The ensemble on the island Grand Ile also consists of several old churches and a network of (post-)medieval streets. The imposing structure of the Strasbourg Cathedral can best be admired from afar. In his mind, the edifices of the Gothic style were indefinite, disorganized, unnatural, patched-together, tacked-on, overladen.
Today, it is the sixth-tallest church in the world and the highest extant structure built entirely in the Middle Ages, even though the south spire was never completed. Then it was on to Palais Rohan. (LogOut/ (1986). After the First World War, Alsace once again became part of France only to be invaded by German troops during the Second World War. Secondly the massive Gothic Cathedral. Young poet Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, having climbed the spire in 1770, stated in his writings "On German Architecture" (1773) that only a German virtuoso architect like Erwin von Steinbach was able to create this "sublimely towering, wide-spreading tree of God." What a sight this must have been during the Middle Ages when the area wasnt as built up as it is now. Here you find many half timbered buildings, Renaissance palaces and especially the hospital. The sandstone from the Vosges used in the building gives the cathedral its characteristic pink hue. The grandeur of the edifice? It has numerous paintings by well-known Italian and North European painters from the 15-18th century. Having visited Metz the day before, I found I preferred the Cathedral there. It really is astonishingly high, very impressive indeed. The West front, created between 1277 and 1439, is a true work of art. (Goethe does not include this in his essay). The Grand Ile started out as the Roman camp of Argentoratum, and developed itself into the free city of Strasbourg. This was a mistake however, as during this period the weather changed and high winds meant that the viewing terrace on the Cathedral closed and we missed out on this. In the cathedral, I also like a lot the column of the angels, Very interesting post. Strasbourg, Grande-le and Neustadt comprises the medieval historic centre of Strasbourg including its Cathedral and its German-built New Town. One of the oldest hospitals in France it forms a whole city block with the hospital gate from the 14th century, the last remaining gate of the old ramparts, the hospital chapel and a huge hospital building from 1725 that replaces an older building destroyed by fire. An exception are the municipal baths, which I believe are also included. The first stone of the Strasbourg Cathedral was laid 1,000 years ago. I had visited it before in 1981 with my parents. This proposed extension should incorporate the historicist architecture of imperial Prussia into the Straburg WHS. The Religious significance and representation? One has to be a real art enthusiast to enjoy this room after room. I am not sure how convincing these two arguments are. I visited Strasbourg a couple of weeks ago during my holidays in the Alsace. 3.450 Average The tower was saved, however, when in May of the same year citizens of Strasbourg crowned it with a giant tin Phrygian cap, the kind of hat popular in Revolutionary France. However, the battle cost him a cathedral, which, according to writings of the year 1002, was ransacked and burned to the ground as an act of vengeance by Herman II on what he called "the accursed Alemanic hoards.". | Mobile version. When is a mans creative force most active? The height of this spire was unequaled until the 19th century: it was the world's tallest building from 1647 to 1874. Are they also protected by UNESCO and cannot be altered? There is apparently a nice walk by the river to reach that area, but with the river in flood and the start of heavy rain to match the wind, we retreated. The British people were now resigned to the fact that Hitler had to be stopped by force. From here we looked around the area near the Cathedral, leaving the church itself for last. From here you get a very good impression of the height and dominance of the Cathedral over the town. This is the main tourist area with pretty Fachwerk houses and streets named after the guilds. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. Especially the Cathedral, or Mnster, is very impressive. The area can easily be accessed by foot from the historic centre of the Grande-Ile, however, most of the buildings are closed to visitors. The History? I found a town very popular with German tourists. Contact I really enjoyed my weekend in Strasbourg and its continuous development is a great testament to how many European cities have evolved, incorporating many artistic styles and practical uses. I am very grateful for this translation in order to read Goethes reflections on the cathedral in Strasbourg and the man who had the vision for it, Erwin von Steinbach. Here the stained glass seemed duller, less light entered the cathedral and thus it felt dark and dismal by comparison. In its basement you can visit the medieval wine cellar that is still used to support the hospital, a practice also still in use at the hospital of Beaune and a very French way to support a charitable cause! Strasbourg is mostly famous for politics, being both the seat of the Council of Europe and of the European Parliament, but the city's history and culture are at least as noteworthy. It enabled me to visit the Court of Human Rights, the European Parliament and the Council of Europe buildings in addition to Vauban's barrage and Petite France as well as the cathedal, churches and palaces on the Grand Ile. The architecture is of monumental scale and aimed at openly demonstrating the contested Prussian rule. Above this are the apostles who walk before Christ. Parts of the buildings leading up to the cathedral are bomb damaged, and the cathedral itself appears to be slightly damaged. War Artists Advisory Committee commission. Black and white timber-framed buildings adorn the streets. A recently discovered four-by-four-meter (13 x 13 ft)baptismal font is new evidence that christenings took place here in ancient times and records list a bishop of Strasbourg, called Ansualdus, in the year 614. It has inspired Cologne Cathedral and indeed they look alike apart from the exterior colour. Most of this building was destroyed by fire. We then headed to the Neustadt but were thwarted by a strong police presence for an ongoing march by the Gillet Jaune protesters. You can find more information in our data protection declaration. Their passage is punctuated by the beatings of wings and the song of a large rooster. Many of his writings have not ever been translated. Other attractions include an 18-meter (59-foot) astronomical clock dating from 1574, one of the largest in the world, located in the cathedral's south transept, as well as the unique three-story high "Angel's Column" depicting the Last Judgment.
