Cathedral of Our Lady of Strasbourg, Catholic cathedral in Strasbourg, France
The Cathedral of Our Lady of Strasbourg is a Catholic cathedral in the center of Strasbourg, France, combining Romanesque and Gothic architectural forms. Its western facade displays numerous figures and reliefs, while the interior holds high vaults and large glass windows that guide daylight through the space.
A fire in 1002 led Bishop Werner I to lay the first stone of a new cathedral in 1015 on the site of a Carolingian church. Rebuilding in Gothic style began around 1220 under the free imperial city. Erwin von Steinbach worked from 1277 to 1318, followed by his son Johannes and grandson Gerlach; the single octagonal tower and its spire were built by Ulrich Ensingen and Johannes Hültz, and the cathedral was completed in 1439.
The name derives from the Virgin Mary, to whom the church is dedicated and who continues to draw pilgrims and visitors from across Europe. Throughout the day, people enter through the main portals and admire the colored windows that break the light into soft tones, filling the interior space.
The church opens daily and can be entered free of charge, with access to the tower platform available via a narrow spiral staircase. Visitors should wear comfortable shoes, as the steps are steep and the climb takes time.
The tower reaches 142 metres, and from 1647 to 1874 it was the tallest building in the world, until Hamburg's St. Nikolai surpassed it. It remains the tallest structure built entirely in the Middle Ages. The reddish-brown sandstone comes from the Vosges mountains.
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