speyer cathedral architecture features
The Romanesque nave was reconstructed, but the Westwerk rebuilt in the Baroque style on its remaining lower section. Towers were an important feature of Romanesque churches and a great number of them show Romanesque features that still exist today. Regardless, he partially reconstructed the building by elevating the nave by about 5 meters (16.4 feet). Take advantage of the search to browse through the World Heritage Centre information. No less than eight medieval emperors and kings of the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation from Konrad II to Albrecht of Habsburg in 1309 were laid to rest in its vault. The property is legally protected under regional and national legislation and managed under the responsibility of the Cathedral Chapter by the Cathedral Construction Administration (Dombauamt). This makes the cathedral one of the best-preserved feats of Romanesque architecture. The archaic building made of copper-red stone impresses with the rigor of its forms and its dimensions. Construction was started in 1030 and took 80 years to complete. The Cathedral is an expression and self-portrayal of the abundance of imperial power during the Salian period (1024 - 1125) and was built in conscious competition to the Abbey of Cluny as the building representative of the papal opposition. The westwork, rebuilt from 1854 to 1858 by Heinrich Hbsch on the old foundations, is by contrast, a testimony to Romanticisms interpretation of the Middle Ages, and as such an independent achievement of the 19th century. [27] Construction of the one in Speyer already started around 1050. It serves as the home of the Diocese of Speyer in Germany. "The result is an interior of monumental power, albeit stark and prismatic when compared with contemporary French buildings, but one which conveys an impression of Roman gravitas, an impression singularly appropriate for a ruler with the political pretensions of Henry IV. The Speyer Cathedral is an Episcopal church, a parish church and a pilgrimage destination. Originally, the cathedral was surrounded by numerous buildings. You may think Romanesque style churches are a bit boring but read one to learn about the codes and symbols hidden in their architecture. We've created a Patreon for Medievalists.net as we want to transition to a more community-funded model. There was an error submitting your subscription. WebGL must be enable, Declaration of principles to promote international solidarity and cooperation to preserve World Heritage, Heritage Solutions for Sustainable Futures, Recommendation on the Historic Urban Landscape, Central Africa World Heritage Forest Initiative (CAWHFI), Reducing Disasters Risks at World Heritage Properties, World Heritage and Sustainable Development, World Heritage Programme for Small Island Developing States (SIDS), Initiative on Heritage of Religious Interest, Der Dom zu Speyer (Deutsche UNESCO-Kommission - german only). No less than eight medieval emperors and kings of the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation from Konrad II to Albrecht of Habsburg in 1309 were laid to rest in its vault. Renovations have cleaned the interior stone to such a degree that it almost looks new, despite some of it being almost 1,000 years old. The area of the central nave, dominated by half-point arc, made clear the principle of addition. It also served as the model for multiple other buildings in Europe. These buildings are characterized by their massive stone walls, rounded . Limes.Media/Tim Schnarr, State of Rhineland-Palatinate (Rheinland-Pfalz). 1030 . (A.D. 1016-47) Speyer Cathedral, Germany 1030-1061 GERMAN ROMANESQUE Laach Abbey (A.D. 1093-1156) Worms Cathedral (A.D. 1110-1200) GERMAN ROMANESQUE Lubeck Cathedral Treves Cathedral (A.D . Emperors and bishops processed along the city's expansive boulevard. It is the seat of the Bishop of Speyer. It's made up of two square baileys separated by a passageway. In those days stone buildings had wooden roofs, but the cathedral had a stone roof from the very beginning. Yet, by the start of the 20th century, the mood had changed. This feature soon became a fundamental element in Romanesque churches;[23] it was adopted at Worms Cathedral and Mainz Cathedral, and on the faades of many churches in Italy (see detail in gallery below). Romanesque architecture features rounded arches, barrel vaults, and thick walls. In 1916, Georg Dehio, a German art historian, was convinced that among all the misfortunes to befall the Speyer cathedral, the alterations of the 19th century were not the smallest. The Cathedral was the burial place of the German emperors for almost 300 years. For almost a century only the eastern part of the cathedral was secured and used for services. . "The cathedral of Speyer, with those of Worms and Mayence (Mainz), is a major monument of Romanesque art in the German Empire. Conrad II brought the coffins of 4 emperors and 3 empresses here in order to increase the importance of the cathedral. Meanwhile, the Speyer Cathedral also hosts the International Music Festival that is held in September and October. Speyer Cathedral is the first known structure to be built with a gallery that encircles the whole building. The original apse was round inside but rectangular on the outside. The interior decoration cannot be called modest, despite the minimum of decorations and frescoes (only a few banners). 