Speyer Cathedral western front
Built from the year 1025 to 1061, enlarged from around 1080 to 1106. In 1688 the French conquered Speyer and burned the whole city down, except of the cathedral. But a thunderstorm lit the embers anew and the western part of the cathedral was destroyed. The people of Speyer didn't care much and closed the rest of the cathedral with a wall. The west part was restored 1772–1778 but this time in baroque style. The troups of the French Revolution stole everything they could carry from inside the cathedral in 1794. In 1801 the cathedral became property of the French government. The French wanted to demolish the building in 1805. But the town council of Speyer refused to demolish the building with the justification, that they had not enough money. Therefore Napoléon I. gave the cathedral back to the Catholics of Speyer in 1806. In 1817 Speyer became German again and the cathedral was restored 1818–1822. 1854–1858 the baroque west part was restored in Neo-Romanesque style. The western front was decorated by Gottfried Renn (1818-1900).
Speyer Cathedral western front
Built from the year 1025 to 1061, enlarged from around 1080 to 1106. In 1688 the French conquered Speyer and burned the whole city down, except of the cathedral. But a thunderstorm lit the embers anew and the western part of the cathedral was destroyed. The people of Speyer didn't care much and closed the rest of the cathedral with a wall. The west part was restored 1772–1778 but this time in baroque style. The troups of the French Revolution stole everything they could carry from inside the cathedral in 1794. In 1801 the cathedral became property of the French government. The French wanted to demolish the building in 1805. But the town council of Speyer refused to demolish the building with the justification, that they had not enough money. Therefore Napoléon I. gave the cathedral back to the Catholics of Speyer in 1806. In 1817 Speyer became German again and the cathedral was restored 1818–1822. 1854–1858 the baroque west part was restored in Neo-Romanesque style. The western front was decorated by Gottfried Renn (1818-1900).