| Halberstadt Cathedral | |
|---|---|
| Church of St Stephen and St Sixtus | |
 Halberstadt Cathedral | |
 Halberstadt Cathedral | |
| Country | Germany |
| Denomination | Evangelical |
| Previous denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Architecture | |
| Architectural type | Gothic |
| Years built | 1236 - 1491 |
TheHalberstadt Cathedral orChurch of St Stephen and St Sixtus (German:Dom zu Halberstadt) is aGothic church inHalberstadt inSaxony-Anhalt,Germany. It was the episcopal see of theBishopric of Halberstadt, established by EmperorCharlemagne in 804.[citation needed] The present-day church, which replaced an olderRomanesque church,[1] was built between 1236 and 1491 in a Gothic style, clearly inspired by theFrench Gothic cathedrals. In 1591 the Bishop of Halberstadt joined theProtestant Reformation, and the church has been used by the Protestant Church since. The cathedral was severely damaged in theSecond World War, but has been restored in the decades after the war.[1]
The cathedral retains much of its medieval decoration and stained glass windows. The largecathedral treasury contains over 600 objects of art, dating from the 5th to the 18th century, including a unique textiles collection.[1] Many very valuable items are ofByzantine origin, having been brought to Halberstadt in 1205 by BishopKonrad von Krosigk who had participated in theFourth Crusade's sack ofConstantinople.
Anorgan was installed in the cathedral in 1361, and is believed to be the first example of an organ with a modern chromatickeyboard. In 2000, the time elapsed since the organ's installation—639 years—was chosen to be the length of a performance of American composerJohn Cage'sAs Slow as Possible. The performance began in 2001 at the St. Burchardi church in Halberstadt, and is due to end in the year 2640.[2][3]
The cathedral is currently used by theEvangelical Church in Central Germany.[4]
51°53′46″N11°2′57″E / 51.89611°N 11.04917°E /51.89611; 11.04917
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