45.1 30.1 cm (300 dpi) capture date. 2Features Toggle Features subsection 2.1Crypt 2.2Chapels 2.3Bells 2.4Dimensions 3Surroundings Toggle Surroundings subsection 3.1Heidentrmchen (Heath Tower) 3.2Hall of Antiques (Antikenhalle) 4German Postage Stamps featuring Speyer cathedral 5See also 6References 7External links Toggle the table of contents Nonetheless, it is the largest Romanesque church to this day. To support our blog and writers we put affiliate links and advertising on our page. Here are some of the dimensions of Speyer Cathedral: Length: 134 meters (439.63 feet) Width: 37.62 meters (123.42 feet) Nave width: 14 meters (45.93 feet) Nave height: 33 meters (108.26 feet) Height (western towers): 65.6 meters (215.22 feet) Height (eastern towers): 71.2 meters (233.59 feet) 9. The crypt, along with the church, represents the medieval imperial power. The cathedral's peal is composed of nine bells of which the larger four were cast in 1822 by Peter Lindemann (Zweibrcken) and the five smaller ones in 1963 by Friedrich Wilhelm Schilling (Heidelberg). Some of the contents, e. g. clothing, can be seen at the Historical Museum of the Palatinate near the cathedral. In the heat of the fire the western part of the nave collapsed and the late Gothic elements were destroyed. In its size and the richness of its sculptures, some created by Italian sculptors, it stands out among all contemporary and later Romanesque churches in Germany, and it had a profound influence on the pattern of their ground plans and vaulting. The Speyer Cathedral has all the usual attributes of romanesque buildings: a massive look, thick walls, rounded arches and groin vaults supported by sturdy pillars. One of the most famous organists in Germany, Leo Kremer and Ludwig Derr, gave concerts here. The traditions of the cross-dome system are preserved. (David Herbert). In addition to these rulers the cathedral is the resting place of several of the ruler's wives and many of Speyer's bishops. This crypt is also the largest Romanesque columned hall in any church in Europe. The reconstruction of the west bays of the nave from 1772 to 1778, as an almost archaeologically exact copy of the original structure, can be regarded as one of the first great achievements of monument preservation in Europe. The centre, under the crossing, is a square room, divided into 3 x 3 = 9 bays. In April 1981, Speyer Cathedral was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List of culturally important sites. [15] Neither Conrad II, nor his son Henry III, were to see the cathedral completed. The cathedral was consecrated in 1061 to the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Protomartyr Stephen. This plan is characterized by the equilibrium of the eastern and western blocks and by the symmetrical and singular placement of the towers which frame the mass formed by the nave and the transept. It is the seat of the Bishop of Speyer. Speyer Cathedral, Interior German Romanesque architecture, centered in the Rhineland, was equally conservative, although its conservatism reflects the persistence of Carolingian-Otto-nian rather than earlier traditions. Only the Gothic sacristy kept its slate roof. Today after the destruction of the Abbey of Cluny Speyer Cathedral is the biggest Romanesque church in the world. 45.9 30.8 cm (300 dpi) capture date. Located in the Upper Rhine between Brasilea and Mainz, Speyer Cathedral is considered the largest Romanesque church in the West for its grandeur, due to the total space. By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. The square bays thus formed are groin vaulted and plastered. Although most of the plasterwork of the 19th century has been removed from wall surfaces, the wide expanse of masonry between the arcade and the clerestory contains a series of colourful murals depicting the Life of the Virgin. Only the cycle of 24 scenes from the life of the Virgin between the windows of the nave have been preserved. The beautiful Speyer Cathedral belongs to the UNESCO World Heritage Site and is almost the only representative of the old Romanesque style in architecture in Europe. Construction was started in 1030 and took 80 years to complete. The Speyer Cathedral underwent partial restoration, but already in the XVIII century it was again subjected to a mass attack by the same French armies. This cathedral was built to honor St. Mary and St. Stephen. one of the most important architectural