the city´s landmark
In the 1020s - the exact year cannot be determined - Conrad II started building a cathedral with the aim of constructing the largest church of its time. After a good 30 years of construction, the church was consecrated in 1061.
The ruler wanted to demonstrate his God-given power with the monumental building in the then small town of Speyer.
As early as the 1080s, Henry IV, Conrad's grandson, ordered alterations and extensions to further enhance the appearance and splendor of the church building. For the first time in architectural history, his master builders realized special features such as the blind arch system and the surrounding gallery.
Under the Cathedral
The Salian dynasty chose the cathedral as their burial place. It is the final resting place of four Salian emperors, Hohenstaufen and Habsburg kings, three empresses and more than forty bishops.
The crypt is the oldest part of the cathedral. The four room sections form a hall crypt almost seven meters high, which extends under the entire choir and transept of the building, making it one of the largest of its kind. At the beginning of the 20th century, the crypt was vaulted over and a crypt was created, which is accessible via the crypt.
The crypt is part of the public cathedral tours and is explained by qualified guides.
A prime example of Romanesque architecture
The interior of Speyer Cathedral was almost completely lost due to the destruction of the Palatinate War of Succession and the devastation of the French Revolution.
Although this makes the cathedral appear quite “empty”, it draws more attention to the structural features.
The “bound” vault system of central and side aisles is not only impressive, but also the largest to have been built since antiquity.
With a total length of 134 meters, the cathedral is the largest Romanesque church in the world.
After its partial destruction in 1689 during the Palatinate War of Succession and the unrest of the French Revolution, the cathedral was rebuilt under the new Bavarian rulers. Bavarian King Ludwig I had the interior painted in the late Nazarene style. In order to re-emphasize the Romanesque origins of the cathedral, restorers removed the 19th century paintings in the 1950s, with the exception of a cycle of the Virgin Mary by Johann von Schraudolph.
at lofty heights
The Kaisersaal is located 90 steps above the vestibule of the cathedral. Here, nine monumental frescoes by the painter Johann von Schraudolph were made accessible to the public again as part of the hall's redesign in 2012. The highlight is the 70 square meter “Coronation of the Virgin Mary”, which was installed in the apse of the choir room until 1957.
From here, you will have to climb another 214 steps if you want to reach the viewing platform of the south-west tower at a height of 60 meters. With good visibility, you will be rewarded with a view that can stretch up to 50 km. Although the east towers are a good 10 meters higher, it is not possible to climb up there.
Tower tours can be booked by groups, e.g. as part of a “Grand Cathedral Tour" (website German only, tours in English available). However, during normal opening hours you can always buy tickets for the tower ascent only.
Active church and World Heritage Site
In 1981, UNESCO added the cathedral to the list of World Heritage Sites, the second German monument ever to do so.
The imperial cathedral (St. Mary and St. Stephen) is the cathedral of the diocese of Speyer and therefore an active church. It must therefore be a matter of course for all visitors to the cathedral that appropriate consideration is shown when visiting the cathedral. All income and donations contribute to the preservation of the cathedral.
The Dominfo on the south side of the cathedral is your first port of call for admission tickets and souvenirs and also for the cathedral puzzle game City&Quest Kaiserdom.