Cathedral in Mainz. What to see in Mainz: temples, cathedrals

The city of Mainz was founded at the crossroads of important trade routes. This location determined its role among other German cities. However, later, under Archbishop Willigis, Mainz also became the center of Catholicism. The personality of the archbishop was so influential that legends circulated about him. One of these says that for the city coat of arms, the clergyman borrowed the image of the wheel, which he inscribed on his house to confirm that he was a descendant of a simple carriage maker. It was to this highly respected secular and spiritual figure that Mainz owes the appearance of a grandiose cathedral, which became a vivid example of Romanesque architecture.

The appearance of the main cathedral of the city of Mainz is distinguished by a reddish tint of sandstone, from which, with the exception of a few parts, it was built. The three-aisled basilica, founded in the 10th century by Archbishop Willigis, was created in the likeness of St. Peter's Cathedral in Rome and has a Latin cross plan. This "crown", crowning Mainz, rushes into the sky with its towers in the amount of six. And from the middle of the cross of the temple, the main 83-meter tower "grows".

The basilica was consecrated in 1239 and Saint Martin and Saint Stephen are considered to be its patrons. The names of the intercessors are mentioned in the name of the religious building. Similarly, the inner parts of the cathedral are named after these saints. The building of the cathedral was completed until the XVIII century. Over the centuries, more than one test has fallen upon him. It survived seven fires, several wars and occupations. At the beginning of the 19th century, the question even arose of completely demolishing the cathedral. But each time the cathedral was carefully restored, rebuilt and restored. So the classic Romanesque building acquired elements of other styles - Gothic and Baroque.

The main cathedral of the city of Mainz belongs to the so-called Imperial Cathedrals. Throughout its centuries-old history, coronations of 7 monarchs took place under the high vaults of the cathedral, among which Frederick II is distinguished. The tombstones of 45 bishops placed here remind of representatives of the clergy whose fate was connected with the history of the Mainz Cathedral.

Surprisingly, the Mainz Cathedral managed to almost completely preserve its rich interior decoration. First of all, these are two altars that distinguish the Imperial Cathedral. In the central nave, magnificent frescoes illustrate the life of Jesus Christ. A large baptismal font of the XIV century stands out against the background of golden overflows of luxurious decoration. The works of art decorating the temple are simply innumerable. The magnificent cathedral is a real treasure of the city of Mainz and a true treasure of Germany.

The Cathedral of St. Martin of Tours and St. Stephen, or the Mainz Cathedral (Der hohe Dom zu Mainz, Kaiserdom) is the main attraction of the German city of Mainz, the seat of the Roman Catholic bishopric and one of the largest cathedrals. Mainz Cathedral, together with the cathedrals and , is one of the three majestic episcopal cathedrals on the Rhine.

History

The construction of the Cathedral of St. Martin of Tours and St. Stephen in Mainz began in 975, when Willigiss, a prominent statesman and church figure, was appointed Archbishop of Mainz, and at the same time Archchancellor of the Empire. Possessing outstanding abilities, Willigis made a rapid career at the court of Emperor Otto II, and after his death became regent for his son and heir Otto III.
The construction of the Cathedral in Mainz became the life work of Archbishop Willigis. The cathedral was built over two and a half centuries (from 975 to 1239), as it suffered several fires in its history. The very first destructive fire happened a few days after the consecration of the cathedral in 1009. Archbishop Willigis took this blow very hard and died two years later. The Catholic Church celebrates the memory of St. Willigis on February 23rd.
On June 7, 1002, Holy Roman Emperor Henry II was crowned the first of the emperors in the Mainz Cathedral of St. Martin of Tours and St. Stephen by Archbishop Willigis. In addition to Henry II, Emperors Conrad II and Frederick II were crowned here. In 1184, the sons of Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II Barbarossa were knighted in Mainz Cathedral. In the Middle Ages, several German kings were crowned in the Mainz Cathedral.

Cathedral architecture

The Mainz Cathedral of St. Martin of Tours and St. Stephen was built in the Romanesque style in the form of a three-aisled basilica with Gothic and Baroque elements.
The central and two side towers of the baroque cathedral were designed in 1767-1773 by the architect Ignaz Michael Neumann.
Inside the cathedral there are two choirs, one of which belongs to the Romanesque era, the other is of a later period. The frescoes along the central nave depict scenes from the life of Jesus Christ. Next to the columns are tombstones of the archbishops of Mainz.
The massive bronze doors on the north side of the Cathedral date back to the 10th-11th centuries.

