Mainz Cathedral

Photo © GFDL. View all images in our Mainz Cathedral Photo Gallery.

Photo © GFDL.

Above the roofs of the half-timbered houses in the Old Town of Mainz rise the six towers of St. Martin's Cathedral (German: Mainzer Dom). Along with the cathedrals of Worms and Speyer, Mainz Cathedral represents the high point of Romanesque cathedral architecture in Germany.

History

The Cathedral of Mainz dates from 975 AD but was continually rebuilt and restored, reaching its present form mainly in the 13th and 14th centuries.

It was at Mainz Cathedral on March 27, 1188, that Holy Roman Emperor Frederick I (Frederick Barbarossa), took up the Cross in the Third Crusade called by Pope Gregory VIII.

During World War II, Allied bombing of Mainz destoryed 80% of the city, but the cathedral was left almost entirely unharmed.

What to See

Below the largest dome, a combination of Romanesque and Baroque styles, is the transept, separating the west chancel from the nave and smaller east chancel.

Many of the supporting pillars along the aisles of the nave are decorated with carved and painted statues of French and German saints.

The cathedral's Diocesan Museum houses a collection of religious art. In it are exhibitions of reliquaries and medieval sculpture, including works by the Master of Naumburg.

In the 1,000-year-old cathedral crypt is a contemporary gold reliquary of the saints of Mainz. Among the most impressive furnishings in the sanctuary are rococo choir stalls and an early-14th-century pewter baptismal font.

Quick Facts on Mainz Cathedral

Site Information
Names:	Mainz Cathedral
City:	Mainz
State:	Rhineland-Palatinate
Country:	Germany
cat:	Cathedrals
faith:	Christianity; Catholic
feat:	Romanesque Sculpture
style:	Romanesque
Status:	active
Visitor and Contact Information
Address:	Domstrasse 3, Mainz, Germany
Coordinates:	49.998898° N, 8.273692° E (view on Google Maps)
Opening Hours:	Cathedral: Apr-Sep: Mon-Fri 9am-6:30pm, Sat 9am-4pm, Sun 2-5pm Oct-Mar: Mon-Fri 9am-5pm, Sat 10am-3:30pm, Sun 1-3pm Museum: Tue-Sat 9am-5pm, Sun 11am-3pm
Cost:	Cathedral: free Diocesan Museum: €3.50 adults, €2 children under 16 and students
Transport:	Bus: 1, 7, 13, 17, or 23
Phone:	06131/253344
Lodging:	View hotels near this location

Note: This information was accurate when first published and we do our best to keep it updated, but details such as opening hours can change without notice. To avoid disappointment, please check with the site directly before making a special trip.

Map of Mainz Cathedral

Below is a location map and aerial view of Mainz Cathedral. Using the buttons on the left (or the wheel on your mouse), you can zoom in for a closer look, or zoom out to get your bearings. To move around, click and drag the map with your mouse.

References

Wikipedia under GFDL
Frommer's Germany 2005.

More Information

Mainz Cathedral - Go Historic
Photos of Mainz Cathedral - here on Sacred Destinations

Article Info

Title:	Mainz Cathedral
Author:	Holly Hayes
Last updated:	06/10/2010
Permalink:	www.sacred-destinations.com/germany/mainz-cathedral
Link code:	<a href="http://www.sacred-destinations.com/germany/mainz-cathedral">Mainz Cathedral</a>