It's striking just how different the planning, layout and architecture is over here, representing the development of new European ideas, particularly after the revolutions of 1848. (LogOut/ Pink sandstone from the Vosges was used for the construction. He fully expected to praise the harmony of mass, the purity of form but was to be confused by the arbitrariness of Gothic adornment. It was regarded by Goethe as the finest Cathedral in Europe, and its main edifice certainly ranks up there with the best. The building itself is beautiful as well. Some of the most significant buildings surround the Place de la Republique (formerly Kaiserplatz). The renovation began at the end of the 12th century by Erwin von Steinbach and was constructed by the same stonemasons who had worked on the gothic cathedral in Chartres, France. If you look for a city that reflect the late medieval or the Renaissance period Colmar and Besanon for example are more homogeneous, splendid representatives of their period. I was also, as Goethe describes, a feeble esthete who will feel forever giddy in the presence of the colossus of the cathedral. There are cheesy boat trips on offer here, like in Amsterdam or Paris. While these are very important, how often is the Architect of the cathedral considered? In his essay On German Architecture, Goethe reminds us that Art is creative long before it is beautiful. Now, over Easter, I stayed in Strasbourg for two nights on a proper visit. 3.37 Score, From "Strasbourg-Grande Ile" to "Strasbourg: from Grande-le to Neustadt, a European urban scene", The site has It was an important commercial centre in the Middle Ages. Inside is a fine astronomical clock, which like every other one I have seen is achingly under whelming to watch in motion on the hour. now but still a great place to amble around. We first explored the Grande Ile, which is undeniably pretty, especially around the Petite-France area. Use on websites that are primarily information-led, research-oriented and not behind a paywall. The city centre is on an Island (Grande Isle) and its main assets are two fold, hopefully shown in the photo.
On a sunny day, I would suggest going for a stroll in the Orangerie Park especially in Spring when several White Storks can be seen nesting and roosting. The decorative fine sandstone columns actually do look like the strings of a harp. As nice as the concept seems that the old city is congruent with the Grande le the reality is different: The old city stretches along the southern shore of the island on both sides of the river while the north of the island is from various periods. Translator of German and French texts. One of the most recent translations of Goethes works is Essays on Art and Literature (1986) by Ellen von and Ernest Nardroff, Professor of German at the University of New York. Your opinion can help us make it better. The gothic Cathedral was started in the late 12th century. The area of Petit France is incredibly picturesque, with the canals being lined with black and white houses, mostly filled with restaurants (some are very good!) It has one 142m high filigree spire. The first version was built around 1015 in a Romanesque style proposed by Bishop Werner von Habsburg. Strasbourg changed hands several times between France and Germany in the course of history and the architecture reflects these current changes: the medieval half-timbered houses are typically Alsatian but certainly more related to such architecture in Germany (like in central and southern Germany) than in France (like in Rouen). Recently, Strasbourg was extended as well to cover another area, the German-developed Neustadt or New Town, located across the river from the medieval city. The famed Astronomical Clock was popular but underwhelming. For this item, that is: IWM Art.IWM ART LD 5249. image: a view down a street in the French border city of Strasbourg towards the cathedral.
