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unless otherwise stated.
English: The Minor Basilica of Speyer Cathedral
(Kaiser- und Mariendom zu Speyer), viewed from the South.
Deutsch: Südseite des Kaiser- und Mariendoms zu Speyer.
Русский: Шпайерский собор, вид с юга.
Photo: 31 August 2008.
Source: Own work.
Author: Sole Creator and Copyright Holder: Alfred Hutter aka Gentry.
The copyright holder of this file, Alfred Hutter, allows anyone to use it
for any purpose, provided that the copyright holder
is properly attributed. Redistribution, derivative work,
commercial use, and all other use is permitted.
Attribution: Image by Alfred Hutter.
(Wikimedia Commons)
Speyer Cathedral, officially the Imperial Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption and Saint Stephen,
in Latin: Domus sanctae Mariae Spirae (German: Dom zu Unserer lieben Frau in Speyer)
The Cathedral, which is dedicated to Saint Mary, Patron Saint of Speyer ("Patrona Spirensis"),
and Saint Stephen, is generally known as Kaiserdom zu Speyer (Imperial Cathedral of Speyer).
Pope Pius XI raised Speyer Cathedral to the Rank of a Minor Basilica
Paintings by Schraudolph
in Speyer Cathedral, Germany.
Photo: 31 October 2005.
Source: Own work.
(Wikimedia Commons)
Begun in 1030, under Conrad II, with the East End and High Vault of 1090-1103,
the imposing Triple-Aisled Vaulted Basilica, of red sandstone, is the "culmination of a design
which was extremely influential in the subsequent development of Romanesque architecture
during the 11th-Century and the 12th-Century".
is regarded as a symbol of Imperial Power.
It is considered to be "a turning point in European architecture", one of the most important architectural monuments of its time and one of the finest Romanesque monuments.
(Wikimedia Commons)
Much of Europe was affected by
Feudalism, in which peasants held tenure, from local rulers, over the land that they farmed in exchange for
military service. The result of this was that they could be called upon, not only for local and regional spats, but to follow their lord to travel across Europe to the Crusades, if they were required to do so.
The
Crusades, 1095–1270, brought about a very large movement of people and, with them, ideas and trade skills, particularly those involved in the building of fortifications and the metal-working needed for the provision of arms, which was also applied to the fitting and decoration of buildings. The continual movement of people, Rulers, nobles, Bishops, Abbots, craftsmen and peasants, was an important factor in creating a homogeneity in building methods and a recognisable Romanesque style, despite regional differences.
Life became generally less secure after the Carolingian period. This resulted in the building of Castles at strategic points, many of them being constructed as strongholds of the Normans, descendants of the Vikings, who invaded Northern France in 911 A.D. Political struggles also resulted in the fortification of many towns, or the rebuilding and strengthening of walls that remained from the Roman period. One of the most notable surviving fortifications is that of the city of
Carcassonne. The enclosure of towns brought about a lack of living space within the walls, and resulted in a style of town-house that was tall and narrow, often surrounding communal courtyards, as at
San Gimignano in
Tuscany.
Ελληνικά: Ο Πύργος του Λονδίνου.
Photo: 7 August 2004.
Source: Έργο αυτού που το ανεβάζει (own work).
The copyright holder of this file allows anyone to use it for any purpose,
provided that the copyright holder is properly attributed.
Redistribution, derivative work, commercial use, and all other use is permitted.
(Wikimedia Commons)
The Castle at Carcassonne, France.
Photo: 25 July 2007.
Source: Own work.
Author: bmsgator.
(Wikimedia Commons)
In Germany, the
Holy Roman Emperors built a number of residences, fortified, but essentially Palaces rather than Castles, at strategic points and on trade routes. The
Imperial Palace of Goslar (heavily restored in the 19th-Century) was built in the early 11th-Century by Otto III and Henry III, while the ruined Palace at
Gelnhausen was received by Frederick Barbarossa, prior to 1170.
The movement of people and armies also brought about the building of bridges, some of which have survived, including the 12th-Century bridge at
Besalú,
Catalonia, the 11th-Century
Puente de la Reina,
Navarre, Spain, and the
Pont-Saint-Bénézet,
Avignon.
Many towns, such as San Gimignano, Italy, were enclosed with walls,
causing crowding and the building of tower houses.
Photo: 9 April 2006.
Author: Basilio Speziari.
(Wikimedia Commons)
Across Europe, the Late-11th-Century and 12th-Century saw an unprecedented growth in the number of Churches. A great number of these buildings, both large and small, remain, some almost intact and others altered almost beyond recognition in later centuries.
in Brittany, France.
Photo: 5 July 2011.
Source: Own work.
Attribution: Photo by DAVID ILIFF.
License: CC-BY-SA 3.0
(Wikimedia Commons)
Many Cathedrals owe their foundation to this date, with others beginning as Abbey Churches, and, later, becoming Cathedrals. In England, of the Cathedrals of ancient foundation, all were begun in this period, with the exception of Salisbury Cathedral, where the Monks relocated from the Norman Church at
Old Sarum, and several, such as
Canterbury Cathedral, which were rebuilt on the site of Saxon Churches.
In Spain, the most famous Church of the period is
Santiago de Compostela. In Germany, the Rhine and its tributaries were the location of many Romanesque Abbeys, notably
Mainz,
Worms,
Speyer and
Bamberg. In
Cologne, then the largest city North of the Alps, a very important
group of large city Churches survives largely intact. As Monasticism spread across Europe, Romanesque Churches sprang up in Scotland, Scandinavia, Poland, Hungary, Sicily, Serbia and Tunisia. Several important Romanesque Churches were built in the
Crusader Kingdoms.