Description of the attraction
The main attraction of the city, which has become its symbol, is the Imperial Cathedral. Due to its elevated position and monumental dimensions (length 134 meters, width 33 meters), the silhouette of the cathedral with four towers and two domes is visible from afar. This largest monument of Romanesque architecture on German soil in 1981 was included in the UNESCO World and Cultural Heritage List.
Construction of the cathedral began around 1025, during the reign of Conrad II. The cathedral was consecrated in 1061. Already in 1041, his crypt was consecrated, which served as the tomb of emperors and kings for three hundred years. Under Henry IV, vaulted ceilings, towers and an apse were added.
Over the course of a thousand years, the cathedral has been repeatedly restored and supplemented, changing its appearance. The biggest catastrophe in the history of the cathedral took place in 1689, when the soldiers of the French king Louis XIV destroyed it, leaving almost only the walls, and desecrated the burials in the cathedral. In 1772-1784, the cathedral was restored and supplemented with a vestibule and facade, but soon it was again captured and desecrated by the French. In 1846-1853, a complete restoration and decoration with magnificent frescoes took place at the expense of the Bavarian king Ludwig I.
