| Augsburg Cathedral | |
|---|---|
Dom Mariä Heimsuchung | |
 View of the cathedral from the southeast | |
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| Location | Augsburg,Bavaria |
| Country | Germany |
| Denomination | Catholic Church |
| Tradition | Latin Church |
| History | |
| Dedication | Mary, mother of Jesus |
| Architecture | |
| Style | Romanesque/Gothic |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Diocese of Augsburg |
TheCathedral of Augsburg (German:Dom Mariä Heimsuchung) is aCatholic cathedral inAugsburg,Bavaria,Germany, founded in the 11th century inRomanesque style, but with 14th-centuryGothic additions. Together with theBasilica of St. Ulrich and Afra, it is one of the city's main attractions. It measures 113 x 40 m, and its towers are 62 m high. It is dedicated to theVisitation of Virgin Mary.
The cathedral is perhaps located on the site of a pre-existing 4th-century building, not necessarily a church, whose foundations have been excavated beneath the current level; the site is included within the ancient Roman walls ofAugusta Vindelicorum. The first known church in the place is documented from 822, but dating to the late 8th century reigns of bishopsWikterp andSimpert.
The edifice was damaged by theMagyars and was restored in 923 under bishopUlrich. Another repairing intervention occurred in 994 when the westernapse crumbled down; the restoration was funded byempress Adelaide. The current Romanesque structure was commissioned in 1043 by Bishop Henry III and was completed in 1065. The two towers, which are visible from the whole city, were completed in 1075. From 1331 to 1431 numerous Gothic elements were added, including the easternchoir.
During theProtestant Reformation, the church lost most of its religious artworks, although some were later restored. The interior, which was turned into aBaroque one during the 17th century, was partially restored to its late medieval appearance in the 19th century, with the addition of someneo-Gothic elements. In 1565 the northern tower was heightened. The church suffered only limited damage duringWorld War II, mostly to the Chapel of Our Lady.
The church has some unusual features, such as the absence of truefaçade and the presence of two choirs. It is on thebasilica plan with anave and four aisles and is primarily built of red brickwork, supported bybuttresses. The western apse is preceded by atransept. It has also two choirs and two towers, ending with a triangularpediment and copperspires. In front of the church are the foundations of the church of St. John (10th century) and remains of the Roman walls.
The southern portal, dating to 1356, features numerous carved reliefs, portraying scenes from thelife of the Virgin Mary on thetympanum and the central column, while on thejambs are the stories of theapostles. The northern portal (1343) has a tympanum with theAnnunciation, theBirth of Christ, theAdoration of the Magi, and theDeath and theCoronation of the Virgin. Some of the figures have been transferred to the interior.
The 11th-century bronze door, once in the southern choir portal, is now in the Cathedral's Museum. It includes 35 bronze panels in two series: on the left are scenes from theOld Testament, including thecreation of Eve and her meeting withAdam; theGarden of Eden and theSerpent;Moses and therod transformed into a serpent; themiracle of Aaron upon of the Egyptians' rods;Samson taming the lion and killing thePhilistines. The other series, on the right, depicts episodes from theNew Testament:the woman who lost a piece of silver; the Heaven birds; a vineyard, as well as the predecessors of Christ:Melchizedek, Moses, Aaron,David,Judas Maccabaeus and other Prophets. Finally, there are lions, bears, birds and centaurs, element of medieval symbolism.
The southernclerestory has fivestained glass windows dated to the late 11th-early 12th centuries, the oldest inGermany:[1] they feature the prophets David,Jonah,Daniel, Moses,Hosea, and were perhaps part of a larger series, the others now being missing. The southern aisles house more recent medieval stained glass windows (1330–1340), with stories of the Virgin Mary. The western choir contains three windows byJohannes Schreiter which symbolically show the Coming of the Kingdom of God.
The nave pillars have four paintings of the life of Mary, executed byHans Holbein the Elder in 1493. The northern transept has a series of portraits of thebishops of Augsburg, which was begun in 1488 and continued up to modern times. The Chapel of Our Lady was designed in 1720-21 byGabriel de Gabrieli.
Other artworks in the church include thebishop's throne (c. 1100), supported by two crouched lions; the bronze tomb of BishopWolfhart Rot (1302) and other bishops; a large fresco depictingSt. Christopher (southern transept, 1491); an "Ecce Homo" by Baroque artistGeorg Petel. The church has also a Romanesquecrypt, dating to the 10th century and located under the western choir, and an annexedcloister.
48°22′22″N10°53′48″E / 48.37278°N 10.89667°E /48.37278; 10.89667
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