Description of the attraction
Riga Dome Cathedral is the symbol of Riga and one of the main attractions of the city. The founding date of the cathedral is July 25, 1211 - this is the day of St. Jacob. The founder of the Dome Cathedral was the Bishop of Riga Albrecht von Buxgewden. The site chosen by the bishop for the construction of the temple was located far outside the courtyard. Albert decided to build a cathedral on the site of a fishing village that had been burned down a year earlier, during a raid by foreigners.
All the higher clergy gathered for the ceremony of consecration of the site for the construction of a new temple. The Cathedral of St. Mary, namely in her honor, the bishop decided to name the temple under construction, was to amaze everyone with luxury and splendor. The lands conquered by Albert, including Riga itself, were dedicated to her.
All the famous Riga builders took part in the construction of the temple, the temple was distinguished by its beauty and size, there were no such structures in the city until then. High ceilings were supported by massive columns, vaults and window niches were semicircular in shape. And the thick walls of the temple were able to protect the building during any siege.
The construction of the cathedral was supervised by the most famous foreign masters invited from Holland and Germany. The bishop did not spare money for his brainchild, but he did not manage to live up to the moment when the construction of the cathedral was completed. His ashes were laid to rest in the unfinished church, and the cathedral had many more changes to go through.
A monastery was soon erected next to the Dome Cathedral itself, intended for the bishop's dignitaries. All buildings are a single ensemble framed by a gallery facing the courtyard. Initially, during the heyday of the monastery, the gallery was used for ritual events. Later, the Dome chapter was built, which served for meetings of church dignitaries.
Subsequently, the church was rebuilt and changed several times. Gradually, the Romanesque style was diluted with other architectural trends. Over the years of its existence, the Dome Cathedral has been repeatedly destroyed and attacked. During the years of the Reformation (1524) the cathedral was destroyed, from the richest earlier interior decoration practically nothing survived.
The Dome Cathedral was especially badly damaged during the fire of 1547, which almost completely destroyed what was saved after the Reformation. The church suffered not only from fire, but also from water. So, the Dome Cathedral more than once suffered from the spring waters of the Daugava, there were times when the level of water that flooded the temple reached human height. The spire of the tower of the Dome Cathedral acquired its present appearance only in 1776, it was reconstructed four times, as it was also destroyed by lightning strikes four times.
During the 17-18 centuries, the burials of the dead, located under the floor of the temple, were ennobled with epitaphs. And in the 19th century, the temple was enriched with stained glass windows, which reflected significant moments in the life of the cathedral. At the end of the 19th century, a new organ was installed instead of the old one, which had been in operation since the end of the 16th century. The organ, which still amazes with its sound, is a real landmark of the Dome Cathedral. Its height is 25 meters. At the time of its construction, this organ was the largest in the world.
Over the years, the cultural layer around the cathedral has grown significantly, since the cathedral has stood indestructible all these years, and new settlements have disappeared and re-emerged around it. Now, in order to get inside the church, you need to go down the stairs, and before you had to go up, but time does not stand still. The Dome Church itself was restored in 1959-1962, the interior was recreated exactly as it was more than four hundred years ago, and the organ still sounds under its arches. Today, the monastery buildings house the Museum of the History of Riga and the Museum of Navigation.
Reviews
| All reviews 5 Oleg and Galina 2018-11-09 14:13:38
Concerts of classical music in the Dome Cathedral Unbelievable beauty concerts of classical music for large and small visitors. We have been there several times in different years, especially the Christmas services look incredible. We highly recommend visiting on New Year's holidays! Just dress warmer
