Strasbourg Cathedral
Strasbourg Cathedral features on the Gingerguide audio walk through Strasbourg. Give it roughly ~60 min: enough to look, hear a two to three minute story on the spot, and ask the AI guide whatever the story leaves open.
- Type religious
- Suggested visit ~60 min
- Strasbourg Strasbourg guide
About Strasbourg Cathedral
A Gothic masterpiece of pink Vosges sandstone rising 142 metres, its single completed tower dominating Alsace for six centuries, housing a spectacular astronomical clock.
Strasbourg Cathedral, formally Notre-Dame de Strasbourg, ranks among the supreme achievements of Gothic architecture. Construction began in 1015 under Bishop Werner on the site of an earlier Romanesque church, continuing for over four centuries as the building evolved from Romanesque origins into the High Gothic masterpiece seen today. The west façade, begun in 1277, is universally considered the greatest example of Gothic decorative architecture: three portals dense with biblical sculpture, rose windows, and tier upon tier of niches housing saints, prophets, apostles and angels. Only the north tower reached its full height of 142 metres; the planned south tower was never built. The tower was the world's tallest structure from 1647 to 1874. Inside, the cathedral treasures include the celebrated astronomical clock, its Renaissance case decorated by Tobias Stimmer for the clock of Conrad Dasypodius (1571–1574), but its working mechanism entirely rebuilt by Jean-Baptiste Schwilgué between 1838 and 1843, extraordinary stained glass spanning eight centuries, and a magnificent 15th-century stone pulpit carved by Hans Hammer. The building is constructed from warm Vosges sandstone, giving it a distinctive pinkish-red glow unique among European cathedrals.
Did you know? Strasbourg Cathedral's north tower was the world's tallest structure from 1647 until 1874, when it was surpassed by the steeple of St Nicholas' Church in Hamburg.
How long is a visit to Strasbourg Cathedral?
Set aside roughly ~60 min for Strasbourg Cathedral. That covers a good look and the narrated story, and because you set the pace you can always stay on.
Is Strasbourg Cathedral worth your time?
Strasbourg Cathedral is among the 18 narrated highlights the Gingerguide team chose for Strasbourg, so it is worth a look. Hear the story for the context, then ask the AI guide for anything more.
Nearby stops in Strasbourg
Hear the story of Strasbourg Cathedral
Preview the Strasbourg tour free in the Gingerguide app.