Historical Sketch of the Cathedral of StrasburgAnonymous
History
Historical Sketch of the Cathedral of Strasburg
Anonymous
Strassburger Münster
On the second tier of the middle porch is a large rose-window
that occupies the whole width of it. It is surrounded by a
detached arch, which as much on account of the elegance of its
workmanship, as of the boldness of its construction, is one of
the most admirable parts of the Cathedral. The large painted
windows have been repaired by skilful artists, Mr. Ritter and Mr.
Mueller. Where the second tier begins, at the bottom of the
rose-window, are four equestrian statues, placed in niches in the
counterforts, three of which, those of Clovis, Dagobert and
Rodolphe of Habsburg, were erected in 1291, the fourth, that of
Louis XIV, was placed only in 1828. Clovis and Dagobert were the
benefactors of the church of Strasburg. Rodolphe stands there,
less on account of his liberalities to the Cathedral, than for
having been to the last the valiant friend of the Republic of
Strasburg. King Louis XIV accompanies the three others, rather
from adulation than any other cause. On the upper tier of the
facade are placed the equestrian statues of king Pepin the Short,
of Charlemain, Otho the Great and Henry I the Fowler. On the
south-side are seen in the first tier the emperors Otho II, Otho
III and Henry II; in the upper tier of the same side, the
equestrian statues of Conrad II, Henry III and the statue of
Henry IV. On the north-side of the facade are the equestrian
statues of Charles Martel, the Franconian majordomo; of Louis the
Debonair and Lotharius, the son of Louis the Debonair; at last
in the upper tier, the statues of Charles the Bald, king of the
West-Franconians and the equestrian statues of Lotharius II and
Louis the German ({+}876).
Over the rose-window, but still in the compartment of the second
tier, is a gallery furnished with the figures of the Apostles,
and above them is placed Jesus-Christ holding in his hands a
cross and banner. In the lateral towers, the same tier is taken
up on each side by a high broad window in the shape of an ogee,
before which rise very slender pillars. Exactly over these
windows, on the third tier and also on each side, are three very
high and narrow windows; the middle part, though wider, has but
two, rather small ones, and surrounded by some statues. This very
massive portion of the building betrays at first sight its later
origin; when Erwin's plan was abandoned, this part was added to
fill up the empty space between the two towers; these were
already completed, and even have on the third tier their windows
looking into the central porch, but which are at present hidden
from the outside. That part of the middle porch is used as a
belfry, four large bells are suspended in it, the largest of
which, cast in 1427, weighs nine thousand kilogrammes, and serves
to announce great festival days; it is also rung at the death of
renowned personages, or in case of fire.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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