Augsburg Cathedral, Catholic cathedral in Augsburg, Germany
Augsburg Cathedral is a red brick church measuring 113 by 40 metres, with two towers reaching 62 metres and ending in copper spires. It has no true façade: the west end closes with a transept and apse, while a Gothic high choir was added to the east from 1356. The nave is flanked by double aisles, and the south portal of 1356 carries carved reliefs of the Virgin's life and the apostles.
The current building began around 1065 under Bishop Henry III as a Romanesque structure. Major Gothic renovations took place between 1331 and 1431, particularly with a redesigned choir.
The cathedral is dedicated to the Visitation of the Virgin Mary. In the northern transept hangs a series of portraits of the bishops of Augsburg, begun in 1488 and continued into modern times. The nave pillars carry four paintings of the life of Mary, made by Hans Holbein the Elder in 1493.
The cathedral is located in Augsburg's city center and is easily reached by public transportation from the main station. The building welcomes visitors and offers guided tours that provide detailed insights into its history.
The south clerestory holds five stained-glass windows from the late 11th to early 12th century, among the oldest in Germany; they show the prophets David, Jonah, Daniel, Moses and Hosea and may once have belonged to a larger series. The 11th-century bronze door with 35 relief panels, once at the south choir portal, is now kept in the cathedral museum.
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