Saturday, 24 May 2014

Regensburg Cathedral.


Text and Illustrations from Wikipedia - the free encyclopaedia,
unless otherwise stated.



English: Saint Peter's Cathedral,
Regensburg, Germany.
Deutsch: Dom St. Peter zu Regensburg.
Photo: 17 June 2007.
Source: Own work.
(Wikimedia Commons)


Regensburg Cathedral (German: Dom St. Peter or Regensburger Dom), dedicated to Saint Peter, is the most important Church and landmark of the City of Regensburg, Germany. It is the Seat of the Catholic Diocese of Regensburg. The Church is a prime example of Gothic architecture in Bavaria.

A Bishop's Church was built around 700 A.D., at the site of the present-day Cathedral Parish Church, Niedermünster (Saint Erhard's tomb). Around 739 A.D., Saint Boniface chose the area of the Porta Praetoria (North Gate of the old Roman fort) for the Bishop's Seat, and the site of the Cathedral has remained there since. The Cathedral was rebuilt in Carolingian times and expanded in the Early-11th-Century, with an approximately fifteen-metre-wide Transept, two Towers and an Atrium.


File:Dom-zu-regensburg.jpg

English: Cathedral of Saint Peter,
Regensburg, Germany.
South facade (before the Towers were cleaned in 2005).
Deutsch: Regensburger Dom St. Peter (Südfront)
- vor der Turmsanierung.
Date: 18 February 2004 (original upload date).
Source: Own work.
(Wikimedia Commons)


In 1156 - 1172, the Cathedral burnt twice, and was also rebuilt, starting from 1273, in High Gothic Style. The three Choirs of the new Cathedral were ready for use in 1320, while the old Cathedral was demolished at the same time. In 1385 - 1415, the elaborate main West Entrance was completed, with most of the new Cathedral being finished around 1520; the Cloisters were constructed between 1514 - 1538.

The Cupola, at The Transept Crossing, and other sectors, were renovated in Baroque Style in the 17th-Century. In 1828 - 1841, the Cathedral underwent a Neo-Gothic Restoration, commissioned by King Ludwig I of Bavaria. The Baroque frescoes were relocated and the Cupola demolished, being replaced by a quadripartite Rib Vault. The Towers and their Spires were built in 1859 - 1869. Three years later, the Cathedral was finally finished, with the completion of The Transept Gable and the Spire (at The Crossing), after some 600 years of construction.



Deutsch: Der Altar des Regensburger Doms.
English: The Altar of Regensburg Cathedral.
Photo: 2013.
Source: Own work.
Author: High Contrast.
(Wikimedia Commons)


The state-run Dombauhütte (Cathedral Building Workshop) was founded in 1923, for the ongoing oversight, maintenance, and restoration of the Cathedral. In the 1980s, construction of the Crypt Mausoleum, and archeological exploration of the Central Nave (partial exposure of a former Southern Arcade entrance to the Atrium of a pre-cursor Roman structure), were carried out.

An unusual feature of Regensburg Cathedral is its separation from the structure of the older Cloister. This separation came about when the Church was rebuilt and displaced to the South-West of the earlier Romanesque Cathedral.



Deutsch: Innenraum des Doms St. Peter.
English: Interior of Regensburg Cathedral.
Photo: 15 February 2006.
Source: Own work.
Author: Jens Hirsch.
(Wikimedia Commons)



Deutsch: Südfassade des Regensburger Domes.
English: South Facade Chevet of Regensburg Cathedral.
Photo: 2008.
Source: Own work.
Author: Bkmd.
(Wikimedia Commons)


In testimony of that Romanesque pre-cursor, the Eselsturm Tower still stands on the North Side of the Cathedral; it was used in the past, and is still used, to transport construction materials to the upper levels. A pulley remains in the West Loft, and, with it, materials are lifted through an opening in the ceiling near the West Portal. To the East of the Cathedral, is the state-run Dombauhütte (Cathedral Building Workshop), which is responsible for the preservation of the structure. In contrast with many Cathedral Building Workshops, neither modern machines, nor exclusively old tools, are used. Rather, tools are manufactured in the Workshop.

The Erminold Maria is one element of an Annunciation Group in Regensburg Cathedral. It goes back to the, so-called, Erminoldmeister, who carved and colourfully painted the figure of Mary, and the famous laughing figure of the Angel Gabriel, about 1280. The figures are juxtaposed to one another on the two Western Pillars at The Crossing, of the Nave. Mary's right hand is slightly raised toward the Angel, in greeting. In her left hand, she holds a book, into which she is pointing with her index finger.



Deutsch: Im Inneren des Regensburger Doms.
English: Interior of Regensburg Cathedral.
Photo: 2013.
Source: Own work.
(Wikimedia Commons)


On the Eastern Pillars, at The Crossing, are stone figures of Saint Peter and Saint Paul, which were installed in 1320, and 1360 - 1370, respectively.

The All Saints' Chapel, in the Cathedral Cloisters, was built in 1164 as a Burial Chapel for Bishop Hartwig II, by Master Builders from Como, in Northern Italy.

Most of the valuable Stained-Glass Windows were installed between 1220 - 1230 and 1320 - 1370. The windows of the West Facade were only completed in the 19th-Century. In 1967 - 1968, came the windows of the left Chancel, from the hand of the artist, Professor Oberberger. He also produced the Pentecost Window in the West of The North Transept and the Clerestory Windows in Gothic Style.



Deutsch: Regensburger Dom.
Photo: 2 June 2007.
Source: Own work.
Author: Aconcagua.
(Wikimedia Commons)



Deutsch: Regensburger Dom, Südfassade
Русский: Свинья. Украшение водостока на южном фасаде Регенсбургского собора.
English: Gargoyles on the South Facade of Regensburg Cathedral.
Photo: 2008.
Source: Own work.
Author: 
(Wikimedia Commons)


The silver High Altar stems from Augsburg artists and was built in the period between 1695 and 1785. A particular feature are the five Gothic Altars of Reservation. In the South Choir, a new Altar of Celebration was built in 2004, the work of Helmut Langhammer.

Saint Peter Canisius preached from the stone Pulpit, in the Central Nave, in 1556 - 1557. Regensburg Cathedral is the Bishop's Church and the principal Church of the Regensburg Diocese. It is also the home of the Regensburger Domspatzen ("Cathedral Sparrows"), a Choir rich in tradition. The structure is considered the most significant Gothic work in Southern Germany.

The Cathedral is also the burial place of important Bishops, including: Johann Michael von Sailer (1829-1832, Memorial built by Konrad Eberhard in the South Chancel); Georg Michael Wittmann (1832-1833, Memorial, also by Konrad Eberhard, in the North Chancel); and Archbishop Michael Buchberger (1927-1961, likewise in the North Chancel). In the Western part of the Central Nave, stands a bronze Memorial for the Prince-Bishop, Cardinal Philipp Wilhelm († 1598), the brother of Duke Maximilian I of Bavaria.



Deutsch: Regensburger Dom.
Photo: 2 June 2007.
Source: Own work.
Author: Aconcagua.
(Wikimedia Commons)


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