The streets of Speyer
by toonsarah
We spent most of our visit on and around Maximilianstraße. This is the main street that runs through Speyer. It links the Altpörtel in the west with the cathedral in the east, and the views from one to the other are impressive. Thanks to Ingrid I have learned that it got its name from King Maximilian, the first king of Bavaria.
This is very much a working street, however; it is lined with shops and cafes, where a pleasant hour or two may be spent. I liked to see people going about their daily business, such as shopping, surrounded by all that history.
To get an even stronger sense of Speyer’s past it seems important to wander off the main street and explore some of the side ones. I only wish we had more time there to do that, but I loved the little I saw of the street that parallels Maximilianstraße just to the north, which I think from my map is called Korngasse. It had lots of more quirky shops that I would love to go back to some time for a proper investigation!
Dreifaltigkeitsckirche
by iandsmith
I tried to go into this church on the first day, was repulsed by the locked front door. It was only after consulting Trekki that I returned and tried the side door a couple of days later. I'm so glad I did because, for me, this was one of my most lasting memories of Speyer. I had never been inside a church with broad wooden ceilings that were painted for their entire length.
It was modelled on the Katharienenkirche in Frankfurt and completed in 1707 by the architect J.P. Graber.
Johann Christian Gutbier was responsible for the outstanding artwork of this Lutheran church while the altar and pulpit are by Christian Dathan.
I was fortunate enough to be inside, the only spectator, when a rehearsal for a play was taking place. It was a special memory indeed. I almost felt like I was intruding but took great care not to make my presence felt.
KAISERDOM - IMPERIAL CATHEDRAL OF SPEYER
by LoriPori
Considered the greatest Romanesque Church in Germany KAISERDOM - IMPERIAL CATHEDRAL OF SPEYER (circa 1030- 1124 ) is also known as Cathedral of St. Mary and St. Steven.
It was built by Emperors and designated as their last resting place as a symbol of their power.
Beneath the high altar are the tombs of eight German Emperors and Kings.
The Cathedral was added to the UNESCO Worls Heritage list in 1980.
Outside eating en masse
by joanj
I am not sure if this eating feast happens on Sundays throughout the summer months, but our cruise moored in Speyer on a Sunday and the whole main street was closed to traffic, and huge long tables, like the ones in the picture, were on either side of the street with the stallholders cooking wonderful smelling food, and the locals were just having a ball, meeting up with friends and families and eating and drinking and generally being merry. It was a lovely hot day, so the German beer flowed.
There were even huge ovens in the street (portable I guess) baking bread, cooking fish, chicken etc., I have taken some pictures to show you.
Heidetürmchen – part of the old city wall
by Trekki
Some parts of the old city wall did survive the massive destructions during the War of the Great Alliance, such as Altpörtl, the former western town gate and Heidetürmchen (would translate into heathland or fallowland tower, as the land there was too muddy to built houses) just west of the Cathedral.
The little tower was build in 1281 and was once one of the 21 towers of Speyer during Middle Age. It was also a kind of a museum, as it housed the city’s archive in 1843. You can walk up the stairs to get a nice view of Rhine river, just opposite of the Cathedral.
There are more parts of the city wall, and on my next visit, I’ll find them to show them here as well.
Coordinates on GoogleEarth:
49°19’01,61’’ N; 08°26’39,22’’ E
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Freshly baked bread
Speyer, Bauernmarkt impressions (2007)
Jakob Pilgrim statue, Speyer, in spring
Speyer, Cathedral, detail at the former cloister