monuments of its time[7] and one of the finest Romanesque monuments. Today after the destruction of the Abbey of Cluny Speyer Cathedral is the biggest Romanesque church in the world. It is a Roman Catholic Church in Speyer, Germany that was founded in 1030. Schlickel, Ferdinand, Speyer. [4] The cathedral was the burial place of the German emperors for almost 300 years. In 1806 the French had in mind to tear the building down and use it as a quarry, which was only prevented by the bishop of Mainz, Joseph Ludwig Colmar. For 10 centuries of existence, the House has changed little, although it has been subjected to repeated barbaric attacks.So, in the XVII century it was destroyed by the French troops of King Louis the 14th, who was outraged by the fact that under the arches of the cathedral there is a tomb of German rulers and their spouse. 2006-2023 Everything Everywhere Travel Media. "[26](see detail below). King Maximilian II ended up replacing this Baroque addition (completed between 1748 and 1772) with a neo-Romanesque faade that resembles the original structure. There was, however, a renovation project which saw the addition of a new Westwork in the Baroque architectural style. Because of the hostility of the people of Speyer towards the bishop it was decided to build a palace in Bruchsal. Its design and harmony are remarkable. Begun in 1030 under Conrad II, with the east end and high vault of 10901103, the imposing triple-aisled vaulted basilica of red sandstone is the "culmination of a design which was extremely influential in the subsequent development of Romanesque architecture during the 11th and 12th centuries". It also served as the model for multiple other buildings in Europe. Characteristics of Gothic Architecture. Het ontwerp van de basiliek had veel invloed op de verdere ontwikkeling van de Romaanse bouwkunst tijdens de 11e en 12e eeuw. This plan is characterized by the equilibrium of the eastern and western blocks and by the symmetrical and singular placement of the towers which frame the mass formed by the nave and the transept. The original building was made with wooden roofs, and its reconstruction is replaced by stone vaults of edges; foreclosing highest space; raising. Von den Saliern bis heute, 1000 Jahre Stadtgeschichte, 2000, Hermann Klein Verlg, Speyer. As the pilgrim is being reminded of the origin and perfection of the salvation, he may enter the church. On the southern side of the cathedral is the double chapel (Doppelkapelle) of Saint Emmeram (Saint Martin) and Saint Catherine. Saint Mary's chapel had been added on the northern side of the cathedral by Bishop Matthias von Rammung in 1475. It is a Roman Catholic Church in Speyer, Germany that was founded in 1030. It was rebuilt by Henry IV, following his reconciliation with the Pope in 1077, as the first and largest consistently vaulted church building in Europe. The successor, Henry III and Henry IV, enlarged and completed. Magnificent Coca Castle was built in the 15th century by Alonso de Fonseca, a mighty archbishop of Seville, during the reign of King Enrique IV of Castile. The outline of the former cloister can be seen as pavement. Hello You Designs. Some parts of this article have been translated using Googles translation engine. The construction was completed already under his grandson in 1060 the cathedral was consecrated and he opened his heavy stone eyelids, surveying the flock of believers at his foot. It was commissioned by the Holy Roman Emperor in the year 1025., also known as Conrad the Elder (989-1039), was the Holy Roman Emperor in the 11th century. Architecturally, Speyer Cathedral broke new ground as the first structure to have a gallery encircling the whole building and an innovative system of arcades. It became a characteristic feature in the design and structure of German Romanesque buildings. Speyer cathedral has had a turbulent history of repeated destruction and reconstruction. It was rebuilt by Henry IV, following his reconciliation with the Pope in 1077, as the first and largest consistently vaulted church building in Europe. On that day almost the whole town of Speyer was burned down. 1854 to 1858, Ludwig's successor, King Maximilian II, had the Baroque Westwerk replaced by a Neo-Romanesque one, with the two tall towers and the octagonal dome resembling those that were lost, thus restoring the cathedral's overall Romanesque appearance. The two chapels on top of each other are connected through an opening in the centre. [20] The addition of groin vaults made the incorporation of clerestory windows possible without weakening the structure. They take a variety of forms; square, circular and octagonal in shape. Alternatively, the stone could be split along the laminations or bedding planes with a suitable hammer and chisel. The construction of this building began in 1030 on the ruins of a much older temple. The building became a political issue: the enlargement of the cathedral in the small village of Speyer with only around 500 inhabitants was a blunt provocation for the papacy. The cathedral has recently undergone fundamental restorations, which cost around 26 million Euros. Gothic rib vaulting, Reims Cathedral (begun 1221) nave. The expansion phase of Henry IV only preserved the lower floors and the crypt of the original cathedral. The cathedral was consecrated in 1061 to the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Protomartyr Stephen. 