{"id":25060,"date":"2024-01-19T10:30:00","date_gmt":"2024-01-19T09:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fromplacetoplace.travel\/?p=25060"},"modified":"2024-01-12T16:41:37","modified_gmt":"2024-01-12T15:41:37","slug":"schwerin-cathedral","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fromplacetoplace.travel\/germany\/mecklenburg-western-pomerania\/schwerin\/schwerin-cathedral\/","title":{"rendered":"Schwerin Cathedral – Viewpoint over Schwerin"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

It can be seen from everywhere in the city, Schwerin Cathedral of St Mary and St John. It is not only an impressive church, but also the viewpoint over Schwerin that you should not miss, even if the climb is quite strenuous.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Schwerin Cathedral is a beautiful brick building and the only real cathedral in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. The church is so large that it is really difficult to photograph it well. The building is 105 metres long and the vault is 26.5 metres high. This makes Schwerin Cathedral one of the largest brick Gothic church buildings in northern Germany. At 117.5 metres, the west tower is the highest church tower in eastern Germany and offers an excellent panoramic view of the city.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Looking back<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Henry the Lion restored the bishopric of Mecklenburg after his victory over the Obotrites. The first bishop was Berno, who moved the diocese to Schwerin in 1167. In 1171, the Romanesque predecessor of today’s cathedral was solemnly consecrated. However, it was not yet fully completed at this time. The building was only completed 77 years later. The beautiful south tower portal on the south-west side of the church is still preserved from this old church building.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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In 1222, Count Heinrich von Schwerin returned from a crusade with the relic of the Holy Blood. The alleged drop of Christ’s blood encased in a jasper attracted so many pilgrims that the church became too small. In addition, the bishop did not want this church to lag behind the rich Hanseatic towns in the region and so the plan to build a new church was quickly finalised.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\"Schweriner<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

The building project began in 1270 and a good 100 years later, the new choir, the eastern side aisles of the transept and the chapter house with sacristy and library built between the southern transept and choir chapels were completed. By the end of the 14th century, the transept and the nave had been completed except for the vaults. A 146-year construction period ended in 1416 with the construction of the nave windows. The tower is a “new” addition from 1889-1893.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I think that if you walk around the mighty church building, you can see the long construction period and the different master builders involved quite clearly. You can see connecting elements everywhere that try to create a visual unity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"neuer<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

View inside Schwerin Cathedral<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

When you step through the front door of Schwerin Cathedral, you find yourself in a three-nave Gothic basilica. Even though I had already marvelled at the dimensions of the cathedral from the outside, I am still amazed. The vault is over 26 metres high. I have the feeling of standing in a huge hall. I wonder what it sounds like when a large choir sings here\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As always, my gaze first falls high into the vault. You can recognise the beautiful net and star vaults. I particularly like the colour scheme. Today, this corresponds to the original late medieval design, which was restored in 1988. I can also discover remnants of the colouring in a few places on the walls. Some of it is quite recognisable, while there are inconspicuous remnants in other places.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"alte<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

It is also noticeable that Schwerin Cathedral is very bright. Many of the old coloured windows have not survived the years unscathed and have been replaced by light-coloured windows. This makes the room bright and friendly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Apart from the altar and the baptismal font, all of the Schwerin Cathedral’s medieval liturgical furnishings have been lost. An old inventory list from 1553 shows just how magnificent the cathedral once was. There are said to have been 42 side altars and magnificent choir stalls. During the Reformation, the rich furnishings of the Chapel of the Holy Blood were destroyed and in 1550 Duke Johann Albrecht also burnt the blood of Jesus, destroying the relic that once made the cathedral famous. In 1815, the cathedral was renovated, destroying almost everything that had previously adorned the church.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Schweriner<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The triumphal cross (1420) is very impressive. It hangs in the centre of the church and originally came from St Mary’s Church in Wismar. It has been hanging in Schwerin since 1990 and illuminates the space above the centre aisle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Triumphkreuz\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

During the tour, I get behind the high altar. Here is the tomb of Christoph of Mecklenburg. Christoph’s wife Elisabeth commissioned it from the Flemish sculptor Robert Coppens. It shows a couple kneeling in front of the lectern.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Grabmal<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Right next to it are the tombs of several dukes, such as Grand Duke Friedrich Franz II.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Schweriner<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Viewpoint over Schwerin<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

After registering at the ticket office and paying a small entrance fee, you can climb up to what is certainly the best vantage point over Schwerin. Behind a small door begins a very narrow spiral staircase, which reaches a visitor platform after 220 steps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

During the ascent, you will also pass the church bells. It is advisable to take a look at the clock beforehand. The bells really do chime and it can get very loud! A total of 5 bells hang in Schwerin Cathedral. One bell dates back to 1363 and is known as the “Peterm\u00e4nnchen bell”. The pitch of the Peterm\u00e4nnchen bell is not particularly good. For this reason, it does not harmonise well with the other four bells and is only used as a soloist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Once I reach the top platform, I discover a sign that has probably been there for many years. I wonder if the signal tone still calls on visitors to leave the tower today?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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You can enter a passageway from the platform through a door. This is so narrow that you can barely walk past each other. There is only a little more space in the corners of the tower. As we were all alone, we were able to stand in the gallery and enjoy the view.<\/p>\n\n\n\n