Ancient Mainz offers tourists a wide panorama of sights: from the ruins of the Roman Empire to modern buildings of office centers. An important role in excursion programs is played by temples and cathedrals in Mainz, the inspection of which has long been an integral part of getting to know the city.

What makes the city attractive to tourists

Mainz belongs to the oldest cities in Germany. A military settlement appeared here back in the days of the Roman Empire, and tourists can still see traces of Roman rule. The attention of travelers is attracted by the Mainz Cathedral of the 10th century, in which Gothic, Baroque and Romanesque features are harmoniously intertwined, the Church of St. Stefan, decorated with frescoes and stained glass windows by Marc Chagall, a new synagogue designed by renowned architect Manuel Hertz.

Cozy little Mainz is famous for its Christmas markets, which have been held here since 1788, and the wine festival at the end of August.

Mainz is closely associated with the name of Gutenberg, the first book printer who worked here for a long time.

The central square with fountains, over which the marble town hall, built in the 70s of the XX century, rises to walks. Then you can delve into the narrow streets of the old city and get acquainted with the ancient architecture.

The peculiarity of the city is its small size, so all the sights and monuments are within walking distance from each other.

St. Peter's Church

Catholic Church of St. Petra is considered one of the most important sights of the city. The church was founded in the 10th century, and seven centuries later it was completely rebuilt. The building was badly damaged during World War II, but all elements of the decoration were restored and preserved. In addition to the old decorative elements, an altar with modern paintings and new bronze sculptures appeared here.

Red brick, two narrow high towers - the austerity of St. Peter's Church in the early baroque style effectively stands out against the background of the modern building of the city.

Today in Mainz church bells sound again, and on weekends they listen to organ music concerts.

Address: Petersstraße 6. Nearby you can see the ancient Jupiter Column, near which is the Central Romano-Germanic Museum.

On the highest hill of Mainz, the head of the German church, Willigis, founded the Catholic Church of St. Stefan's is the oldest Gothic temple in the city. The founder of the church was buried within its walls in 1011, but traces of this burial have been lost over the past millennium.

Tourists are attracted by the unusual design of the church: St. Stephen's Cathedral is famous for the works of the famous Marc Chagall, who made blue stained-glass windows and frescoes for it. There are no analogues of such decor in Germany: this is the last work of the great artist, his only painting in the country. Scenes of biblical events are decorated on nine windows on the facade of the temple.

In 2013, a new organ was installed in the Church of St. Stephen, and now you can listen to organ music concerts here.

Address: Kleine Weißgasse 12. The church is located near the station, next to the square. Schiller, Old Town.

In the historical center of the city, not far from the central square, there is the church of St. Ignatius built in the 18th century, when architects in Europe drew attention to the beauty of ancient buildings.

Church of St. Ignatius is an austere classical building with a modest façade and vaulted ceilings.

Inside, you can still see an ancient organ and a unique painting by the German artist of the 18th century Enderle, who depicted pictures of the life of St. Ignatius. Small and cozy, the chapel-like church invites contemplation, and travelers note that it has a pleasant aura.

Address: Kapuzinerstr. 36. Nearby are the Cathedral (Dom), the Gutenberg Museum.

The tablet on this church indicates that it was built in the 11th-13th centuries and that the famous Gutenberg was a parishioner, but today it is impossible to fully appreciate the beauty and grandeur of this ancient building.

The elements of the 15th century, untouched by the restoration, have been preserved in the church.

During the Second World War, the Church of St. Christophe was completely destroyed and it was decided to leave it as a mute testimony to the horrors of wartime.

There is a war memorial with the inscription: "Dead to memory - alive to life."

The church has a sculpture of St. Valentine, antique cross of the 14th century. Part of the church building is active, services are held here. Inside they go to see the old building "for the living", which organically connected with the "church of the dead".

Address: Hintere Christofsgasse 2. Nearby is a medieval Carmelite monastery.

