GERMANY  |  Franken, Germany Travel Guide
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Dom

Domplatz,
Franken
Northern Bavaria
Germany

Type: Historical Interest
Hours: Opening hours are daily from 8 am to 5 pm. The choir performs during the 8:45 am

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The four-tower Dom (Cathedral), Domplatz, was consecrated in 1237. It replaced the original church, erected on the orders of Heinrich II in 1012, which burned down twice. The newer church is mainly Gothic but with strong Romanesque influences – the plans were altered 20 times during its construction as traditionalists argued with more progressives over the suitability of the new French style. The result is one of the most impressive medieval buildings in Germany. The Fürstenportal (Princes’ Portal), facing the Domplatz, has 10 recessed arches and an interesting sculpture of the Last Judgement. The Adamspforte (Adam’s Door), on the south side, is the main entrance. Most of the interior walls are bare, as Bavarian King Ludwig I stripped off the medieval paintwork in the 19th century, but some early reliefs can still be seen in the choir. The most famous artwork in the church is the Bamberger Reiter (Bamberg Knight). The 13th-century equestrian statue of a king is an idealized view of the medieval world, but mystery surrounds its creator, or indeed who it is supposed to represent. It is generally assumed that it is King Stephan of Hungary, but many other theories exist. The Nazis used it as a symbol of Aryan perfection. No less impressive is St Heinrichs-Grab (St Henry’s Tomb) in the east choir. It was carved between 1499 and 1513 by Tilman Riemenschneider as a suitable memorial to Heinrich II, founder of the cathedral and later declared a saint.
Last updated February 8, 2008
Posted in   Germany  |  Franken
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