Cathédrale Notre-Dame

About Cathédrale Notre-Dame

📜 History

The site where the cathedral stands has a history that predates Christianity: the Roman settlement of Argentoratum existed there from 12 BC, and by around 778 a Carolingian church was already functioning there. Construction of the Romanesque cathedral began in 1015, when Bishop Werner laid the first stone. Starting in 1190, a new construction phase began that would transform the building into a Gothic work. The western facade was erected between 1275 and 1399, and the cathedral was not completed until 1439, after more than four centuries of work. During the French Revolution the building was confiscated in 1789 and proclaimed the Temple of Reason in November 1793; it was returned to Catholic worship on July 15, 1801. In World War II the stained glass windows were dismantled into 74 boxes and stored in a salt mine in Heilbronn to preserve them; the building suffered bombings on August 11, 1944 and repairs were not completed until the early 1990s.

🏛️ Architecture

The cathedral is considered one of the finest examples of Rayonnant Gothic architecture with Romanesque elements that survive in the oldest parts of the building. It is built of reddish-brown sandstone extracted from the Vosges mountains. Its spire reaches 142 meters in height, which made it the tallest building in the world between 1647 and 1874—for 227 years—and today it is the sixth tallest church on the planet and the tallest surviving medieval structure. The central nave measures 61.5 meters in length, 16 meters in width and 32.6 meters in height to the vaults. On the western facade, three sculpted portals open with scenes of the Childhood of Christ, Redemption and the Last Judgment. Among its interior elements, the Pillar of the Angels in the south transept, the imperial windows—which depict nine emperors of the Holy Roman Empire, dated around 1180—and the astronomical clock stand out. The great organ was rebuilt in 1716 by André Silbermann. The main master builders were Erwin von Steinbach (1277-1318), Ulrich Ensingen (1399-1419) and Johannes Hültz, who completed the spire in 1439; the 19th-century restorations were carried out by Gustave Klotz between 1837 and 1888.

⭐ Key Facts

The cathedral is part of the historic center of Strasbourg, inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1988. It is the seat of the Archdiocese of Strasbourg and one of the most important centers of religious life in Alsace. In October 1988 Pope John Paul II celebrated Mass on the premises. The building has witnessed the main moments in the region's history: it served as the setting for ceremonies of the Holy Roman Empire, was occupied during the French Revolution and survived the bombings of World War II. Its tower is a visual landmark for the entire city and a symbol of the Alsace region, which over the centuries alternated between French and German sovereignty. The Portal of the Virgin, in the south transept, dates from the 1220s and the Portal of Saint Lawrence was built between 1495 and 1505; both are reference pieces for the study of French Gothic sculpture. The baptismal font, crafted by Jost Dotzinger in 1453, completes the set of preserved medieval works inside.

Notre-Dame de Strasbourg Cathedral, built of reddish sandstone during more than four centuries of continuous work, offers a journey through European Gothic in all its stages: from the Romanesque elements of the oldest parts to the culmination of the spire in 1439. The astronomical clock, the medieval stained glass windows and the Pillar of the Angels are works that require careful attention. The cathedral is located in the heart of Strasbourg's historic center, accessible on foot from the main square.

✍️ Curated by Benjamín Restrepo · Last updated: 2025-11-06
Information verified by the EncuentraIglesias editorial team