The Christuskirche is considered the largest Protestant church in Mainz. Located away from tourist sites, next to the Rhine promenade, it nevertheless attracts everyone's attention when entering the city from the river and is worth a visit.

The appearance of the Church of Christ resembles a Catholic church, but inside the eyes appear to be a simple and austere interior, unusual decorative details.

Unusually, in a semicircle, there are places for parishioners. In front of the temple there is a large lawn, a beautiful boulevard.

Address: Kaiserstr. 56.

Carmelite monastery

This monastery appeared in Mainz in the 13th century and is still considered to be active. The main monastery church was built in 1350. Both the temple and the monastery were rebuilt several times, as they survived fires and destruction, and during the Second World War they were heavily bombed.

The painting, molding, bas-reliefs of the XIV century, the altar of the beginning of the XVI century, the medieval decoration of the temple are still preserved in the Carmelite Monastery.

A three-story residential building and a church with a peaked tower and arched windows are open to tourists.

Address: Karmeliterstraße 7. Next to the German House, the Church of St.. Christoph.

Church of St. Johann

The modest church of St. Johanna appeared in the city in the 10th century, and today it is the oldest Christian church in Mainz. It was here that during the Middle Ages bishops were buried and kings were crowned.

The appearance of the Church of St. John changed several times: in the 17th century, it was decided to decorate the strict basilica with decorative elements in the Baroque style, and at the beginning of the 20th century, an extension was added to it in the Art Nouveau style.

Since the temple was completely destroyed during the bombings of 1942, it was rebuilt after the war almost anew according to the surviving ancient drawings. And although the restoration and construction took a whole decade, some parts could not be restored. The west wing disappeared, and the building became much lower, losing one floor. Today, various events and organ music concerts are often held here.

Address: Bischofsplatz. Nearby - Mainz Cathedral, the State Theater.

The Mainz Cathedral was founded in the 10th century, later it was repeatedly completed, rebuilt, restored, so today it organically combines elements of the Romanesque, Gothic and Baroque styles.

The history of the temple keeps many legends and real events. So, here at the end of the 12th century, Frederick Barbarossa during his reign celebrated the knighting of his sons, seven kings were immediately crowned.

Today, the current cathedral is a large building in the center of Mainz, resembling a basilica with columns, towers, moldings and sculptures against the walls. Looking at the cathedral, you can study the history of art.

A religious museum has been opened in the dungeon of the Mainz Cathedral, which contains the most interesting artifacts.

Residents simply call the temple Dom and consider it the hallmark of the city.

Address: Markt 10. Europe's largest medieval market fountain and the Gutenberg Museum are nearby.

Conclusion

Germany attracts millions of tourists who are interested in European traditions and ancient architecture, which creates a special flavor of German cities. Mainz is one of the most interesting in this regard, as it has many old buildings known far beyond the borders of the country. Its cathedrals and temples are a great opportunity to touch the spiritual heritage of the past and spend your free time with comfort and benefit.

Germany Mainz: Video

Bishop's Cathedral in the German city of Mainz, one of the so-called. "imperial cathedrals" (Kaiserdom). From an architectural point of view, in today's form it is a three-aisled basilica with columns, in Romanesque style with elements of Gothic and Baroque.

The construction of the cathedral began presumably at the end of the 10th century, in subsequent centuries various parts were completed, restorations and restorations were carried out after partial destruction.

In the Middle Ages, several kings were crowned in it. In 1184, Frederick I Barbarossa celebrated in it the knighting of his sons, which went down in history as the largest celebration of the Middle Ages.

Under the French at the end of the 18th century, barracks and infirmaries were located here. At one time there was a barnyard in the cathedral, and from 1797 to 1803 the huge temple was completely closed without work, and there was even talk of its destruction.

Fortunately, this did not happen, and the architectural masterpiece in the style of romance with baroque and gothic elements, just like 1000 years ago, proudly towers over the city.

The outer side of the cathedral is almost equal to the length of a football field, and the height of its tower is 83 meters. In addition, the architects preserved the two-way orientation, which in the 12th century was perceived as being in opposition to the monastic and Roman traditions. For this reason, now there are two altars - Catholic and Evangelical. They are located at opposite ends of the long hall, and even services are held on different days of the week.