Before Goethe had visited the cathedral, he had preconceived ideas of the Gothic style based upon what others had said about it. The cathedral is therefore strictly speaking only 825 years old, and not 1,000, but in the Alsace region, like elsewhere, any excuse for a celebration is good enough. Ultimately, despite all the historical upheaval, like the city of Strasbourg, the cathedral connects Germany and France, right in the middle of Europe. 2022 Deutsche Welle | At 142 meters (466 feet), it was the world's tallest building in the Middle Ages, from 1647 to 1874, until it was surpassed by St. Nikolai's Church in Hamburg. Downloading audio-visual for non-commercial offline listening or viewing. On the map this seems a very elegant and convincing solution. Gearey, John. Strasbourg is one of my favorite cities; so much history- French and German! I too became one of those ants crawling about the Strasbourg Cathedral who neither knew nor contemplated the name of the Great Architect. When one visits the grand cathedrals of France in Paris, Strasbourg, Reims, Chartres, what is their first impression? Bishop Werner von Habsburg got one thing right: He backed the right horse - or rather the right duke, when the struggle for the imperial German throne between the victorious Henry II of Bavaria and the defeated Herman II, Duke of Swabia spread as far as Strasbourg. The octagonal base of the spire was added in 1399 by Johannes Hultz from Koln and today is the symbol of Strasbourg. The entire Old Town is full of typical half-timbered buildings and is very pleasant to stroll through, especially since you always end up at the river. In his view, the French or the Italians were still imitating old architectural forms. Of course we still visited the Cathedral, which is lovely, but somehow just missed the mark for me. The area is adjacent to the Grande-Ile, but its style is inherently different. We had a look around the Republic area which I enjoyed especially in contrast to the narrow streets and timber buildings of the Grande Ile. Urban continuity is probably there and the styles are certainly distinct, but on the other hand, this might affect the integrity of the WHS. Free exhibitions held in venues, which do not charge an entry fee. Approach it and experience the profoundest feeling of truth and beauty of proportion, sprung from a strong, rough-hewn German soul(9). 1 locations, The site has
I have to admit perhaps my favourite places to visit are these medium sized European cities, and Strasbourg was definitely well worth a weekend break. Im glad you were able to visit! Check out the link below for my full video review! New York: Suhrkamp Publishers. Finally, I entered the Cathedral. After the annexation of the city by Louis XIV of France in 1681, the Cathedral was returned to the Catholics. The 'Market Garden' plan employed all three divisions of First Allied Airborne Army. In 2012, during a Graduate Internship in Paris, I visited Strasbourg for the first time to see the home of my ancestors. Final Allied Offensive, North West Europe, Second World War, Notre Dame Cathedral, Strasbourg, Bas-Rhin, France. The current cathedral actually dates back to 1190. Legal notice | When Britainwent to waron 3 September 1939 there was none of the 'flag-waving patriotism' of August 1914. Ardent scholar of French history, literature and art. The entrance was free today, and I choose the Museum of Beaux Arts. But while the area around the magnificent cathedral and along the southern shore of the island refers well to this description you have two walk just a few blocks north to find a mix from very different periods including buildings on the 19th and 20th century. The Musee d'oeuvre de Notre Dame is a must-see, exhibiting beautiful sculptures from the cathedral as well as other medieval art. A team coming from Chartres suggested a high gothic design. It is supposed to form the old city dating from the 15th to the 18th century. Change). (LogOut/ Conversely, the Baroque architecture as in Palais Rohan (which houses three museums) is typically French reminiscent of such buildings in Paris. MY FRENCHQUEST: My Year in Review2019-2020, Goethe: How his diverse interest and studies influenced his writings My French Quest, The Truth and Beauty: Finding the Words of Jesus in Works of Englands GreatPoets, My Parisian Journey: An American inParis, The Relationship between Philosophy andRhetoric, My Parisian Journey: A Respite in thePyrenees, Classical Rhetoric in the Middle Ages and theRenaissance, My Journey to the French Language: The Quest of JulesClaire, Literary Rhetoric in Greece and in the OldTestament. With special effects and a clever use of color, the west faade of the cathedral will be brought to life and shown in a very different light. Firstly rows of half-timbered houses overlooking cobbled streets/ waterways. Goethe Essays on Art and Literature. His work stands before you. And though the throngs crawling about it like ants know nothing of your name, you are like the Great Architect who piled up mountains into the clouds (Essays, 3). Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. Use on personal social media accounts, provided the individuals are not promoting themselves commercially. Already kilometers before entering the old town by car, the cathedrals spire dominates the skyline.