1030-1061 1090-1106 culture. 5,424 3,633 pixel. In the nave, the articulation of the walls in relief, where the wall and double wall stuffed with pilasters, as highlighted in the first part of the building. The cathedral was inaugurated in 1061. Although repeatedly occupied and ransacked, town and cathedral survived the Thirty Years' War (16181648) with little damage. He also integrated a groin vault featuring square bays, an incredible feat of Romanesque architecture. The design broadly follows the plan that was established at St. Michael's Church in Hildesheim and set the standard that was to be generally adopted in the Rhineland. It was the first building constructed entirely from stone in Europe. It is an ability to penetrate from the nave self-interest of each group to its permanent and real interest. Statesmanship consists in giving the people not what they want but what they will learn to want.Walter Lippmann (18891974), The purest lesson our era has taught is that man, at his highest, is an individual, single, isolate, alone, in direct soul-communication with the unknown God, which prompts within him.D.H. Today, it doesn't look unusual - but the construction work done here helped develop techniques that enabled many of the other grand churches in the region to flourish. In the heat of the fire the western part of the nave collapsed and the late Gothic elements were destroyed.[11]. 5,324 3,560 pixel. World Heritage partnerships for conservation. Nearly completed, the cathedral was consecrated in 1061. colour corrected. Modern Era. source: UNESCO/ERI Engaged shafts had appeared around 1030 in buildings along the Loire (Saint-Benot-sur-Loire, Auxerre, Loches) from where the technique spread to Normandy and the Rhineland. Ribbed vaults are introduced, each one in which encompasses two huge arches of the first division of the building. In 1689 the Cathedral was seriously damaged by fire. In 1806 the French had in mind to tear the building down and use it as a quarry, which was only prevented by the bishop of Mainz, Joseph Ludwig Colmar. colour corrected. Cathedral warden, Bernhard Volk, has met many of the world's great and good here: Gorbachev and Yeltsin, Bush and Thatcher, Kohl and Schrder. Conrad II wanted to build the largest Roman Catholic cathedral in the Western World and although he didnt succeed at the time (Cluny Abbey was bigger), it was still one of the largest Romanesque buildings in the world. Here are some of the dimensions of Speyer Cathedral: Height (western towers): 65.6 meters (215.22 feet), Height (eastern towers): 71.2 meters (233.59 feet). Protections by other conservation instruments, Speyer Cathedral (Germany) Both show polygonal towers at the corners. Conrad II legde in 1030 de basis van de dom van Speyer, een basiliek met vier torens en twee koepels, die verbouwd werd aan het einde van de 11e eeuw. 2023 SpottingHistory.com. Ludwig I was of the opinion that nothing greater had been created than these paintings. In 1689 the Cathedral was seriously damaged by fire. Unsubscribe at any time. The Cathedral incorporates the general layout of St Michael of Hildesheim and brings to perfection a type of plan that was adopted generally throughout the Rhineland. The height of the towers is 71 meters. Follow us to get best tips to interesting historic sites! Stalley, Roger: Early Medieval Architecture, Oxford University Press, Oxford, Great Britain, 1999. In its size and the richness of its sculptures, some created by Italian sculptors, it stands out among all contemporary and later Romanesque churches in Germany, and it had a profound influence on the pattern of their ground plans and vaulting. ", "Dombauverein Speyer e.V. Germany. Thieme/Sommer/Wolfe: "Das groe Buch der Stile", Band 5, "Die Romanik", Reinhard Welz, Vermittler Verlag e.K. Speyer Cathedral, officially the Imperial Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption and St Stephen, in Latin: Domus sanctae Mariae Spirae (German: Dom zu Unserer lieben Frau in Speyer) in Speyer, Germany, is the seat of the Roman Catholic Bishop of Speyer and is suffragan to the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Bamberg. Today it is a memorial for the fallen of the two world wars. Web Browser not supported for ESRI ArcGIS API version 4.10. But it was an emperor, rather than a bishop, who actually built Speyer Cathedral. He is a 3x Lowell Thomas Award winner and a 3x North American