Highlights of Germany | Gothic Germany
The term Gothic is often used to refer to a turning point and new era of European architecture that is generally seen as starting in the mid 12th century. Gothic architecture was in stunning contrast to Romanesque architecture which emphasised few windows, massive stonework and heavy walls. In comparison, the Gothic style featured stained glass windows, flying buttresses and more light-filled interiors that made use of cavernous spaces.
The beginnings of the Gothic period can be traced back to France around 1140. The Notre-Dame is considered to be an icon of French Gothic architecture and despite being damaged in a fire last year, it remains one of the largest and best-known churches in the world. Its construction began in 1163 and was completed in 1345. Gothic architecture is generally associated with religious architecture, namely the construction of cathedrals.
Gothic architecture soon found its way to Germany, particularly to cities near the French-German border such as Trier and Heidelburg.
Today, there are many traces of German Gothic architecture dotted around the country. While at first, architects adopted the French style, many regional versions of the Gothic style began to develop and German Gothic architecture became known for its enormous towers and spires, that, as a result of their tremendous size, were sometimes left unfinished. Another feature of the German Gothic style is hall-churches. In traditional French Gothic churches, the nave, the long central interior section, was covered by one roof and separated from side aisles with thicker supports and a wall. This style means that the aisle wall height is much shorter, so you get a sense of vertical space only if you stand in the middle of the building. Conversely, a hall-church has a nave and aisles of the same height. Instead of having a lower side wall with small windows it has stained glass windows that run the entire length of the walls allowing for a soaring sense of space.
Here are some examples of German Gothic sites you can visit today.
The Liebfrauenkirche (Church of Our Beloved Lady) in Trier
The Liebfrauenkirche in Trier, a southwestern German city in the Moselle wine region near the Luxembourg border, is considered to be the earliest Gothic church in Germany, alongside the Cathedral of Magdeburg (reportedly begun in 1209, but finished after the Liebfrauenkirche). While the exact dates of the church’s construction are not known, an inscription on a column inside the church reads ‘The construction of this church was started in 1227 and ended in 1243’. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Cathedral of Magdeburg
The Cathedral of Magdeburg is a Protestant cathedral in Magdeburg, a central German city on the Elbe River. It is the oldest Gothic cathedral in Germany and one of the tallest cathedrals in eastern Germany with its steeples being around 100 metres tall. The first church was built in 937 on the location of the current cathedral but burnt down in a fire in 1207. However, the site remains home to the grave of Emperor Otto I the Great, the German King and Holy Roman Emperor.
Today, the cathedral is the principal church of the Evangelical Church in Central German and is rich in Gothic art and sculpture. One of the most distinctive features of the cathedral is the sculptures of the five wise and the five foolish virgins, which are outside of the north entrance to the transept and thought to have been built in 1250.
Regensburg Cathedral
Regensburg Cathedral, also known as St. Peter’s Cathedral, is the only Gothic Cathedral in Bavaria. The architect originally tasked with constructing a new cathedral for Regensburg, after the cathedral Niedermünster burned down in 1273, had been trained in France and this is part of the reason French Gothic architectural themes were incorporated including a central nave that divides into three sections, buttresses, vaulting, and two towers over a facade. Construction came to a stop around 1520 but the church was updated and renovated several times over the centuries. Today, the twin spires of Regensburg Cathedral can be seen from all over the city and it is the city’s best known landmark.
On the cathedral, you will notice sculptures of kings on horseback, gargoyles and foolish virgins and inside you will find over 100 images of St. Peter, to whom the cathedral is dedicated. As well as this, the cathedral is home to the world’s largest hanging organ.
Frankfurt Cathedral
Officially named the Emperor’s Cathedral of St. Bartholomew, Frankfurt’s main church is a Roman Catholic Gothic church located in the centre of the city. Despite its name, it is not technically a cathedral having never been a bishop’s church. The current church is the fifth iteration of the structure known to exist at this location. In 1876, the church was badly damaged in a major fire and architect Franz Joseph Denzinger led its Neo-Gothic restoration. Only with the restoration was the church’s spire built, despite plans being drawn up for the spire by the cathedral master builder Madern Gerthener in 1415.
Although not a cathedral, it is still considered an significant religious site due to its importance as a former election and coronation church of the Holy Roman Empire. From 1356 onwards, kings were elected here and between 1562 and 1792 ten monarchs were crowned emperor here in front of the coronation altar. For this reason, it holds a special place in German imperial history and was seen as a symbol for national unity in Germany, especially during the 19th century.