impressive and it is still worth a trip, all the more if you take some time to explore the town as well.
Opinions on the Speyer Cathedral vary considerably: either a marvellous example of Romanesque architecture or a bare and austere interior without any spirit. I must admit that the atmosphere inside is quite chilly indeed, but I like very much Speyer and its cathedral. The sheer size of the building is striking and also the beautiful location: free-standing and surrounded by a park, the views are not obstructed by other buildings.
But maybe I'm biased, because I was born and raised in the vicinity of Speyer. I visited the Cathedral with my parents and my school class, and even as an adult I often make a detour to Speyer when I am in the area. The highlight of a visit is the wonderful crypt, it should not be missed photo.
It is considered the largest Romanesque columned hall, it extends under the entire transept and chancel. The plain interior and the two-tone arches lend it a spiritual atmosphere, that many visitors miss in the upper church. No doubt, it was in the crypt of the Speyer Cathedral where my fondness for Romanesque architecture has its origin. The westwork is a new construction from the 19th century, art historians do not consider it very important, but it has a wealth of sculptures and ornament.
I would recommend an audioguide, the meaning of the sculptures and the building history of the Cathedral is explained in detail.
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