Travel Photographer of the Year. maximum image resolution. This became the model of other churches built after the Speyer Cathedral. After all, many of the German rulers and their wives are buried in this church. June 6, 2018. image processing. The major elements within the combination remain independent. Speyer became a model for many other church buildings but was unsurpassed in its magnificence. The Speyer cathedral was elevated to the level of a national monument. It was just as ambitious as Santiago de Compostela Cathedral (started in 1075), Cluny Abbey (Cluny III, started in 1085), and Durham Cathedral (started in 1093). The space is determined by a plant squares, each containing a 33 entrepaos (which connects to the crypt and the apse). The cathedral was built by the Emperor to show his power, which is why it is also known as the Kaiser Dome and a large statue of Conrad II was placed in the entrance hall. The Pope may have given him the crown, but it was God who gave him his power and glory, at least according to the emperor himself. Speyer Cathedral, officially the Imperial Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption and St Stephen, in Latin: Domus sanctae Mariae Spirae in Speyer, Germany, is the seat of the Roman Catholic Bishop of Speyer and is suffragan to the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Bamberg. Conrads grandson, Holy Roman Emperor Henry IV (1050-1106), wasnt satisfied with the completed Romanesque structure just yet. For two hundred years after the Salian dynasty, members of the Hohenstaufen, Habsburg and Nassauer dynasties also chose the cathedral as their resting place. It has become a custom tradition at the church to fill this bowl with wine whenever a new bishop is named. Fonde par Conrad II en 1030 et transforme la fin du XIe sicle, la cathdrale de Spire, basilique quatre tours et deux dmes, est l'un des monuments majeurs de l'art du Saint Empire romain. Are clear echoes of pre-Romanesque style, with flat roof in its origins. The plant consists of a body formed by a western portico on the ground floor and galleries on the upper level. Andalusia Conrado II ascend to the throne in the year 1024 began construction of the cathedral as the imperial church. The reconstruction of the west bays of the nave from 1772 to 1778, as an almost archaeologically exact copy of the original structure, can be regarded as one of the first great achievements of monument preservation in Europe. Under the direction of Franz Ignaz M. Neumann, the son of renown Baroque architect Balthasar Neumann, the building was restored from 1772 to 1748. Speyer Cathedral is located in the Rhineland-Palatinate region of Germany. The importance of the building in the history of architecture in Western Europe has been recognized by UNESCO as it was designed as a World Heritage site in 1981. The design was common in Romanesque era buildings of the medieval era, particularly in Germany and Italy. full/alternative names. The choir was flanked by two towers. The system of arcades added during these renovations was also a first in architectural history. He had the eastern sections demolished and the foundations enforced to a depth of up to eight metres. This plan is characterized by the equilibrium of the eastern and western blocks and by the symmetrical and singular placement of the towers which frame the mass formed by the nave and the transept. The church features a Romanesque architectural style and was inscribed in 1981. And a few words on the Speyer Cathedral Architecture, Indian Scout renovation: when your paint creates generator issues. The cathedral was abandoned for 10 years, and it was only 80 years later that the West Wing was rebuilt. He conceived the plan in the year 1025 and the first stone of Speyer Cathedral was laid in 1030. But on 31 May 1689 the soldiers broke in, pillaged the imperial graves and set everything alight. This makes the cathedral one of the best-preserved feats of Romanesque architecture. This was replaced by an eastern end that is dominated by twin towers that stand 71.2 meters (233.59 feet) tall and an encircling gallery. German. The quarried tile-stone was called pendle and had to be split, generally by frost action. Although repeatedly occupied and ransacked, town and cathedral survived the Thirty Years' War (1618-1648) with little damage. maximum image resolution. First, the building was built between two longitudinal groups of towers, and in 1100 was entirely vaulted. 