Description of the attraction
Bamberg Cathedral is one of the country's imperial cathedrals. It is located near the Old Town Hall and is considered the symbol of the city. At the very beginning of its history, on the site of the temple there were fortifications, which were transformed into a basilica by order of King Henry II in 1004. In 1007, the diocese of the city of Bamberg was created, this was done specifically in order to promote the spread of Christianity in these lands.
In 1012 the cathedral was consecrated, but in 1081 it suffered from a major fire, restoration work was completed only in 1111. The tests for the temple did not end there, after 74 years it had to endure another fire, as a result of which a decision was made to demolish the building. In the 13th century, on the site of the Cathedral, a temple reappeared, erected in the Gothic style and decorated rather modestly.
Towers of different heights are located at the corners of the temple. Despite all the subsequent restructuring, over time, the external appearance of the building practically did not change, and the trends of modernity have touched only the internal interior. So in 1678 the decoration of the cathedral and its altars were decorated in the Baroque style and did not change almost until the middle of the 19th century.
Currently, the Cathedral is considered the main attraction of Bamberg, it is decorated with numerous statues and sculptures that have become classics of medieval German art. The central portal presents a composition called "The Last Judgment", created in the XII century. On the east side of the cathedral is the portal "Adam's Gate", which was created in the 13th century by a sculptor from Reims, whose name is unknown.
The three-nave basilica is decorated with two covered galleries. One of them houses the famous equestrian statue of the Bamberg Horseman from 1230. Many historians have tried to establish the identity of the person who served as the prototype for this rider, but so far no one has succeeded. According to one version, this is an image of the Hungarian king Stephen. Emperor Henry II and his wife St. Kunigunda, revered as the patroness of the city. The tombstone of both spouses was made by the sculptor T. Riemenschneider in 1513. Pope Clement II, the former local bishop, is also buried in the temple.
There is an episcopal museum at the cathedral, which houses a collection of sacred objects and imperial clothes.
Since 1993, the cathedral has been included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
