Inside the Speyer Cathedral

The Speyer Cathedral is considered to be the largest Romanesque cathedral in the world. When it was built almost a thousand years ago, it was very influential in the design of other churches in Germany. I think it is very easy to influence when the cathedral is very large. It is because of this influence in design of Germany churches that the Speyer Cathedral was included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage sites. It was early in a chilly morning in Speyer that I visited the cathedral. There was still snow on the ground but not so much that it made walking difficult.

Round Arches of Speyer Cathedral

Visitors have to take the entrance to the right of the main door of the church. I actually thought that the church wasn’t open because the door was closed. I think it was only closed because it was cold outside. Anyway, I managed to finally get in the cathedral and it was then that you get the full scale of the size of the cathedral. I think I am used to visiting gothic churches so I was quite surprised to see the inside of Speyer Cathedral. The ceiling was high and they were supported by call columns much like a gothic cathedral. However, what made it different was the arches themselves. In true Romanesque fashion, the arches inside the Speyer Cathedral were also round. I think this was the first time I have seen a Romanesque cathedral this tall and one could think that it is a gothic cathedral. I think I am beginning to understand why Speyer Cathedral was so influential in church design in Germany.

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