Speyer – One of Germany’s Oldest Cities
- Written by Portal Editor
Speyer – Right next to the Speyer Imperial Cathedral, at Klipfelsau, there is a large parking lot; from here, a short walk through the city park featuring interesting sculptures along the path leads into the city centre.
Inside the Church of the Holy Trinity (Dreifaltigkeitskirche) built between 1701 and 1707 for the Speyer congregation of that era we discovered a magnificent Baroque organ featuring intricate walnut and ash wood inlay work. The church itself was constructed by Johann Peter Graber and Christian Dathan.
At this early hour and in the cool weather, the Maximilianstraße pedestrian zone in Speyer’s city centre was still quiet and deserted.
As we made our way toward the Altpörtel the western main gate of the former Old Town fortifications, construction of which began as early as the 13th century Maximilianstraße began to fill with people.
Looking back through the archway of the Altpörtel, one sees the now-bustling pedestrian zone, with the historically impressive Imperial Cathedral (dating back to 1025) standing at the far end of Maximilianstraße.
At the Memorial Church (Gedächtniskirche) at the end of the pedestrian zone, we were amazed by the intricate, colourful leaded glass designs in the windows.
A glance at the building facades along Maximilianstraße offers a glimpse into the long history of the city of Speyer.
The day’s long-awaited first rays of sunshine bathe the Speyer Imperial Cathedral in soft light what a monumental structure.
Following a street sign, we make our way through narrow alleys into Speyer’s historic Old Town, catching repeated, magnificent views of the Imperial Cathedral along the way.
We also came across this gem of a settler’s house while walking through the Old Town. A return visit is certainly in order soon. Please also read: