Regensburg Cathedral

The building

An unusual feature of Regensburg Cathedral is its separation from the structure of the older cloister. This separation came about when the church was rebuilt and displaced to the southwest of the earlier Romanesque cathedral.

In testimony of that Romanesque precursor, the "Eselsturm" tower still stands on the north side of the cathedral; it was used in the past and is still used to transport construction materials to the upper levels. A pulley remains in the west loft, and with it materials were lifted through an opening in the ceiling near the west portal. To the east of the cathedral is the state-run "Dombauhütte" (cathedral building workshop) which is responsible for the preservation of the structure. In contrast with many cathedral building works, neither modern machines nor exclusively old tools are used. Rather, tools are manufactured in the workshop itself.

The "Erminold Maria" is one element of an Annunciation group in the Regensburg Cathedral. It goes back to the so-called "Erminoldmeister", who carved and colorfully painted the figure of Mary and the famous laughing figure of the angel Gabriel about 1280. The figures are juxtaposed to one another on the two western pillars at the crossing of the nave. Mary's right hand is slightly raised toward the angel in greeting. In her left hand she holds a book, into which she is pointing with her index finger.

On the eastern pillars at the crossing are stone figures of Saints Peter and Paul, which were installed in 1320 and 1360-1370 respectively.

On the exterior there is a "Judensau" (Jews' sow) in the form of a sow and three Jews hanging onto its teats. The "Judensau" faces in the direction of the former Jewish quarter at the "Neupfarrplatz". In 2005 there was a controversy about the posting of an informational sign.

The "All Saints' Chapel" in the cathedral cloister was built in 1164 as a burial chapel for Bishop Hartwig II by the Comaschi, a family of master builders from Como in northern Italy. Its interior consists of a more finely articulated triconchos with frescoes from the time of its construction.

Most of the valuable "stained glass windows" were installed between 1220-1230 and 1320-1370. The windows of the west facade were only completed in the 19th century. In 1967-1968 came the windows of the left chancel, from the hand of the artist Professor Oberberger. He also produced the Pentecost window in the west of the north transept and the clerestory windows in Gothic style.

The silver "high altar" stems from Augsburg artists and was built in the period between 1695 and 1785. A particular feature is the five Gothic altars of reservation. In the south choir a new altar of celebration was built in 2004, the work of Helmut Langhammer.

St. Peter Canisius preached from the stone pulpit in the central nave in 1556-1557.

ignificance

The Regensburg Cathedral is the bishop's church and the principal church of the Regensburg diocese. It is also the home of the "Regensburger Domspatzen" ("cathedral sparrows"), a choir rich in tradition. The structure is considered the most significant Gothic work in southern Germany.

The Cathedral is also the burial place of important bishops, including Johann Michael von Sailer (1829-1832, memorial built by Konrad Eberhard in the south chancel), Georg Michael Wittmann (1832-1833, memorial also by Konrad Eberhard in the north chancel), and Archbishop Michael Buchberger (1927-1961, likewise in the north chancel). In the western part of the central nave stands a bronze memorial for the Prince-Bishop Cardinal Philipp Wilhelm (d. 1598), the brother of Duke Maximilian I of Bavaria.

Gallery

External links

* [http://www.bistum-regensburg.de/borPage000393.asp Diocese of Regensburg: Cathedral] de icon
* [http://www.bistumsmuseen-regensburg.de/html/domschatz_geschichte.htm Diocese: Cathedral Museum] de icon

References