Invest in History Education
Illustration
Erfurt (Thuringia, Thüringen) today has one of the most outstanding examples of medieval church architecture in Germany with the cathedral and the neighbouring Severikirche. It was Boniface who first founded a diocese in 742 at the place called „Erphesfurt", for which he soon had a first church built on the Domberg - the predecessor of today's cathedral.
For the year 1153, the chronicles report the collapse of a church, which was followed a year later by the start of construction for a late Romanesque basilica. However, it is neither certain that the church initiated by Boniface actually stood until 1153, nor that the building actually collapsed. It is more likely that the responsible archbishop of Mainz had a new church built.
The construction of the new church progressed quickly - also because during the work two tombs were found, identified as the remains of the bishops and Boniface‘s companions Adolar and Eoban. This find led to numerous donations and thus contributed to the financing of the construction. The church was consecrated on June 20, 1182, although the construction work had not yet been completed. This is documented by reports about the completion of the two towers (1201 and 1237) and a renewed consecration on October 5, 1253.
As in other cathedral and collegiate churches, the need to make the church and especially the choir larger and brighter grew in Erfurt during the Gothic period that began soon after, especially since there was soon not enough space for all the cathedral canons. Their number had risen to more than 100 people as a result of several foundations. As early as the 1280s, work began on adding a larger choir with a polygonal finish to the church.
But soon the expanded space was not enough. Therefore, in the 14th century, a significantly expanded choir was created and extensive building work was also carried out. Among other things, the triangular portal on the northern arm of the transept was built as the main entrance around 1330. It shows the twelve apostles and the cycle of the wise and foolish virgins, flanked by the ecclesia and synagogue. In 1349 the foundation stone was laid for the High Choir, which was consecrated in 1370.
The 15th century then brought major structural changes. The reason for this in 1452 was concern that the nave was about to collapse. It was therefore demolished three years later and work began on building a new late Gothic hall church. The church was usable again as early as 1465.
For more than 400 years, hardly any structural changes were made to the church. Instead, external influences caused destruction. During the Napoleonic Wars, the dome hill was also converted into a fortress and the cathedral was misused by French troops as a horse stable.
Unlike many other places of worship, the Erfurt Cathedral was spared from direct bomb hits during the Second World War.
About the Author
Related Images
Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin
Medieval Architecture in Stein-am-Rhein, Switzerland
Façade of Surb Karapet Church Church at Noravank
Gate to a Medieval Georgian Church
Development of Church Layout in Medieval English Churches
Interiors of Abbey Cathedral St. Gallen
Cite This Work
APA Style
Manea, I. (2022, April 21). Erfurt Cathedral. World History Encyclopedia. Retrieved from https://www.worldhistory.org/image/15694/erfurt-cathedral/
Chicago Style
Manea, Irina-Maria. "Erfurt Cathedral." World History Encyclopedia. Last modified April 21, 2022. https://www.worldhistory.org/image/15694/erfurt-cathedral/.
MLA Style
Manea, Irina-Maria. "Erfurt Cathedral." World History Encyclopedia. World History Encyclopedia, 21 Apr 2022. Web. 24 Dec 2024.
