This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Huon (talk | contribs) at 12:33, 9 December 2005 (→History: removed title redundancy for Duke Sigismund). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.
Revision as of 12:33, 9 December 2005 by Huon (talk | contribs) (→History: removed title redundancy for Duke Sigismund)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)
The Frauenkirche (full name "Dom zu unserer lieben Frau", Cathedral of Our Lady) in Munich is the largest church in the Bavarian capital. Located in the city center at Frauenplatz 1 (about a 5 minute walk from Marienplatz), the Catholic cathedral is a major landmark and a popular tourist attraction.
History
The cathedral was commissioned by Duke Sigismund and built by Jörg von Halsbach. Construction began in 1468 and the two towers were completed in 1488. The church was consecrated in 1494. However, the building's famous onion-shaped domes atop each tower were not built until 1525. The cathedral suffered heavy damage during World War II—the roof collapsed and one of the towers suffered heavy damage. A major restoration was started after the war and was completed in several stages, the last in 1994.
Architecture
The Frauenkirche was constructed from red brick in the late Gothic style. The structure is 109 meters or 358 feet tall and 40 meters wide. The two towers are 99 meters high, with one tower taller than the other by 12 cm. The original design called for pointed spires to top the towers, much like Cologne Cathedral, but those were never built due to lack of money. Instead, the two domes were built during the Renaissance, and are mismatched stylistically with the rest of the building.
Other features
Today, the cathedral and the new Town House dominate the city center, and its towers can be seen from all directions. It will remain so since the city of Munich passed a provision prohibiting the building of any stucture over 100 meters. The south tower can be ascended and offers a panoramic view of the city and the Alps. Much of the Gothic interior was destroyed during WWII, and the restored parts look plain by comparison. However, one can still see the Gothic nave and the Teufelstritt, or Devil's Footstep, at the entrance. This is a black mark resembling a footprint with a small hooked tail at the heel, which, according to legend, was where the devil stood when he curiously regarded and ridiculed the "windowless" church that Halsbach had built. In fact, it is a large casting in the square base plate, and none of the side windows can be seen from the spot when one looks to the high altar. A collection of 14th and 15th century artwork can also be found inside the cathedral. The crypt contains the tombs of the Wittelsbach dynasty, an important noble family in Bavaria during the Reformation. The cathedral can hold around 20,000 people, and Catholic services are held regularly.