Strasbourg Cathedral
A soaring Gothic cathedral in pink sandstone, with a famous astronomical clock.
Strasbourg's Cathedral of Our Lady is one of the great monuments of Gothic architecture. Begun in 1015 on Romanesque foundations and rebuilt from 1190, it was completed in 1439 with its single 142-metre spire, which made it the tallest building in the world from 1647 to 1874.
Built of pink Vosges sandstone, its lace-like west facade carries hundreds of sculptures, and the interior holds medieval stained glass, the Pillar of Angels and a celebrated 19th-century astronomical clock. The Fondation de l'Œuvre Notre-Dame, which has cared for the building for 800 years, still runs its stonemasons' workshop.
Highlights
- Pink sandstone west facade and 142 m spire
- Astronomical clock with its procession of apostles
- Viewing platform with panoramic views over Strasbourg
- Medieval stained glass and the Pillar of Angels