Speyer - Cathedral

Speyer gained importance, when the Salian dynasty entered the political stage with Holy Roman Emperor Conrad II. He commissioned the construction of of this church, known as the "Imperial Cathedral of Speyer". It was planned to be the largest cathedral worldwide. A display of the Emperor´s power, that was - before the "Investiture Controversy" - secular and ecclesiastical.

This "blueprint" from about 1025/1030 got changed later and the even enlarged cathedral was completed in 1106, the year Conrad´s grandson Emperor Henry IV died.

The crypt of the cathedral, consecrated in 1041, is the largest Romanesque columned hall crypt in Europe, with an area of 850 m².

Facing east.

In front is the tomb of Rudolph I of Germany (aka "Rudolph of Habsburg"). He was a very popular king, having 14 children with
his first wife Gertrude of Hohenburg. Three years after Gertrude´s death he married Isabella of Burgundy. Isabella was 14 years of age at that time, he was 66.

Behind the everlasting light (obviously equipped with a red LED) is the tomb of Conrad II, Holy Roman Emperor, the first king of the Salian dynasty. He comissioned this cathedral around 1025. He is the founder of the Salian dynasty of four German Kings (1024-1125). His heart and bowels are buried in Utrecht, where he died.

Behind the round oculus-window is the altar of the chapel, we saw before.