1854 to 1858, Ludwig's successor, King Maximilian II, had the Baroque westwork replaced by a Neo-Romanesque one, with the two tall towers and the octagonal dome resembling those that were lost, thus restoring the cathedral's overall Romanesque appearance. Gutted in 1689 and rebuilt several times, it was consecrated in 1961 after its most recent restoration. These cathedrals usually featured an eastern end that included the altar and a western end for the main entrance, with the nave crossed by two horizontal transepts (or wings) Cruciform churches. As the wall of a fortress closed the main street of the city. Under Henry IV renovations and extensions were undertaken. The apse is linked to in-depth articulation of the walls of the nave, thus generating the transfer from the columns and arches attached blinded straight from the rounded walls, clearly both inside and outside the building there is a conception of the wall facing not only as it closes, it is structured as a plastic mass to form internally and externally. Romanesque architecture, autumn is heir to the Carolingian and she receives some of its most important and distinguishing features. During the Nine Years' War (Palatinate War of Succession 168897), the people of Speyer brought furniture and possessions into the cathedral, stacking everything several metres high hoping to save them from the French troops of Louis XIV marauding the town. King Rudolph of Habsburg (died 1291) King Adolph of Nassau (died 1298) King Albert I of Germany (died 1308), son of Rudolph of Habsburg. Conrad II died in 1039 and was buried in the cathedral while it was still under construction; Henry III was laid next to him in 1056. Under the direction of Franz Ignaz M. Neumann, the son of renowned Baroque architect Balthasar Neumann, the building was restored from 1748 to 1772. Laid out in the form of a Latin cross, it is one of Germany's largest and most important Romanesque buildings, and was intended to be no This Marian cathedral is a beacon of Romanesque architecture in the 21st century. The horizontal orientation already points to the development of the Gothic architecture. It is considered to be the most stunning outcome of early Salian architecture and the "culmination of a design which was extremely influential in the subsequent development of Romanesque architecture during the 11th and 12th centuries". Initially there were five other chapels on the northern side of the cathedral: Saint Paul, Saint Agnes, Saint Bernard, Saint Henry, and Saint Mary. The management system consists of a set of maintenance and conservation measures respecting the liturgical function. It is one of the most important Romanesque monuments from the time of the Holy Roman Empire. The "architectural clarity is quite exceptional, a result of the precise execution of the base moldings and the cushion capitals, together with the emphatic system of transverse arches. The main building consists of a nave and transept supported by four towers. Read more about this topic: Speyer Cathedral, History and Architecture, The chief element in the art of statesmanship under modern conditions is the ability to elucidate the confused and clamorous interests which converge upon the seat of government. Also, the Baroque style curved roof on the eastern dome remained. It has a square ground plan, a moat and two walled enclosures, which gives it the air of impregnability for which it has been known over the centuries. The cathedral, which is dedicated to St. Mary, patron saint of Speyer ("Patrona Spirensis") and St. Stephen is generally known as the Kaiserdom zu Speyer (Imperial Cathedral of Speyer). The Speyer Cathedral is the Imperial Cathedral of the bishopric of Speyer. Postal stamp of 1961 commemorating the 900th anniversary of Speyer Cathedral, Postal stamp of 1995 from the series "Tourist highlights", Plan in the 19th century revealing the "double-bay" system of vaulting, View showing the original westwork in 1606, The new westwork by Heinrich Hbsch, 18541858, The eastern apsidal end, showing the encircling gallery, German Postage Stamps featuring Speyer cathedral. It is located just outside the main door of the church. Speyer Cathedral is located in close driving distance to the Messel Fossil Pit and Abbey of Lorsch world heritage sites. Inside the mount is a chapel dedicated to the Archangel Michael. Local limestone is used, from the blocks of which Deconstructivism an architecture of fragmentation, African and Oceanic Art, Picasso and Le Corbusier, Architecture Before the architects: Building S. Theodores Chapel of S. Marks Basilica in Venice, 1486-93, The Art of Fine Line Tattooing: A History and Evolution*, Features of the style of architecture of Russian architecture, Architectural Interpretation of the Pythagorean-Platonic Worldview Tradition, Ornamental symmetry and integral ornament. He made numerous seemingly impossible demands, which eventually promoted new developments in architecture. Imperial Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption and St Stephen. Today - after the destruction of the Abbey of Cluny - Speyer Cathedral is the biggest Romanesque church in the world. Speyer has the earliest example in Germany of a colonnaded dwarf gallery that goes around the entire building, just below the roofline. The Cathedral was the burial place of the German emperors for almost 300 years.