INFOBOX
- Best for: Friends of marvellous medieval craftsmanship
- Nearest major city: Leipzig
- Nearest airport: Dresden
- Website: www.naumburg-cathedral.de
Speyer Cathedral
Western Germany is home to the pretty town of Speyer, located in the Rhineland-Palatinate region. The handsome imperial cathedral here is its key attraction. Dedicated to St Stephen and St Mary, it is one of the most important structures dating from the time of the Holy Roman Empire. It stands proudly as one of Germany’s largest Romanesque buildings, and is the biggest surviving Romanesque church on the planet. Founded in 1030 by Conrad II and reworked again in the 11th century, it was here that Habsburg, Salian and Staufer emperors were buried for nearly three hundred years. As such, the cathedral is an impressive symbol of imperial power.
The structure of the cathedral sprawls out like a Latin cross, with the grand vaulted basilica featuring three naves standing as its central masterpiece. The preserved crypt is the biggest columned hall of its kind in Europe, and as a result, Speyer Cathedral has been a great influencer on subsequent Romanesque design.
Climb roughly three hundred steps to reach the top of the cathedral and you’ll be rewarded with panoramic views over Speyer from an observation platform, where the picturesque Rhine plain sprawls out before you. Take the opportunity to see this stunning part of Germany from a unique perspective.
Continue exploring the grounds to find the “bowl”. A deeply curved feature, it can hold up to 1560 litres at capacity. Every new bishop once filled the container with flowing wine – the people of Speyer seemed to enjoy this ritual! Legend has it that this is the origin of the Cathedral Wine Fair, which takes place here in spring. The International Music Festival is held on-site too, and features concerts and organ recitals, bringing fantastic and lively music into town.
Furthermore, the huge Domgarten stretches all the way to the Rhine and is the biggest park in the city. It’s a wonderful place for an afternoon stroll. Here you can find the Mount of Olives, once the focal point of the cloister.
If you are looking to explore more of the region, Speyer is conveniently close to Heidelberg. A gloriously beautiful town, Heidelberg is home to a famous university and a stunning 16th-century palace.