Bremen Cathedral, Lutheran cathedral in Mitte, Germany
Bremen Cathedral is a Lutheran cathedral in Mitte with two towers rising 98 meters (321 feet) and built from carved stone. The facades and vaults combine Romanesque rounded arches with Gothic pointed arches, while a side chapel inside houses a small museum space.
Saint Willehad built a timber church here around 789, the year the Diocese of Bremen was created. Saxons burned it in 792, and the see stayed vacant for thirteen years until Bishop Willerich returned in 805. A stone church followed, consecrated in 860 under Archbishop Ansgar. In 1041 fire destroyed the Carolingian cathedral and much of its library; Bishop Adalbrand began a much larger rebuild in 1042, continued by Archbishop Adalbert from 1043.
Local custom brings unmarried people who turn thirty to the steps, where they sweep with a broom until someone gives them a kiss. Inside, a baroque organ built by Arp Schnitger still plays during services and concerts, drawing organists and listeners from across Europe.
Guided tours show the interior, the chapel with medieval sculptures, and the organ. Those wishing to climb the towers should wear sturdy shoes and expect narrow, steep staircases.
The Bleikeller, a vaulted cellar beneath the cathedral, is reached from the north side and holds mummified bodies rather than a choir crypt. Its dry air preserved the remains, and the chamber was long used to store lead for the roof before becoming a visitor attraction.
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