Augsburg Cathedral
Archaeologists have uncovered the foundations of a 4th-century building beneath the current floor of the Cathedral of Augsburg. This structure sits within the ancient Roman walls of Augusta Vindelicorum, though it was not necessarily a church at that time. The first documented church on this site appears in records from the year 822. Historical accounts link its establishment to the late 8th century reigns of bishops Wikterp and Simpert. Magyars damaged the early edifice during their raids across Europe. Bishop Ulrich oversaw a major restoration effort in the year 923 to repair the war-torn building. A second intervention occurred in 994 when the western apse crumbled down completely. Empress Adelaide funded this specific restoration project to stabilize the crumbling structure.
Bishop Henry III commissioned the current Romanesque structure in the year 1043. Workers completed the main body of the building by 1065 using red brickwork supported by heavy buttresses. The two towers visible today reached completion in 1075 and stand 62 meters high above the city. From 1331 until 1431, builders added numerous Gothic elements to the existing Romanesque core. These additions included the eastern choir which extended the sacred space toward the east end. The cathedral measures 113 meters in length and 40 meters in width. Its dual tower design allows visibility from almost anywhere within the city limits. The western apse is preceded by a transept that connects the nave to the side aisles.
The Protestant Reformation caused the church to lose most of its religious artworks during the 16th century. Some pieces were later restored after the initial wave of destruction passed. Interior designers transformed the space into a Baroque style during the 17th century. Restoration efforts in the 19th century returned parts of the interior to their late medieval appearance. Architects added neo-Gothic elements during this period to blend old and new styles. In 1565 workers heightened the northern tower to increase its prominence over the skyline. The Chapel of Our Lady was designed between 1720 and 1721 by Gabriel de Gabrieli. This chapel remains one of the few surviving Baroque features inside the building today.
The southern portal dates to 1356 and features numerous carved reliefs on its tympanum. These carvings portray scenes from the life of the Virgin Mary along with stories of the apostles on the jambs. The northern portal from 1343 displays an Annunciation scene alongside the Birth of Christ and Adoration of the Magi. Figures from these portals have been transferred to the interior for preservation purposes. The basilica plan includes a nave and four aisles supported by red brickwork construction methods. Two choirs exist within the structure, ending with triangular pediments and copper spires. Foundations of the 10th-century church of St. John lie directly in front of the main entrance. Remnants of Roman walls remain visible near the base of the cathedral exterior.
An 11th-century bronze door once stood in the southern choir portal before moving to the Cathedral Museum. It contains 35 bronze panels divided into two series depicting Old Testament and New Testament scenes. The left side shows creation of Eve meeting Adam and Moses transforming his rod into a serpent. The right side depicts episodes like the woman who lost a piece of silver and predecessors of Christ including Melchizedek. Five stained glass windows in the southern clerestory date to the late 11th or early 12th centuries. These represent the oldest surviving stained glass windows in Germany featuring prophets David, Jonah, Daniel, Moses, and Hosea. Hans Holbein the Elder executed four paintings of the life of Mary on the nave pillars in 1493.
The church suffered only limited damage during World War II compared to other German cathedrals. Most destruction occurred specifically within the Chapel of Our Lady rather than the main structure. Partial restoration efforts returned the building to its medieval appearance after the war ended. The western apse had previously crumbled down in 994 but was restored with funding from empress Adelaide. Today the cathedral stands as one of Augsburg's main attractions alongside the Basilica of St. Ulrich and Afra. Its towers reach 62 meters high and remain visible from the whole city. The Romanesque crypt dates to the 10th century and sits under the western choir area.
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Common questions
When was the first documented church built on the site of Augsburg Cathedral?
The first documented church on this site appears in records from the year 822. Historical accounts link its establishment to the late 8th century reigns of bishops Wikterp and Simpert.
Who funded the restoration of the western apse after it crumbled down in 994?
Empress Adelaide funded this specific restoration project to stabilize the crumbling structure. The western apse had previously crumbled down in 994 but was restored with funding from empress Adelaide.
What are the dimensions and height of the towers at Augsburg Cathedral?
The cathedral measures 113 meters in length and 40 meters in width. The two towers visible today reached completion in 1075 and stand 62 meters high above the city.
Which stained glass windows are considered the oldest surviving examples in Germany within the building?
Five stained glass windows in the southern clerestory date to the late 11th or early 12th centuries. These represent the oldest surviving stained glass windows in Germany featuring prophets David, Jonah, Daniel, Moses, and Hosea.
When did workers heighten the northern tower of Augsburg Cathedral?
In 1565 workers heightened the northern tower to increase its prominence over the skyline. This change occurred during a period when the church suffered limited damage compared to other German cathedrals.