Speyer Cathedral, Imperial Cathedral in Speyer, Germany.
Speyer Cathedral is a house of prayer in Speyer, Germany, built with pink sandstone exterior walls and two prominent towers on its western facade. The basilica displays round arches and tall vaults inside, with a wide nave flanked by side aisles.
Conrad II laid the foundation stone in 1030 as a dynastic burial site. The building was consecrated in 1061 and later expanded in the late 11th century.
The name reflects its role as the burial church of Salian emperors, whose legacy shaped the building for centuries. Visitors walking through the nave notice rows of columns and the high ribbed vaults that convey imperial authority.
Access is through the western entrance, which leads into the main hall. The crypt sits beneath the altar area and can be reached via stairs in the choir.
The crypt houses eight emperors and four queens in stone sarcophagi, forming the largest Romanesque burial chamber in Europe. Above the entrance runs a continuous gallery, first used in medieval architecture here.
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